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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1979, PAGE 17 YMCA places its emphasis on sporting1 values, flot winning The Durham Region YMCA bas been involved with children since its incep- tion nearly 15 years ago, but in this, the International Year of the Child, tbe Y wants to concentrate more on the parents' involvement with their children. A number of programs, old and new, are centred around direct participation by parents wlth their children. One of these is "Let's Crea te Together, " wh ich bas the mother involved in the child's medium of play, tak- ing part in crafts, painting, building construction toys, and puzzles. "The child guides the parent through this program," says Y Program Director Elizabeth Moore. Thirty children are partici- pating in this program at the Brooklin United Church on Fridays, and there are 10 in Ajax and 10 in Pickering. There is a demand for such a program in Whitby too, says Mrs. Moore, but the Y does flot have the staff needed to start it up. * There is already a waiting list of 12, at Brooklin, the most popular site for the "Let's Create" program. Another parent involve- ment program is Kinder- gym, w hich like Let's Crea te, is for children aged two to five. This program emphasises movement ex- ploration for ,children by use of gamnes, and the parents take part in the games along with thecéhildren, so they can carry onwhat they learn at home. This program has six part- icipants, in Ajax and 14 'at West Lynde School in Whitby, and is held every Saturday. :1 1 At -St. Paul's Church in AMax there is a drop-in pro- gram similar' to Let's Create, in which there are 20 children and 16 mothers. A new programn this year is the Youth Basketball Asso- ciation, for children in Grades 3* to 8. This startfêd Jan. 13 and. ran on Saturdays at Henry Street H-ieh School. John Morrison of the Y, says the emphasis of this program is not on winning, but on putting winning into perspective with other quali- ties such as fun, sportsman- ship, and respect. There are 10-minute sit-down sessions with the players before each gamne, where the philosophy of, sportsmanship is discussed. "We are involving parents as much as we can in the games," says Mr. Morrison. Somne parents are helping out as coaches while ail are encouraged to corne out and directly support their child- ren at the games. Floor Hockey, for ages six to 15 has been a Y program for several years but this year, the Y is adding the new philosophy applied to its basketball* program to the hockey program. Parents are involved in coaching, supervision and managing tournamnents, and winning is no longer empha- sised'as the main aspect of the sport. The floor hockey programn is on Saturday mornings at Meadowcrest School in Brooklin, Henry Street High School in Whitby and South- wood Park School in Ajax. Other programs which can be related tQ the Year of the Child include Parent Educa- tion, which tarted. March-7 at Henry Street High School and' ran- for 10 weeks. There is room for 30 people in this course. taught bv Gwen Smith, an industrial nurse.at the Cadbury plant in Whitby. This programn teaches pa- rent, skills and how to cope with a child. A iew Y program this year is a post-natal class called "You and Your New Baby", started* the week of Jan. 15 and yp for eight weeks. Locations are Eastdale Collegiate in Oshawa, Har- Wood Secondary School in. Aja2ç,., .@and .Whitby Babies are invited, and mothers are meeting to share experiences with other parents, covering the first weeks and months'of parent- hood. Guest speakers will give talks on such subjects, as nutrition, safety, growth and adjusting. The teacher is Bannie Berry, a qualified nurse. A child care program designed by the Durham Region Lung Association was held, at Henry Street High School to train children aged 12 and over as qualified babysitters. On completion of the 10- week course, the. students are certified by the Iung association and recognized by the YMCA. 'l'hie Y also has a ieader- ship development course for' ages 1l to 18 to train effective and efficient leaders in ýal ameas of youth program-. in ing.' This is a 40-hour course, with 20 hours ui im-service traininti, which leads to -":.0îo#al YMCA certification. John Morrison teaches this course and graduates often go on to lead different YMCA. progra ms. <For the International Vear of the Çhild, the' Y has applied to the Canadian Commission for a grant to hire one part-time person, starting in July, wluo will ifitr<dure new ways to better issisi and direct t.he parent ini invol%,ement with his or elie hd. A series of special pr-ogr-ams and piýesentations is anticipated. Although youth work 'has alw~ays been part of the YMCA's work, the Inter- national Year of the Child has brought an interest in mure parent invoWement in what the children are doing wif h the Y. Also emphasised this year will be values in sports over the old basic concept of win ning for winning's sake. YMCA ,_GYMNASTICS 1979 FORDY TON 1977 MONARCH GHIA 4 DR. Dark jade metallic with matching Chocolate brown, 6 cyl., automatic, velour. Loaded wilh options. 1978 PARISI ENNE ONTIAC 17 RND R Finished in deep red with mafochin GoId, 6 cyi , auto., ISon ly velour interior, white Landau viny 26,000 miles. Lic. ME 98 roof. Lic. MMK 394.$3 9 $6395 $99 1978 FIESTA Lw mileage Like new! Lic. NBJ 852 $4195 1977 FIREBIRD Red, only 19,000 miles, auto matic, P/S, P/B. Lic. LOL 255 1977 VOLARE STATION WAGON 4 speed wth radio. Lic. MAH 967 $3795 LNOLN MERCURY SALES LIMI TED. 1120 DUNDAS STREET EAST, WHITBY 668-5893 Il j)