INUVIK
Some days, the life of an MLA is child's play.

Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses gives Blaze Neyando a lift while he spent the morning of Nov. 20 working as a staff member at the Children's First Centre as part of National Child Day. Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses spent the morning of Nov. 20 chasing after the children of the Children's First Centre. It was part of an invitation to elected officials to mark National Child Day.

Patricia Davison, the executive director of the centre, said "this year Children's First has taken up UNICEF's challenge of Bring an MP to school today, with a little twist. Alfred Moses has agreed to be an early childhood practitioner for the morning.

"He will be in the centre working with the Preschool 2 team to implement the usual program and routine."

Although Moses has no children of his own, he explained that he's a practised hand with them, having nine nieces and nephews between his siblings.

"Ever since I was in high school I've had nieces and nephews to look after and watch," he said.

Moses added with a grin that one of his favourite tricks was to ply the children with candy and sugar starting about an hour or two before he took them home.

"I'd just fill them up with sugar, drop them off and say, 'They're all yours now,'" he said with a face-cracking smile. "Their parents would get so mad at me.

"I took up the challenge today and it's been great," Moses added. "These kids are so smart and so well-behaved. They've got great manners, and the kids are teaching me."

He promised not to make any jokes about his time in the legislative assembly being good preparation for spending the morning as a child-care practitioner.

"Just kidding," he hastened to add.

He also laughed when he was asked if he planned to stay around for the afternoon, when the children had naptime.

"No, no, I have an event this afternoon."

Moses said the experience gave him a new appreciation for the work early childhood educators do every day, and reminded him of the importance of the GWNT providing the promised money to top up their wages, which hasn't yet happened.

"They earn it every day," he said.

Davison said "Alfred's doing well."

"He's got great energy, and he's having fun with it. As you can tell from the noise level and energy, it take a lot to keep up with the children," she said.

National Child Day has been celebrated across Canada since 1993.

"National Child Day is a day where we celebrate our children and our investments into the future of our territory and country.

"We also celebrate, acknowledge and recognize the rights of the child and the importance that our placed on us to ensure that each and every child has a right to an adequate standard of living, health care, education, play and protection," Moses stated in a news release associated with the event.

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