Get them while theySA国际影视传媒檙e young.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 the philosophy behind GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Nest, an immersive language program hosted by ChildrenSA国际影视传媒檚 First Society in Inuvik.

SA国际影视传媒淲e offer immersion programming, so the staff speak to the children in GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n as much as possible for two-to-five year-olds,SA国际影视传媒� said CFS executive director Patricia Davis. SA国际影视传媒淭hey spend their days learning through play, in GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n.SA国际影视传媒�

Open to children aged two to five, the program places up to eight youth with a GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Elder and two Early Childhood practitioners throughout the day. The daycare and pre-school activities are all delivered in GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n, giving children plenty of practice speaking their mother tongue.

Learning through artwork, singing, science experiments and outdoor activities, the program is intended to give a boost to later development in childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 lives.

SA国际影视传媒淲e keep the groups small, because they can focus them on a lot of language, learning, small groups and one-on-one. It makes it more manageable,SA国际影视传媒� said Davison. SA国际影视传媒淲e have children who are from two years of age to four years of age. They come in the morning, have lunch with us and stay until around 5 p.m.SA国际影视传媒�

Kids learn in cohorts of eight over two year programs. Upon completion of the program, youth still under five years old have the option of continuing the program.

Since starting the program over two years ago with the partnership of the MakeWay Foundation and the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council, the Language Nest program has been a hit with families. It recently accepted a new cohort of eight children into its fold.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had just finished a very successful cohort in August,SA国际影视传媒� said Davison. SA国际影视传媒淢any children came in when they were two-turning-three and they stayed with us until they were four or five before going on to East Three Elementary. And we just started a new cohort thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a mixture of returning students and quite a few new students. Sometimes the families choose to have the children in the program for a little bit longer.

SA国际影视传媒淭he program is open for those children to stay up until theySA国际影视传媒檙e five years old. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 totally up to the family as to how long they would like the child to stay in the program.SA国际影视传媒�

Of course with the Covid-19 pandemic ongoing, programming has had to adjust to remain safe.

Davison said the ChildrenSA国际影视传媒檚 First Society solved this with take-home activities for the children to take home to complete with their families, helping children teach their parents what theySA国际影视传媒檙e learning.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the other components that weSA国际影视传媒檝e tried to add on, and Covid-19 has put a little bit of a challenge to that, is language sessions with family members,SA国际影视传媒� said Davison. SA国际影视传媒淲ith the Covid-19 scenario we have in Inuvik this fall and winter makes it trickier to have groups of people together.

SA国际影视传媒淪o weSA国际影视传媒檝e been sending language activities home with the children to do with their families. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e had some success with that, and families are asking for more so they can speak with their children more and know what theySA国际影视传媒檙e learning.

Anyone interested in GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Language Nest should contact the CFS by email at execdir@childrenfirstsociety.org to learn more.