Understanding The Early Years (UEY) 

A New Westminster Community Project

What is “Understanding the Early Years” (UEY)?

Understanding the Early Years, or UEY, is a federally funded project that supports children by supporting parents and the community.

What do we do at UEY?

The New Westminster UEY project is gathering information about children and planning some great events for families! Our goal is to help improve the development of young children so they have better success at school.

We are also excited to be working with the New Westminster ECD Committee to put together some terrific events for families in our community.

We’re talking books, reading and moving to the sounds of music. We’re planning picnics, a community workshop - and why not our own Olympics! It’s all free for children under 6 and their families, of course! 
See the Events page for more info.

Information Gathering!

How are young children in New Westminster growing and developing?
We are collecting information from parents, children, and kindergarten teachers to give us a glimpse about children’s early development. .

What do children’s neighbourhoods look like?
We are finding out information such as how many families with young children live in New West. Where they live and the languages they speak.

What supports are available for families in the community?
Childcare spaces, preschools, family and recreation programs, parks, doctors’ offices, and so on.

Information is being presented on maps and in a report to give us a picture of children’s lives in New Westminster.

We are learning what we do well as a community, and what we could do better to support children and families in our community.

We know -

• Warm and loving parents and caregivers who nurture their children, talk to them, and comfort them give their children the best start in life.

• The attachment formed during the first five years lasts a lifetime.

• The neighbourhoods where children grow also play an important role in a child’s healthy development.

• Communities make a difference! 

Understanding the Early Years is managed by the Lower Mainland Purpose Society and supported by the New Westminster Early Childhood Development (ECD) Committee. The Understanding the Early Years Initiative is funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada. For further information, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca.

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