Posted on: Sunday, July 29, 2001

How do you rear peace-loving children?

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Parents, people who work with children and others are invited to learn about the importance of raising warmhearted children and furthering cross-cultural understanding of early childhood development at the Symposium on Early Childhood and Health Development.

The symposium, presented by the University of Hawai'i and Aprica Childcare Institute of Osaka, Japan, will be Aug. 13-16 at the East-West Center, Hawai'i Imin International Conference Center.

"The purpose of the symposium is to support a cross-cultural dialogue about how we can raise children who value peace and non-violence, and working together to make a better world," said Linda Buck, professor of early childhood education at Honolulu Community College.

Buck said the event is geared toward "anyone who is interested in the well-being of young children," whether they are parents, or medical or educational professionals.

The symposium will include seminars with guest speakers and interactive group sessions.

Registration is $25 per day, or $80 for all four days. To register or for more information, call 734-9211.

The event will close with a seminar, free and open to the public, featuring Michael Levine, executive director of I Am Your Child Foundation, and Dr. Hajime Nakamura, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Kobe University School of Medicine. They will discuss topics relating to childhood development, 3-5 p.m. Aug. 16.