Goodrich- Being a mother makes resident Jennifer Senish want to SKIP. And in her opinion, deciding to do just that makes her job a whole lot easier.
‘It’s beyond beneficial. It should be required, it really should. It’s been a lifeline for me,? says Senish.
The 37-year-old mother of two is referring to Successful Kids= Involved Parents,or, SKIP. A program funded by grants from the Michigan Department of Education for the purpose of early childhood development, SKIP is available free to parents in Genesee County for stages of childhood extending from prenatal care until the start of kindergarten.
Heather McEntire, a SKIP representative and parent educator with the program, says SKIP is a nationally recognized, research-based program which was started six years ago. An estimated 6,000 families have participated in the program in the last six years with 105 Goodrich families currently enrolled. Families don’t need to meet any special circumstances to qualify for this program, but must be residents of Genesee County.
McEntire says SKIP assists local moms before their kids are even born, providing information on proper prenatal care and what to expect in different stages of pregnancy, all the way through labor.
‘The handouts for these parents and what we go over for them, is phenomenal,? says McEntire.
Senish agrees. Her daughter Laura, now 3, was only a few months old when Senish first heard of the SKIP program through word of mouth. With her own mother having died before Laura was born, Senish says she was left with many questions and few people to turn to for advice on raising a young child.
‘When Miss Heather came it was really a Godsend,? says Senish of the first visit McEntire paid to her home. ‘She talked about what (Laura) should be doing and what games she should play.?
Such in-home visits are part of the program, allowing parents to learn about proper child care in their home environment, says McEntire.
‘Each month that I go, I take a hands-on activity and go over why that activity is important for that child. The activity we take is age appropriate for their (development)… at that time. So besides the parent hand-out sheets that we have, the home-based part (of SKIP) is awesome,? says McEntire.
One of the main focuses of the program is literacy, so SKIP representatives bring books with them to read to the children during the visit, she adds.
Another aspect of the SKIP program is an emphasis on developmental screening, supported by the belief that catching delays in learning while children are preschoolers can prevent worse problems down the road.
‘We are trying to identify developmental delays before kindergarten,? says McEntire.
Included in that screening process are free dental, vision and hearing screenings, as well as a close eye kept on developmental milestones.
For Senish, the reassurance that her children Laura and David, 2, are developing well is reassuring, she says.
‘It just makes me feel successful when they come to your house and they say, ‘Oh wow, she already knows how to do this,?? says Senish.
Additionally, the games and times spent with McEntire seem to be enoyable for the tots.
‘They love it; They love Miss Heather. They’re so happy? they look forward to when miss Heather is coming,? says Senish.
Senish says the kids also enjoy play groups offered by the program, which provide networking opportunities for kids and parents alike.
‘I’ve met other moms through SKIP? through the play groups? and we talk. I’m already in contact with other parents for school and stuff,? says Senish.
Senish says she also enjoys the low-cost, homemade toys SKIP representatives teach parents and children to make.
‘We also teach parents that kids at that age don’t need to have expensive toys like (those made by toy manufacturer) Fisher Price, they can make a lot of toys out of things they have in their home. …You can make a lot of things and kids will love that just as much,? says McEntire.
For stay- at- home- mom Senish, the program is invaluable.
‘I feel absolutely privileged that I’m able to be part of the SKIP program,? says Senish. ‘It’s such a great benefit, it really makes a great difference.?
The connection to the community the program fosters and the education provided to parents free of charge are aspects of SKIP for which Senish says she is deeply grateful.
SKIP ‘is like a dream come true, is what it is,? says Senish. ‘I don’t see myself succeeding as well without it. It helps your kids. It helps your self-esteem as a mother.?
‘It makes a world of difference,? says Senish, ‘because being a mom is hard enough.?