Our programs

Toddler and Preschool Centres | Infant Centre | Field trips

Small care-giving groups and a respect for cultural diversity provide a safe and supportive setting. Parents are invited to share their knowledge about their children and we welcome parent visits during the day. Our qualified educators create these supportive environments where respectful caring and various learning experiences occur. Since children learn through the provisions of play experiences, our programs are open-ended and flexible. Each child is free to make choices, as long as he/she remains within the guidelines of consideration for others.

Toddler and Preschool Centres – Daily Routine

Each of the Toddler and Preschool Centres at both campuses offer the following components as part of their daily routine. These components support our overall philosophy and are intended to provide for the holistic development of our 18 month–5 year old children.

Welcome and Separation
Caregivers work in partnership with parents to help the children transition into the program in a positive way.

Free play
Children learn through their play throughout the day. Learning to make a choice is a significant emotional development empowering children to be in touch with their own interests for the day. The number of toys and the amount of equipment available in each area varies with the needs of each group of children.

Transition and Clean-up time
All children are helped with caregiver support and modeling to put away their play materials or equipment.

Toileting/Hand washing/Diapering
Personal hygiene is encouraged throughout the day and modeled by the caregivers. Children are supported in hand washing and encouraged to conserve water and paper. Toddlers are always encouraged to use the toilet and we provide a relaxed and comfortable transition to toilet learning according to each child’s needs. Preschoolers are always reminded to use the toilet before all transitions. Individual ability and awareness are respected when toileting.

Snack time
At snack time, children sit at a table, usually in assigned seats. Caregivers prepare the snacks for the children and sit at the tables to model healthy eating habits and table manners. This is a time for language development and socializing.

Group time
Children gather for a large group time. This may consist of children listening to stories, playing dramatic role games, using musical instruments, singing, dancing, movement, and various other learning opportunities.

Outside play
We believe in the importance of outdoor play so the children play outside both in the morning and in the afternoon, rain or shine. The amount of time spent outside can be shortened due to weather conditions. While outside, children are encouraged to try to do things on their own. We encourage each child’s independence yet remain close to ensure safety and provide support if needed. Large muscle play such as sand, water, riding toys, climbing, and sliding is encouraged. The natural outdoor setting also provides many learning and discovery opportunities.

Lunch
Families provide lunches and caregivers ensure all food is adequately prepared for each child. As in snack time, caregivers sit at the tables while children are eating their lunches. This enables the caregivers to get to know the lunch habits of each child and monitor how much each child eats on a daily basis.

Nap/Resting time
In the nap rooms or areas, each child has his/her own mat/cot and bedding is placed in the same spot each day. Children are encouraged to bring a stuffed toy from home which they can cuddle. The room is darkened and soft music is played. Caregivers stay in the room to help the children settle. Children’s individual rhythm is respected and, gradually, as children wake on their own, they join their peers in the main playroom.

Departure
Parents assist their child in the transition to home. We strongly encourage parents to connect with a caregiver before leaving. Parents are also requested to sign out their child on the attendance sheet before leaving.

Daily Schedule
Note: times are approximate

Infant Centre (newborn – 18 months) – Daily Routine

Primary care is offered in our Infant Centre where the caregiver will strive to be in tune with each infant’s unique cues and needs. The caregiver will have four infants in their care and works in partnership with the family to ensure consistent care and a trusting reciprocal relationship is formed. Care is balanced between times for meeting the infant’s personal needs for eating, sleeping and diapering, and times for exploration of a developmental “play” environment.

As the schedule for the Infant Centre is driven by the individual needs of each child, the following topics will provide you with clarity around how our infant centre operates:

Personal Care
Personal care times with an infant’s primary caregiver maximizes a secure relationship by fulfilling the infant’s needs for unhurried one on one time through open dialogue, cooperative participation in their care and warm engaged individual attention.

Physical and Intellectual Development
Independent exploration is infant’s work. Therefore, educators allow for long uninterrupted times for play and to foster interactions between infants. Infants are encouraged to grow and learn in an environment that changes according to their individual developmental level. We do not use high chairs, walkers, bouncers, cuddle seats or any other devices that immobilize infants, nor prop infants in any ways that encourage them to do something that they may not be physiologically capable of doing.

Emotional Support
Caregivers will help infants recognize and accept the various emotions they experience and support their natural ability to partake in the process of solving their own problems and/or calm themselves. It should be noted that caregivers do not pick up an infant the moment they begin crying, instead, caregivers will read the infant’s cues (hunger, fatigue, or frustration) and move closer to the child to observe and respond appropriately.

View our Daily Schedule. Note: times are approximate.

Field trips

Child Care Services recognizes the importance of field trips, both on campus and off campus, as a program enhancing tool and values the learning opportunities that these activities can provide. We will notify you in advance of any on-campus excursion and, if we plan an off-campus excursion, we will seek additional permissions from you.