LEAP Frogs enhance learning at Incirlik

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (USAFENS) --  With all of the giggles, exchange of smiles and shrieks of joy, it’s hard to believe learning is going on. For parents at Incirlik, the Learning Enrichment Activities for Preschoolers and Parents Program is an opportunity to leap into learning with their children; and for their children, it is an opportunity to leap into fun.

“This program provides a chance for parents to participate in learning enrichment activities with their children,” said Julie Halstead, Family Support Center community readiness technician and founder of Incilik’s L.E.A.P. Frog program. “Parents can learn fun activities they can participate in with their kids instead of just popping in a children’s tape on days that are too hot or too rainy.”

The program’s main goal is to give parents a chance to help improve a child’s cognitive development and enhance social skills.

“As a teacher and an advocate of children and parent programs, I think this is an awesome program,” said Nichole Fitzpatrick, 39th Medical Group Educational and Developmental Intervention Service, early childhood educator and volunteer who teaches the class free of charge. “One of the goals of EDIS is to have a community focus on children from birth to three years old. And Julie’s program is an excellent way to ensure children are in the right place educationally and socially.”

Fitzpatrick, who has a master’s degree in early childhood education, uses a different theme each month to teach parents different ways of enhancing learning for their children.

“The first L.E.A.P. Frog class focused on music play,” Halstead said. “My daughter hasn’t stopped singing since. I find that if I can turn a chore like picking up toys or brushing teeth into a song, it gets done faster and with smiles. Nichole provides great ideas and I also learn from the other parents who participate.”

Parents attending the classes not only get good ideas from the teacher, but they also learn tips from other parents and get support on things they are working on with their own children.

“My two-year-old is very shy and by getting him to participate in this program he gets a chance to step away from my side and learn how to play with other kids,” said Carly Jones, a mother of three. “I think this program is great for parents to learn new ideas and techniques to teach children and to help with their early education.”