TOTS Program Touches Lives

Five years ago, Paula Doane was a desperate mom. She was new to the Lowell community and spent all her time at home with a shy two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and a boisterous one-year-old son. She didn’t have anyone to talk with about the challenges of parenting, and she was looking for support.

“I even thought about taking out an ad in the paper to try to find someone—anyone—who knew what living with two toddlers was like,” confessed Doane. “But my husband convinced me it was too risky.”

Instead, Doane found Tots On Track for School (TOTS). A conversation at the local library tipped her off to the program, and once she got involved, she was hooked.

“I started by picking up information about parenting from TOTS,” said Doane. “It didn’t take long before my children and I joined our first playgroup. It opened my eyes to a lot of new ways to help my kids.”

TOTS Director, Kathy Cole, said that Doane became one of her most faithful parents, attending playgroups, parent nights, and any event the program had to offer. She regularly volunteered to help, coordinated the bulk purchase of discount-rate books (“I was the book club’s best customer!”), and made file folder literacy games that children could take home to play with their parents.

“I did them all!” says Doane. “While the kids played, the moms worked on games and talked about parenting. My kids still play with the games sometimes.”

Doane says those take-home literacy activities helped her husband Bill also get involved in the children’s learning. He was too busy—and even a little reluctant—to attend TOTS programs, but when the kids brought books and games home, he joined right in.

Today, the Doane children attend kindergarten and first grade in Lowell Area Schools, and both parents are still involved. Both volunteer in the children’s classrooms, and both play an active role at home. Doane is convinced her children are better readers today because of their experiences at TOTS.

“I still remember things I learned by watching Kathy during the playgroups, and I use them now to help my children learn to read,” says Doane.

Cole believes the program also boosts enrollment in local preschools, a factor researchers believe helps children find success in school. She said that it opens parents’ eyes to the benefits of group experiences and learning opportunities.

“I know my kids spent more time in preschool because of TOTS,” agrees Doane. “My daughter needed help separating from me, and TOTS helped her make the transition.”

In fact, kindergarten teachers in Lowell report seeing a difference in the pre-literacy skills of TOTS playgroup and preschool participants, which tells Cole the TOTS program is on the right track.

As for Doane, she has only one regret. “I wish I’d found TOTS earlier. It saved my life.”

For information, contact: Kathy Cole, Student Development Director, Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Center, Lowell Area Schools, 300 High Street, Lowell, MI 49331, (616) 897-8415, KCole@lowell.k12.mi.us.

TOP of the Page