FIREFLY and the Best Start Network is hosting a free session for parents and caregivers this week.
Dr. Jean Clinton, a renowned national and international advocate for children’s issues will speak Wednesday in Dryden and Thursday in Sioux Lookout.
She will discuss the role supportive relationships play in building a child’s resilience after any great challenge.
Dr. Clinton’s special interest lies in brain development and critical role of relationships and connectedness play.
She says the COVID-19 pandemic has had both positive and negative effects for young kids.
Dr. Clinton says one positive was more adults stayed at home to work along with their kids.
“In the adolescent years there was lots more connection with families, as kids were home,” says Clinton.
“But we’re going to be focusing on the early years, and we don’t have quite as much information.”
Dr. Clinton adds that past two years hasn’t been an easy time for families.
“One of the areas of concern has been the huge stress that we all felt juggling career and partners and family and kids maybe get a bit too much screen time.”
She says the amount of screen time increased because kids were spending so much time at home and because of virtual schooling.
The Dryden session is September 14 at the Centre while the Sioux Lookout event is September 15 at the Legion.
Both run from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
