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Best Beginnings brings parenting resources to North Slope

December 3rd 5:24 pm | Hannah Heimbuch Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Armed with 7,500 DVDs and double that number in books, Best Beginnings is gearing up to spread new parenting resources to families all over Alaska, including communities in northwest Alaska.

The early learning nonprofit organizes Imagination Library in Alaska and already brings learning materials to Alaska families on a regular basis. This film, which focuses on healthy communication, is unique in that it was filmed in Alaska, for Alaska parents.

Best Beginnings is sponsoring the distribution of these free films and board books to parents with children under the age of 2. On the Arctic Coast, Imagination Library volunteer Sandy Solenberger is part of a group guiding circulation to the North Slope's eight primary communities.

"We are super excited about it because a big chunk of it was filmed here in Barrow and features local babies and grannies and moms," Solenberger said.

The program kicks off in each community with a family gathering and premier of the 14-minute DVD, "Babies on Track."

Best Beginnings is sponsoring 100 such premiers across Alaska from Feb.11 -19, and any place or organization where families with young children gather can host - libraries, schools, Head Start programs or private homes. The hosts will show the video and lead activities aimed at healthy parenting and child development.

Solenberger said each community will probably do it differently, but options include potlucks and family activities to give parents time to share.

In Barrow, there will be a premier on the second and third Saturday in February - likely held potluck-style at the Heritage Center.

"Coming together to share food is a part of the tradition," she said.

"Babies on Track" gives parents fun tips for fostering their children's healthy brain development at home with strong communication and cultural traditions.

"The purpose is to bring peoples attention to how essential it is to communicate with your young child from the time they're born," Solenberger said.

She said the film encourages parents to take advantage of those early stages of development in as many ways as possible.

"Children are there and responsive. Their brains are absorbing things at a tremendous rate. Talking, singing, interacting, playing, making eye contact - all of these things are helping the baby to develop."

The program also encourages exposure to all languages and spoken traditions present within the home and community — for instance, a combination of Inupiaq and English languages.

"It's beneficial for them to hear more than one language," Solenberger said. "Particularly when heard very young, it sets your mind up to be able to really hear the subtle distinctions in language."

Imagination Library had been using a similar video filmed on a Navajo reservation, Solenberger said, and they felt something made for and about Alaska would be most useful for families.

As these events get closer, North Slope village residents should look and listen for notification about their community's premier in the usual places — schools, health centers, public spaces and on the radio.

"(Imagination Library) will be funding community events in each location to help put together a community event celebrating young children," Solenberger said. "We have really strong support for Imagination Library here on the North Slope, and we often send programs out to the villages which encourage families to do reading and traditional story-telling with their young kids." She estimates about 80 percent of North Slope children under age five are a part of their program, which distributes books monthly to each child signed up.

In addition to the premier gatherings, hospitals are also showing the DVDs to expectant parents and signing them up to receive Imagination Library books. The program isn't limited to just parents of young children either.

"Grandmothers, aunts and other caregivers are essential parts of a child's early development and we'll be encouraging them to participate as well," she said.

Solenberger said she sees evidence of this in her community all the time - such as recently in the grocery store, when a grandmother approached her to talk about Imagination Library.

"She said, 'I wanted to tell you how special these books have been. I read them to my grandchildren all the time and now my granddaughter knows all of her colors.'"

Side Bar

Film Encourages "Tracks"

Model of Communication

T - Talk

R - Respond

A - Ask

C - Connect

K - Keep at it

S - Sing and tell stories

Side Bar

For more information on the program and/or hosting an event visit bestbeginningsalaska.org. Or contact Tuzzy Library in Barrow for information about the program on the North Slope.

 

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