The White Falcon - 25.02.1977, Blaðsíða 3

February 25, 1977.
Page 3
Youngsters in their early stage of
learning. • •
Extending her arms as wide as she
could, five-year-old Tiffany says, "I
like the blocks that are this big and
all the toys."
Appearing over the edge of a multi-
colored plastic block wall, Jeff, age
four, explains, "I like these toys be-
cause you can do things with them and I
like everything my mom fixes in my
lunch."
These are remarks from two of the
many children who spend part of their
day at the Base Nursery.
"A lot of people think this is a
skate job," says Debbie Du Buron, a su-
pervisor, "but it really isn’t. It
takes planning and organization of time
to make the day entertaining for the
children. We are here to coordinate and
see that the kids don't hurt themselves
and others. This is their indoor play-
ground when we aren’t using the one out-
doors. We don’t try to stop them from
climbing or running but we closely su-
pervise their activities."
Not only do the children play with
blocks, they also are supervised to draw
on chalkboards and color, listen to rec-
ords and watch movies.
Debbie is speaking about the "big
side" meaning the age group of three to
seven year olds. The "baby side" cares
for children six months up to three
years. Nursery school is held twice a
week for three year olds and three days a
week for four year olds. During the two-
hour sessions they learn the alphabet,
color, work on holiday projects, listen
to stories, play games, exercise and also
learn to recognize their names. The
older group of children have taken brief
visits to the Fire Department, weather
station and library.
According to Dorothy Valyer, a super-
visor, "The children have taught me the
patience that I need to show them. It’s
easy to pick up the children's manner-
isms and moods. We can't correct some of
their mistakes but most of the time we
explain to the wrong doers what they did
was wrong. If the child continuously
by J02 Terry Bamthouse
disobeys, we have" a conference with the
parents."
One of the 13 nursery employees is a
licensed practical nurse. If an acci-
dent is major, the child is taken di-
rectly to the Dispensary. Parents are
informed of any larger than "normal"
cut, bump or sickness.
New toys, such as swings, teeter-tot-
ters, large blocks, lunch and snack food
and building decorations are purchased
from Nursery funds. The non-profit
function of the Officers' Wives Club op-
erates five days a week from 7:45 a.m. to
5 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays, Sun-
days and American holidays. However, the
Chapel uses the facility on Sundays and
special arrangements can be made to have
it open during special functions, if full
use of the facility is to be made.
Currently, a kitchen helper is needed
to prepare lunches and snacks for the
youngsters. Anywhere from 20-80 lunches
are prepared, depending on what day it
is. During club meetings and bowling
league days, the number of children in-
creases.
The Nursery allows 20 "regulars" or
"full-day" children to take advantage of
the monthly rates, which are $75 for one
child and $95 for two. Presently, there
are only 11 regulars.
Hourly rates of $.60 per one child in
a family, $.80 for two and $1 for three
are charged. These prices do not include
the hot lunch, which is $.40 a day. A
home-prepared sack lunch will be served
if the parents provide it for their
child. Lunch is served from 11-11:30
a.m. for the younger children and 11:30-
noon for the older group.
During this busy lunch time parents
are asked not to bring in or pick up
their children.
Joyce Philbrick, Nursery director,
claims, "From feedback about the classes
and times offered, I'd say the Nursery
is in good shape. Shortly, however, we
will be losing many of our employees
because of transfer, and we'll be
looking for more workers and children."
JANET KENNINGT0N DISPLAYS a story book HEIDI SCHLAPPICH HANDLES more than just
to an interested student during a Nur- one toy at a time,
sery School class.
photos by PH3 Rone Peorco
DOROTHY VALYER GIVES a child an affectionate hug.
EDDIE DOWE, left, and Gordon Chace enjoy a midday snack.
PET. . . (continued from page 1)
ing," commented Ann Martin, a former PET
student. "It made me more able to ac-
cept my children as individuals and it
made me realize that they have their own
mind at a very early age. I think any-
one who is a parent or works with child-
ren should take the course."
The training costs $17.50. This is
to cover the text and work books and a
fee that must be paid to the Effective-
ness Training Association. To register,
call the Chapel Office at 4211 or stop
by the office. Registration should be
completed before March 4. A couple can
attend by paying only one fee and shar-
ing the books.
"My husband and I both took PET and I
think we are better parents because we
did," said Cathy Mullen, another stu-
dent of the fall course. "Now we seem
to have better rapport with our child-
ren."
PET meets in eight three-hour ses-
sions. The first part of the training
deals with the problems of children and
the problems of being a parent. It
teaches a skill called "active listen-
ing," demonstrating how to become tuned-
in to what kids feel and how to let kids
know that you understand. The second
phase deals with problems between child-
ren and parents.
PET is not a lecture course. It is
action learning. The group is presented
problems and it works on the solution
through role-playing and discussion in
small groups or on a person-to-person
basis.
"PET made me realize that some of my
attitudes had to be adjusted. I was
looking at some things as problems my
children had when those things were
really not problems at all—just things
that disagreed with my personal atti-
tude," explained Mrs. Mullen. "The
training helps one achieve a person-to-
person relationships with children and
realize that children are not an exten-
tions of mommy and daddy but are indi-
viduals."
"I was a very posessive mother, very
wrapped-up in my children and the course
helped me realize that I had to let my
children develop more of their own indi-
vidual qualities," remarked Mrs. Martin.
"Parent Effectiveness Training is not
a permissible approach to dealing with
children, it's an emphasis on human un-
derstanding," the Chaplain said. ’’I
feel good about the training. I have
taught the course about a dozen times
and each time I still learn something
new."