HOME-BASED EFFORT OFFERS `HEAD START'

With animal crackers scattered across the kitchen table, four-year-old Christina Wolford matched the horses. As a reward, she spread peanut butter between the matching cookies and ate them.

Christina is one of 12 children being served through a new home-based program of the Cape Girardeau Head Start office.

Madonna West, coordinator and teacher of the home-based program, comes to each child's home each week with a series of activities and projects for the children and parents.

Head Start is a federally-funded program for low-income children. The program helps get these children ready to enter kindergarten.

"The Head Start philosophy is that through helping the whole family we can help the child," West said.

Christina's mother, Betty Wolford, said: "She's learned a lot. She counts pretty well and she pretty well knows her numbers. She's learning her colors."

At her lesson this week, Christina made a Mother's Day present using specific colors to make flowers.

Wolford said: "Now she wants to do activities all the time. She doesn't forget and she really enjoys it."

West said 60 children attend Head Start classes at the center.

"But because of the size of Cape Girardeau, there is always a waiting list," she said.

This spring the home-based program was started to serve additional children. Cape Girardeau's Head Start had a home-based program in 1983 but discontinued the program after it moved to a larger facility. The waiting list has again grown.

West said the 12 children who have been in the program this spring will enter the center-based program next fall. West will then work with another group of home-based children.

During her weekly visits, West does an academic project with the child, reads a story and introduces a nutritious snack. "Last week we had `ants on a log' peanut butter inside a piece of celery with raisins on top," she said.

While in the home, West also talks with parents about what the child is doing and what the family might need.

"When we see a need, we try to find a resource that can help," West said.

She also tries to get parents involved with the child's education and development.

West said: "I try to help the parent really become the teacher, similar to the Parents as Teachers program. I tell them `you are the most important teacher your child will ever have.'"

This week, West is giving the children in her program toothbrushes.

"Head Start also does health screenings, helps parents keep immunization records. If a child has a speech problem, for example, we try to get help. We do a lot of things besides just classroom activities."

Twice a month, children get together for a "group socialization day." Parents also meet.

"We are going on field trip May 20 to the airport. A lot of parents told me they had never been to the airport," she said. "It should be a lot of fun for both the parents and the children."