"The YMCA really sees itself as being in a partnership with parents in raising healthy kids and in fostering healthy families," saysJennifer Holmes Weier, vice president of YMCA Regional Development.
That’s the impetus, Holmes Weier says, for the recently released YMCA study that looks at the needs of parents raising pre-school aged children. Commissioned in partnership with the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford, the
Healthy Kids Research Report outlines data gathered from a survey of 650 parents. Parents across Southern Ontario were asked a series of questions relating to their perceptions of their children’s developmental milestones.
The study’s most significant finding, says Holmes Weier – "More than a third of children in southern Ontario are described by their parents as behind in one or more key areas of early development [social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical]."
"Parents really want to help their children," she says. "That’s across the board, regardless of age or income. But, as the survey showed, parents don’t always know where to go for that information and they are often unsure of the best way to help their child."
Almost 60 per cent of respondents said they were unsure what information is best for their kids.
Dr. Olaf Kraus de Camargo, associate professor with the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University, was asked by the Y to comment on the findings. He called the results an "eye-opener."
"As a pediatrician, I see children who already have a delay or have a diagnosis, so to see that so many parents perceive their children as being behind and aren’t sure where to go, that’s something we need to explore," he says. "This study is really useful in that it allows us to generate hypothesis to generate future studies. And that will help us better able to help parents and children. It’s great that the Y is sharing this information."
Both the YMCA GTA and the YMCA Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford plan to use the study, and future studies, to fine-tune their programs and services for the young families they serve.
"The YMCA has a long history of working with parents towards the healthy development of their kids," says Holmes Weiers."This study was one way to help us see what’s on the top of the mind for them and what the challenges are they’re facing.
"Because we really want be a partner to parents, we need this additional insight into the needs of the families we serve. Our programs and services need to continue to be relevant."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Sources:Jennifer Holmes Weier, Vice President of YMCA Regional Development, YMCA of Greater Toronto.
Dr. Olaf Kraus de Camargo, McMaster University
Correction: an earlier version of this article attributed quotes from Jennifer Holmes Weier, vice president of YMCA Regional Development to Linda Cottes, senior vice president, Operations Child and Family Development.