Programs / New Kids Enrichment Program

New Kids is an infant/toddler/pre-school stimulation and basic school readiness program where children (ages birth through five) can learn and develop while their moms are attending our programs. We offer fundamental nurturing for the children and positive parenting models for their teen moms. Families headed by young single mothers tend to be the most impoverished of our society. Their children are at greater risk for placement in remedial education; more likely to be abused, neglected or abandoned; more likely to drop out of school and engage in criminal activity; more likely to score lower on cognitive development tests; and have higher risk of serious health problems.

The New Kids program is meant to overcome the myriad negative repercussions that these children face as a result of having a homeless teen mom as their sole actively-involved parent. Many of these young children (about 85%) witness violence, and our program works to model for these young children positive interaction in a loving and safe environment.

The program space is bright and airy and decorated each month to fit the learning theme of the month. Program times have a lesson plan with modules for newborn, toddler, and pre-school groups within each class time. Morning sessions focus more on fine motor skills and cognitive development, as children are more mentally alert in the morning. Afternoon sessions focus more on gross motor skills and scientific exploration, while late afternoon sessions focus on music and movement. Wholesome snacks or meals are served at each session depending upon the time of day. New Kids’ staff conducts Denver II Developmental Assessments for all children on a regular basis, and insures that the children are all receiving their immunizations on schedule.

Equally important to the development of these disadvantaged kids is teaching their moms good parenting skills. Each New Kids class session ends with a parent-child activity that fosters positive parent-child relationships in recognition that these moms usually had no affirming parenting role models of their own. They often lack the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to raise their children in an appropriate manner. In this group activity, moms do things with their children, such as singing a song together, reading a book, or playing a game. The children’s lesson plans are always posted and moms are encouraged to work with their children at home on similar activities. Parenting skills are also reinforced through weekly Parent Support Groups where speakers come in and address life skills issues relevant to young moms. Topics include: infant care and health; age appropriate expectations for child development; appropriate discipline techniques; planning for the future; child safety; day care; and, the importance of consistency in parenting.

In 2005, we served 171 children in the New Kids Enrichment Program; 83 children received Denver screenings to insure that they are developing normally; and we ensured that 80% of our children were fully immunized by age two.