Wellchild Week Focuses On New Experiences 3-9 March
The first smile, the first word, the first tooth, the first roll, the first crawl, the first tentative steps, the first
hair cut – a child’s life is full of “firsts” and year’s WellChild Week encourages parents and caregivers to celebrate
new experiences in a child’s life.
WellChild Week runs from 3-9 March and Hawke’s Bay’s WellChild providers encourage those with babies and pre-schoolers
to make the most of your WellChild/Tamariki Ora Book and record all those new experiences. The providers are also keen
to re-engage with families they may have lost contact with.
“Our memory fades with time, so it’s great to be able to look back through a WellChild Book and read about your own
growth and development,” said Michele Grant, one of the coordinators of Hawke’s Bay’s WellChild interagency network
group.
Local WellChild Providers are holding open days which will include the following: WellChild Checks Dental enrolments and
advice PAFT (Parents As First Teachers) Free educational support to parents for the first three years of a child’s life
Middle ear screening and advice on vision screening New born hearing screening information Healthy eating and nutrition
Sport Hawke’s Bay-SPARC Programme Immunisation info and immunisations SKIP information (Strategies with Kids/Information
for Parents) Support and information on breastfeeding and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) In addition, participating
providers will have give-aways, spot prizes and fun activities for kids. “If you haven’t attended one of these events
before, why not give it a go? You’ll be able to add it to your list of new experiences with your child,” Michele Grant
said.
Particpating WellChild Providers include:
Plunket – Monday 3 March 10am- 2pm at Plunket Flaxmere Family Centre, 1 Peterhead Avenue. Plunket – Thursday 6 March
10am – 2pm at Plunket Karitane Family Centre, 7 Lowry Terrace, Marewa. Te Kupenga Hauora - Monday 3 – Friday 7 March
WellChild checks at 5 Sale St, Napier. Te Taiwhenua O Heretaunga (working with Choices) Choices - Tuesday 4 March – 10am
– 2pm, 208 Southampton Street West, Hastings Choices – Thursday 6 March - 10am – 2pm, 13 Swansea Village, Flaxmere
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (will be supporting all the providers’ activities during the week)
ENDS