Niki Sinhart - Community Action program for children

I'd like to introduce Niki Sinhart. Niki is the Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) Site Coordinator for Cranbrook, and she facilitates play groups for parents and children from birth to 5 years of age.

How has Covid-19 affected your daily operations, and how are you adapting to keep moving forward?

Due to COVID-19, all play groups shut down during spring break and remain closed. Since then, I have facilitated my groups online. I started a book club for parents on Zoom. I also converted Baby & Me and Wiggle, Giggle & Grow, two of my groups that normally happen in person, to Zoom. I sang songs, read stories and parents had an opportunity to connect with each other. I also sang songs and read stories on Facebook Live once a week which I then saved on my CAPC Cranbrook Facebook page, so people who missed it live can watch it any time. In the summer, I normally facilitate a program at Rotary Park. Instead, we get together on Zoom. Hopefully it will be possible to have in-person groups before too long.

What positive or uplifting things have you seen or experienced happening during this uncertain time?

Parents have been supporting and uplifting each other. I heard about wine fairies visiting each other’s houses. I also think the birthday parades made a lot of children happy during the isolation times. I often see positive messages in people’s windows, sidewalk art and painted rocks on trails in and around Cranbrook. The community has really come together to support each other.

Have you been doing anything in particular to create personal joy or have some fun through all of this?

One of the things I did for work that gave me a lot of personal joy started as a little project around Easter. I hid a stuffed bunny around my house. I took pictures of it peeking out of different hiding places and asked the kids to find Funny Bunny. The kids enjoyed it, so I started bringing it all around town and on hikes. Then I introduced another stuffed bunny into the story that I named Floppy. The two bunnies eventually got married, and I invited the children to send me pictures of them and their favourite stuffed animals, which I photoshopped into Funny and Floppy’s wedding picture. Then the bunnies went on their honeymoon. I sent postcards from their honeymoon to all the children who wanted one. I asked parents where they should travel to next and now I photoshop them into pictures of places around the world once a week on my CAPC Cranbrook Facebook page.

Is there anything you’d like to share, or wish people were aware of right now?

I think it’s wonderful how many people are making the best of this time by cooking, baking, being creative, gardening, doing outdoor activities and spending more time as a family. Hopefully when children look back at this time, they remember playing, creating and being outdoors with their parents. Let’s stay safe and make the best of this!