Do you have a child in an Onslow preschool? They'll have some neat stuff to learn with this year

Daily News - 8/4/2021

Aug. 4—Early childhood development is extremely important for a child's growth as they age.

Last week, Onslow County preschools were gifted more than $50,000 worth of high-quality learning materials to classrooms from One Place.

Supplies and materials include books, sensory and fidget toys, indoor gross motor activity items, and social-emotional toys and books. A game-changing offering where "well-loved" items had to be replaced.

All 70 preschool program classrooms in Onslow will benefit from these additional supplies.

Items were purchased from a variety of retailers including Kaplan, Lakeshore, Staples, Teaching Strategies, Book Pal, and Amazon.

The gift also eases the financial burden on teachers who School Readiness Director Autumn Bishop says are already underpaid.

"Teachers often spend a lot of their own money to make their classrooms the best they can be," said One Place's Bishop. "When we utilize otherwise unspent NC Pre-K funds to buy classroom materials, teachers can breathe a little easier."

Fidget and Sensory Toys

Sensory processing dysfunction, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or autism find that fidget toys offer the tactile sensory input and repetitive motor movements that are needed to help them with self-regulation.

However, these items are becoming popular with children who don't have a sensory diagnosis.

Fidget toys and sensory items help calm children when they feel overwhelmed by big feelings and allow them to re-focus on what is going on in the classroom.

Books on social topics such as sharing and making friends give teachers the opportunity to share these skills through a story and allow the children to practice them in the classroom.

"Teachers who are less stressed are better equipped to be the best they can for the children in their classroom," added Bishop.

Returning an investment

One Place officials explained their ability to return this investment back to the classrooms is a wonderful thing.

Being in a military community, Chief Executive Officer Dawn Rochelle understands families come and go during the school year. With the hope that all children complete the full school year, being able to re-invest is just as important.

"We understand that families have circumstances that prevent this. Re-investing the funds back in classrooms for the next child is how we create the best for all children in this important preschool year."

All children who will be 3 or 4 by Aug. 31 are age-eligible to apply for Onslow County preschool programs. The program is at no cost to eligible families. After the initial round of placements for the 2021-22 school year, there are still more than 200 slots available.

Applications are accepted year-round and available online at www.one-placeonslow.org.

One Place also performed a Blood Drive at the Onslow County Sheriff's Office, where the department donated $20 to their Child Advocacy Center for each donation. One Place received $800 as 40 qualifying donors took part.

Reporter Trevor Dunnell can be reached by email at tdunnell@jdnews.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription for as little as $1 a month. JDNews.com.subscribenow

___

Visit The Daily News (Jacksonville, N.C.) at www.jdnews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.