Autumn activities and early learning bloom at Humboldt’s Early Years Family Resource Centre – DiscoverHumboldt.com

The Humboldt Early Years Family Resource Centre (HEYFRC) continues to offer free, engaging programs for families and children under five with plenty of fun planned this October.

“We are here to provide a safe, clean space for families to bring their children to play and to meet with professionals and have any developmental questions that we can help with,” said coordinator Katie Nichol.

“We have trained facilitators there to answer any questions that you might have about your child’s development.” They have speech language pathologists, autism services, and more. 

The centre, funded through the Ministry of Education’s Early Years program and partnered with Horizon School Division, provides a variety of interactive sessions each week.

One of the most popular is Music Makers, held every Tuesday. “We get together; the kids and the parents or caregiver get to sing some fun songs with the kids. There are actions, there’s dancing. Sometimes we use rhythm instruments, and we use music scarves, shaker eggs, all sorts of fun stuff just to keep the kids moving and grooving.” Nichol expressed how it is her favourite events. 

Another regular program is Story Time on Thursday mornings, designed for pre-kindergarten children. “There’s usually some acting through the stories, a craft, maybe puppets it always changes.”

Nichol noted that all programming at the centre is free. “We are very fortunate to have the fact that every program at the resource centre is free of charge.”

The centre is a resource for families, and it can help support ages and stages assessments and pre-k applications. 

In addition to weekly programs, HEYFRC has a full October calendar with special events for families. 

• Halloween Party: Thursday, October 31, 10:00 – noon, featuring a scavenger hunt, slime station, photo wall, crafts and treat bags.

• Trick or Treating: Friday, October 31, 1:30 – 2:30, featuring a walk to the Harry Ford Centre to show off costumes. (registration would be preferred so they can plan candy) 

Families can find full details and updates on the HEYFRC Facebook page, which lists drop-in play sessions, themed days and professional visits from speech and language therapists, autism services and public health.

“I would recommend either calling or checking out on Facebook. It has our calendar, so we have programs listed as well as drop and play.”

The centre continues to be a cornerstone of early childhood learning and family connection in the Humboldt area offering a free, supportive, and development-focused environment for families to learn and grow together.