Alaska Insight
Training childcare providers in Southeast Alaska
Clip: Season 2024 Episode 7 | 3m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
Alaska Public Media and PBS partnered to provide learning activities in Southeast Alaska.
Quality child care is in limited supply across Alaska, but especially so in rural parts of the state. There are many limiting factors, but among them can be a need for training and educational resources. This Summer, Alaska Public Media and PBS partnered to provide learning activities for families and child care providers in Southeast Alaska. Alaska Public Media's Valerie Lake has the story.
Alaska Insight is a local public television program presented by AK
Alaska Insight
Training childcare providers in Southeast Alaska
Clip: Season 2024 Episode 7 | 3m 19sVideo has Closed Captions
Quality child care is in limited supply across Alaska, but especially so in rural parts of the state. There are many limiting factors, but among them can be a need for training and educational resources. This Summer, Alaska Public Media and PBS partnered to provide learning activities for families and child care providers in Southeast Alaska. Alaska Public Media's Valerie Lake has the story.
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipIt's midsummer in Hoonah Alaska and school is out for the year.
At low tide, Amelia Wilson fires up her new skiff to check her neighbors crab pots.
We have a saying that if the tide is out, the table is set.
All seasons are busy for people who depend on subsistence, and summer is no exception.
Very busy in the summers and lots to do.
For Hoonah's youngest residents, some subsistence activities won't be safe for them to learn until they're a little older.
Many families rely on places like community centers and Boys and Girls Clubs for safe, inexpensive childcare.
Our teenagers are really busy.
Most of them are working and involved even in the school year <font color=#000000FF>during a lot of extracurricular</font> <font color=#000000FF>activities.</font> <font color=#000000FF>And the elementary age students</font> <font color=#000000FF>I think really appreciate</font> and the parents and families opportunities the kids to do things.
For Gina Wooten, growing up in Kake, Alaska, the Boys and Girls Club was a refuge from an unpredictable home life.
They had, very nutritious food for us to eat.
Lots' of fun Activities.
And the staff were very engaging and that's what I want to be for the youth here.
<font color=#000000FF>I want them to know that I'm here</font> <font color=#000000FF>for them.</font> not only as a staff member but if they need to talk.
Gina and her coworker Zach are responsible for supervising sometimes dozens of kids at this Boys and Girls Club.
But resources and professional training are limited.
That's why Kake and Hoonah were selected to take part in a PBS educational experience called Train The Trainer.
You guys have some good stories.
It was a wonderful opportunity to share PBS's curriculum with them and provide resources that then they can in turn use to share with families and children in their communities.
The program emphasizes the importance of social and emotional learning for parents and guardians.
So they can better navigate emotional moments with their children.
<font color=#000000FF>The hope is that these lessons can be</font> <font color=#000000FF>shared with others in the community.</font> <font color=#000000FF>We did a lot of talking with parents about</font> <font color=#000000FF>being aware of your own state of mind</font> How to just be in charge of that in order to move forward to be a good parent.
There are some universal truths of being a parent.
It's hard.
It's really busy.
It's nonstop.
You're always on duty.
And so what can I do to just breathe a little bit and have some fun with my kids?
And that's what it's designed to do.
While the parents and caregivers received professional training, Alaska Public Media provided free food, childcare and educational activities connected to PBS kids shows.
After the workshops, each community keeps the educational resources, books and games so they can continue hosting camps and workshops on their own into the future.
in southeast Alaska.
I'm Valerie Lake.
Alaska Insight is a local public television program presented by AK