Family time

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Tech. Sgt. Steven Stewart, 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels specialist, and his wife Kimberly, spend time with their one-year-old daughter Bethany during the Child Development Center’s Friendship Day here Feb.17. The Friendship Day event allowed parents to visit the CDC and participate in activities with their children. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Joshua Green)

Family togetherness

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Parents and children from the Child Development Center here spend time making cookies during the center’s Friendship Day held Feb. 17 here. The event allowed for parents to visit with their children at the center and see how they spend their days at the facility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Joshua Green)

CDC Friendship Day brings parents and children closer

Published Feb. 23, 2009
By Airman Brigitte Brantley
23rd Wing Public Affairs

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Moody's Child Development Center here hosted Friendship Day Feb. 13 as part of its parent involvement curriculum.

Friendship Day is an annual event that allows parents to spend time with their children while in the CDC environment.

"It's important for me to see my son in this environment," said Maj. Heather Lengel, 23rd Wing staff judge advocate. "This way, I get to know the other children and teachers that my child is with during the day."

Each month, the CDC hosts a different parent involvement activity. For more information on CDC activities, call 229-257-4024.

"We concentrate on friendship as a way to accommodate the different beliefs and traditions of all the families," said Karen White, 23rd Force Support Squadron CDC director. "It helps reinforce friendship in the parent-child relationship."

While the activities are to support the children, the needs of the parents are also kept in mind.

"We vary the activity times between morning, afternoon and evening to accommodate the parents' schedules," said Linda Smith, CDC program technician. "It also allows parents to be more involved with the daily life and routine of their children as they get the chance to see what their children are doing at different times of the day."

The working parents appreciate the effort put forth to make sure they have the opportunity to attend.

"I'm at work all day, so this is a good time to come interact with my son," said Tech. Sgt. Paola Durham, 23rd Medical Group medical technician. "I get to come in and participate; they always have good stuff going on here."

The programs always get a really good turnout, said Ms. White. "I put a lot of effort into making sure our calendar reflects a wide variety of times and activities."