‘Superstar Dads’ take an interest in kids’ learning

After months of anticipation and excitement, the CNMI Head Start Program finally took the plunge and jump-started their Father/Male Involvement Services.

Meetings between service coordinator Alex Rangamar, teachers, program staff, and the fathers of enrolled children in several Head Start Centers started the chain of events rolling that will last until the end of the present school year. At these meetings, the dads were told of the importance of their presence and involvement in their children’s lives, They all picked each other’s brains and came up with activities that they can do to bring them into their child’s classrooms. The fathers of our enrolled children in the Chalan Kanoa and San Vicente/Dandan Head Start Centers were the first on the challenge where they scheduled a “Daddy’s Night to Read” at their children’s Head Start Center.

Essentially doing what the event’s name called for, the fathers who showed up were given an exciting and eye-opening mini-tour of their child’s classroom by their sons and daughters, where each child pointed out the different learning centers in their classroom and explained what was taught and learned in such center. Several dads got so excited the teachers had to bring everyone back into focus on the activity of the day by reminding the children to show their fathers where they learn to read: the Library Area.

Displayed on tables and rugs were a vast selection of age-appropriate children’s literacy books each child would want his/her father to read. After selecting a book, these Superstar Dads and their child picked out a quiet spot to read, either on a table or on the rugs and read the night away. Some got so engrossed in what they were doing that they went beyond the hour-and-a-half that was initially set for them to spend reading to their child in the classrooms. One of these fathers eventually ended up asking if he “can come in every day to this. I want to learn what my son does in school.”

Called a “major success” by the teachers who were present that night, the major challenge now is how to keep things going to maintain and keep these Superstar Dads’ interest. The “biggie” of these father-involvement activities is one that will be held in late January where a renowned speaker on the topic will train program staff and hold evening discussion panels with the parents of enrolled children. [I][B](PR)
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