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Canaday Book Launch a Huge Success
More than 80 people turned out to celebrate Dr. Helen Canaday, former director of the School of HES's Child Care Education Program. HES hosted a special event to honor Helen's 90th birthday and to kick-off Helen's newly released book, The Wit & Wisdom of Children.
Dr. Helen Canaday has devoted her life's work to empowering, educating, and enjoying children. She started her career at UNCG in 1958 as an associate professor and taught Child Development and Family Relations. She was soon named director of the nursery school and later was appointed director of the combined Preschool Laboratory Programs: the Nursery School, the Toddler-Two Program, the Carter Infant Care Center, and the Carter Child Care Center. Helen retired in 1984 after having worked closely with more than 1000 children and hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students.
The birthday and book event included a video address from Dean Laura S. Sims and a myriad of loving memories from former graduate students, parents of former children within the programs, friends, and family. Associate Dean for Research Marion O'Brien introduced the guest of honor and noted that it was "a great tribute to Dr. Canaday" that she excelled in her field during a time when it was atypical for women to advance so far. Moreover, O'Brien noted that Dr. Canaday continues to be "considered a pioneer in this field."
Dr. Canaday's first motivation was always the children. Over the decades, Helen compiled many of their comments on index cards. Her book is from the collection gathered during a career of teaching, research, education, and one-on-one interaction with "those lovable children." From "Team Players" to "Out in the Big World," Helen included seventeen chapters that encompass the depth of young children and their daily happenings. Through various situations, she shows how individual yet universal-and critical-the early years of life are. Intelligence, innocence, and inquisitiveness flow from the mouths of boys and girls. In addition to the children's anecdotes and CCEP history, Helen gives developmental and social backdrops that continue to be relevant and resonate with parents, grandparents, and caregivers of youngsters.
Dr. Canaday spoke before signing dozens of books, saying that she adored working with the graduate students and especially the parents of the children in her care. And "the one thing I have loved most of all is the children."
When Helen arrived in 1958, the Nursery School Building was newly constructed; under her leadership, the programs enjoyed immense growth and procured international exposure as people visited the model building and groundbreaking programs. Programs were added and then consolidated under her guidance. Today CCEP serves as the lab school for the Human Development and Family Studies Department of UNCG's School of Human Environmental Sciences, and the program has six classrooms located in three different buildings on campus.
Book sales will benefit the planned consolidated child care center. Helen's desire is that The Wit & Wisdom of Children will inspire others to give generously toward the consolidated center that will unite these programs under one roof. Copies of the book are available through the HES Dean's Office by donation only (minimum donation of $25 plus shipping). For more information e-mail Emily Caudle or call her at 336-256-1461.
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