Starting kindergarten is a major milestone in a child’s life. 1, 2, 3 Maternelle nous voici! was created to help five-year-old clients with Developmental language disorders by the team at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal program for Langage et Trouble de traitement auditif (language and central auditory processing disorder).

In summer 2022, roughly 40 children took part an intensive kindergarten preparation group in the form of a week-long day camp. Co-facilitated by specialized educators, speech pathologists, psychoeducators, occupational therapists and social workers, the project aimed to give each child access to the expertise of a specialized interdisciplinary team. The project also included informational café events and parent-child activities to help support parents as their children prepared to start school, a crucial milestone. In a playful learning environment with an around-the-world theme, our young clients were able to develop autonomy in communicating, socializing, and motor skills.

At the end of their week at camp, the young explorers were enthusiastic about what they had learned and proud of their newfound independence. Parents also reported feeling more confident as they entered this next chapter.

After experiencing great success, 1, 2, 3 Maternelle nous voici! will be back in summer 2023.

Project submitted by Catherine Bondo, Speech Therapist and former head of the LTTA (language and central auditory processing disorder) program

Other contributors: Tieu-Binh Huynh, Professional Coordinator, Marianne Paquet, Professional Coordinator, Sarah Gaulin, Professional Coordinator, Catherine Vallières, Speech Therapist, Gabrielle Kègle-Provencher, Speech Therapist, Nadia Simard-Villa, Occupational Therapist, Myriam Cayer, Social Worker, Telma Fernanda Moreno-Moncada, Educator, and Mimi Boisjoly, Special Education Teacher