Moving is hard. Moving to a new country, with children, can be overwhelming. In BC, there are many programs, services, and supports to help you and your child connect to your community. We have a comprehensive list of settlement services for children 0 – 12 years, searchable by your community. These resources help immigrant parents cope with parenting challenges in a new country and culture, while coming together to share experiences and make connections.
1. Libraries
Libraries in BC work to connect newcomer parents with each other, and to their children. A few examples of programs offered are:
- The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program® introduces adults and children to the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs, and stories together. Many libraries offer this program in languages other than English.
- Storytime brings caregivers and their children together at the library while a librarian shares stories or sings songs to children. Many libraries offer storytime in multiple languages.
- Crafting workshops are offered through various libraries to allow children and their caregivers instruction and materials to create in a relaxed and friendly environment.
2. Settlement Organizations
Many settlement organizations support families to develop positive and nurturing relationships with their young children as well as to enhance their connections with local community resources. A few programs you can access are:
- Multicultural Early Childhood Development through S.U.C.C.E.S.S. serviing Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Farsi-speaking families with children between the ages of 0 and 6 years old.
- Parenting in Another Culture through the Whistler Welcome Centre helps immigrant parents cope with parenting challenges in a new country and culture, giving parents and caregivers practical knowledge and skills for parenting in Canada, and bringing cross-cultural parents together to share experiences and make connections.
- Parenting Life Skills for Immigrants through Archway Community Services helps immigrants deal effectively with the demands and challenges of adaption and integration from school readiness to literacy and communication.
3. Elementary Schools
Elementary schools offer StrongStart BC Programs. These programs provide rich learning environments designed for early learning development – language, physical, cognitive, social and emotional. Qualified early childhood educators lead learning activities where children find opportunities to make friends and interact with others of similar ages. Caregivers are encouraged to participate with your young child (aged birth to five) in play-based early learning activities – including stories, music and art. At no cost to families, this early learning drop-in program helps prepare children for success in Kindergarten.
4. Child Care Resource and Referral Centres
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) centres help to connect families with the early years and child care services they need such as referrals to child care providers and community services, access to quality resources and lending libraries, workshops, drop-in programs, and provide consultation, support and parenting information.
There are many other programs, services, and resources available for newcomers and their children. Please read through our list of service providers and libraries to find what you need in your community. If in doubt, connect to your library and ask your friendly librarian about ways to connect your child to your community. Let us know what you found to be most helpful.