A Standard of Excellence:

Over the past several years our centers have set a standard of excellence in all areas of child care. We not only strive to meet the standards set by children services, we rise above, each and every day to be a center of quality care in all areas of child care. We provide a child-centered, safe, caring and nurturing environment that encourages, stimulates and fosters a child’s self-esteem and growth.

Each child’s individuality is respected and valued as an important contribution to our center and the daily experiences. Children are encouraged to explore and learn at his or her level with the guidance and loving support of our qualified caregivers.

A play-based approach to children’s learning and development is the basis for our program planning and delivery of activities. Children use play to explore their environment, understand and make sense of their feelings, and develop their social skills among their peers. Our holistic program encompasses every area of a child’s development – social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional development. Each room is designed to offer a variety of centers with countless opportunities for the children to grow in each of these areas. As well, the children are encouraged, through modelling and guidance to build appropriate social skills, gain a sense of self and celebrate their many accomplishments as they grow and learn.

Child Care Philosophy:

The child care philosophy, which provides the basis for our daycare policies and practices, is outlined below:

a) Each child is an important individual with varying and changing needs, abilities and interests.
b) Each child is viewed as a “whole”, developing in all aspects-physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and in the use of language. Each aspect of development is of equal importance. The relationship between each of the developmental areas is crucial. It is impossible to separate them.
c) Children learn best in an atmosphere of trust and encouragement, an in an environment which encourages safe exploration through the senses of play.
d) The family has the most critical influence on the child’s development. It is essential, that the daycare staff develop an effective partnership with each child’s family.

Educational Philosophy:

Our child care environment is best described as open-ended and child oriented. We attempt to flow with the unique events that arise spontaneously from the ideas and thoughts of the children involved in our program. The adults are responsible for structuring for the environment to be full of appropriate choices, helping to make choices, playing with children involved in the consequences of their choices, and extending the child’s experience by leading them to more information related to the choices made.

Infants (0-19 months): Encourage and provide experiences for infants to develop speech, gross and fine motor movements, and social skills. Provide infants with one-to-one interactions to develop trust and bonding.

Toddlers (19-36 months): To encourage language acquisition and speech development. To promote social skills which include sharing, toilet training and manners. Encourage both fine and gross motor skills.

Preschool and Kindergarten (3-5 years): Encourage positive interaction with peers, communication and listening skills with children to aid problem solving, further development of fine and gross motor skills, appropriate responses to anger and frustrations (i.e. verbal responses rather than physical outbursts), and demonstrate the importance of personal hygiene.