In the wake of the recommendations of the Laurent Commission report, tabled in May 2021, the 6e edition of the Great Week of Toddlers (GSTP) wishes to highlight the major importance of prevention and the creation of caring communities to protect toddlers.
The Early Childhood Collective has also undertaken to closely observe the implementation of the actions formulated by the Report, in particular those related to prevention.
Therein lies the key.
Giving a voice to toddlers
Remember that the GSTP aims to give a voice to some 534,000 toddlers in Quebec and to make early childhood a real priority for society. By highlighting their needs, but also the importance of supporting them from the start of pregnancy and offering them all the tools to develop, this week is helping to mobilize all circles around this issue.
Economist Pierre Fortin rightly points out that “early childhood is the most important phase of human development, a truth resulting from the remarkable unanimity of three scientific disciplines: neurology, psychology and economics.”1
More than ever, more measures must be taken to improve the living conditions of toddlers. “Acting in prevention”, to use the words of the Laurent Report, will allow real improvement.
1. Pierre Fortin, economist, “Let’s invest early for our children”, The news, August 4, 2021.
What do we mean by prevention?
Prevention consists of eliminating or reducing the risk factors that favor the appearance of a problem. In addition, it strengthens individual and collective capacities to cope with difficulties. In terms of mistreatment, it sets up individual, family, community, economic and social conditions favorable to healthy and harmonious parent-child relationships. In short, the preventive approach constitutes the social net from which to build a benevolent environment for toddlers becomes possible.
Preventive strategies to deploy
Strengthening economic support for families is the first of the major prevention strategies. But it is also important to modify social norms in order to value support for parents and promote positive parenting practices. To promote the best living conditions for toddlers and because the protection of children is first and foremost a collective responsibility, we must also avoid working in silos.
With regard to mistreatment, its harms must be reduced to prevent possible risks. It is important to ensure that, from birth to entering kindergarten, as many children as possible can grow up in families free from violence, abuse or neglect. In this context, consultation becomes crucial.
Set for children
Prevention must be the cornerstone in all public policies affecting early childhood. And it is by mobilizing the forces present, in particular the members of the Early Childhood Collective, their partners and allies, as well as elected officials, that we will be able to improve and then preserve the well-being of toddlers. It is through the sharing of knowledge and the union of expertise that the protection of children will be achieved. It is in the collective effort that we will be able to build this benevolent community which they so badly need.
Together, let’s support the development of the very young in Quebec.
Elise Bonneville
Director of the Early Childhood Collective
* This letter is co-signed by the allies of the Early Childhood Collective
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Thomas bastien
Director General, Quebec Public Health Association
Genevieve Belisle
Executive Director, Quebec Association of Early Childhood Centers
Nathalie Bigras
Full professor and scientific director of the Quality of Early Childhood Educational Contexts team, Université du Québec à Montréal
Caroline Biron
Managing Partner, Woods LLP
Camil Bouchard
Doctor of psychology, professor-researcher, UQAM
Elise Boyer
Managing Director, OLO Foundation
Monique Brodeur
Professor, University of Quebec in Montreal
Yolande Brunelle
Lecturer, Didactics, University of Quebec in Montreal
Caroline Calvé
Snowboard Olympian, ESIM program manager, Montreal Sports Center
Jean-Marc Chouinard
President, Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation (Birth and Growth / Toddler Observatory)
Louise Deschâtelets
Actress and columnist
Martine Desjardins
Executive Director, Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists
Gabrielle Fontaine
Actress
Pierre Fortin
Emeritus Professor of Economics, UQAM
Stephanie Gareau
Managing Director, Marie-Vincent Foundation
Alex Gauthier
Executive Director, Quebec Federation of Family Community Organizations
Eric Gingras
President, Centrale des unions du Québec
Marie Gregoire
President and CEO, National Library and Archives of Quebec
Catherine haeck
Full Professor, Economics, University of Quebec at Montreal
Jean-Pierre Hotte
Consultant and co-author of the report Acting to ensure that every toddler develops their full potential (2019)
Jennifer johnson
Executive Director, Community Health and Social Services Network
Dr Gilles Julien
President, Fondation Dr Julian
Carl Lacharite
Full Professor, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières
Eve Lagacé
Director General, Association of Public Libraries of Quebec
Guillaume Landry
Director General, International Bureau for Children’s Rights
Amelia Landry
Director General, Network of Quebec Perinatal Resource Centers
Pierre Lavoie
Co-founder, athlete and speaker, the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie
Michel leblanc
President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
André Lebon
Former Vice-President of the Special Commission on Children’s Rights and Youth Protection and consultant
Annie lemieux
President, LSR GesDev
Francine Lessard
Executive Director, Quebec Council of Early Childhood Educational Services
Isabelle Lizée
Managing Director, Espace MUNI
Karel Mayrand
President and CEO, Foundation of Greater Montreal
Audrey McKinnon
Executive Director, Quebec Network for Educational Success
Émilie McKinnon-Côté
Volunteer administrator, Quebec Preschool Education Association
Laura O’Laughlin
Vice-President, Analysis Group
Julie paquette
General Manager, Montreal Diet Dispensary
Eric Poulin
President, Order of Optometrists of Quebec
Marie-Josée Richer
Co-founder-owner, PRANA
Sylvie Rochette
Co-founder and Managing Director, Regroupement Partage
Emma Savard
Representative of the regional consultation bodies for early childhood
Caroline Senneville
President, CSN
Amelia Sigouin
Managing Director, La Maison Bleue
Marjolaine Siouï
Director General, First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission
Kim St-Pierre
Olympian (goaltender), Business Development Manager, BOKS Canada
Sandrine Tarjon
Executive Director, Association of Community Day Nurseries of Quebec
Gisèle Tassé-Goodman
President, FADOQ Network
Juan Torres
Full professor, urban planner, School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, University of Montreal
Stephanie Trudeau
Executive Vice-President – Quebec, Énergir
Adina ungureanu
Coordinator of the Family Immigration Observatory, Alliance of Cultural Communities for Equality in Health and Social Services
Corinne Vachon Croteau
Executive Director, Network for a Quebec Family
Raymond Villeneuve
Director General, Association for the Valorization of Paternity