Ossining Schools, Partners Promote the Basics for Early Literacy

The "Ossining Basics" program brought together parents, young children and staff from the Ossining School District and partner groups Nov. 5 to practice the fundamentals of early literacy and becoming school-ready.

Youngsters learned new vocabulary, danced, expressed their emotions, counted, created artwork and more as they practiced the Ossining Basics, which are five principles parents can use to stimulate language and cognitive development at home. Eighty percent of brain development takes place in the first three years of life.

The principles are:

• Maximize Love, Manage Stress
• Talk, Sing and Point
• Count, Group and Compare
• Explore through Movement and Play
• Read and Discuss Stories

Staff from the Ossining Public Library, Little Steps/Primeros Pasos, Park School and the Guidance Center of Westchester ran different stations at the event in Nelson Sitting Park. Each represented one of the principles. Neighbors Link gave out information about ESL classes, Adelante Juntos and other programs.

Synara Okyne-Aryee, First Steps/Primeros Pasos program coordinator, was at the “Maximize Love, Manage Stress” table, which had painting and dancing activities. “When you do things together it minimizes the stress and maximizes the love,” she told parents and toddlers.

Ms. Okyne-Aryee led children in a song about showing different emotions through dance. “With my hands, with my arms, with my hips and my heart, with my eyes, with my knees, I will show you how I feel,” she sang to the music as she used the different body parts in turn.

The Talk, Sing and Point area had fox, owl and squirrel puppets and stuffed animals and introduced words like “swoop,” “soar” and “climb.” Children got to ride a rocking horse, identify cardboard cutouts of farm animals, and play with a stuffed hen and her “eggs.”

Ignayra Lopez, head of children’s services at the Ossining Public Library, ran the Read and Discuss Stories table and gave out book recommendations for each of the principles. At the Explore through Movement and Play area, families learned about the 10-station “Born Learning Trail” in the park that encourages adults and children to hop like a frog, walk backward, play hopscotch and tell stories.

Lisa Schwab and her husband, Jefferson Rodriguez, brought their 3-year-old daughter, Julianna Rodriguez, to the park. “It’s a nice way to get the kids out of the house and they get to interact with other kids. It’s really nice to see,” she said.

“The children learn how to interact and be a little more independent,” Mr. Rodriguez said.

Norma Asanza attended the event with 3-year-old Mia Montero, her granddaughter, who particularly enjoyed playing with the plastic eggs in the farm area. Ms. Asanza prompted Mia to count the eggs and identify different colors.

“It’s very nice, very fun. The children learn a lot of things,” the grandmother said.

The school district and community first launched the Ossining Basics program several years ago. The parent leaders are Park School teachers Christine Rosas and Claudia Lavado. Director of Student Academics Mirla Puello is the Ossining Basics coordinator.

Families got to take home a free book from the Ossining Public Library, brochures, musical instruments, math manipulatives materials and Ossining Basics bags.