Overview
We offer a wide range of developmentally appropriate activities for children 0-12years to explore and experience. We have wonderful indoor and outdoor facilities, and our Child Care Team provides warm, caring environments, that promotes positive social skills, problem solving and self-discipline. We know that children learn by doing, and as such, we implement a play-based program. This means the children are our focus and the activities are developed from the interests and developmental needs of the children in our program.
NHCS provides a challenging, caring environment that enhances your child’s emotional, social, physical and intellectual development. Through play experiences and the guidance of qualified Early Childhood Educators, children learn about their world.
With the children’s interests and needs at the forefront our programs are planned to develop:
curiosity, initiative and independence
self esteem and decision making capabilities
interactions with and respect for others
physical activity to develop gross motor skills
communication & literacy skills
fine motor skills
Children are grouped by age so that broad developmental similarities in interest, skills and attention may be considered in program planning, physical space and equipment. The number of program staff required is the minimum number needed to supervise and care for the children and provide programming which fosters learning and healthy development. NHCS is responsible for ensuring that ratios are maintained at all times, including during outdoor play and activities off the premises. Ministry of Education parameters around ratios and maximum group size ensure that there is appropriate adult supervision and care for the number of children in the room.
“Children are competent, capable of complex thinking, curious, and rich in potential. They grow up in families with diverse social, cultural, and linguistic perspectives. Every child should feel that he or she belongs, is a valuable contributor to his or her surroundings, and deserves the opportunity to succeed. When we recognize children as capable and curious, we are more likely to deliver programs and services, that value and build on their strengths and abilities.”
(HDLH? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. (Pg.6). 2014.)
For information about NHCS child care fees, click here.
For information about subsidized childcare click here.
Outdoor Play
Outdoor play is an important component of our programs and we provide activities no matter what the weather. It is important that children come dressed for the weather to enjoy the advantages of playing outdoors.
The Ministry of Education requires that children are outside involved in play activities for a minimum of one hour in the morning and again during the afternoon program.
Children thrive where they can engage in vigorous physical play in natural outdoor spaces. In addition to providing physical benefits, active play outdoors strengthens functioning in cognitive areas such as perception, attention, creative problem solving, and complex thinking.
(HDLH? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. 2014.)
Being active can help young children stay healthy, improve movement skills, have fun and feel happy, develop self-confidence and improve learning and attention.
As described in How Does Learning Happen?, research suggests that allowing children to actively explore and investigate what they are naturally curious about, to test their limits, take manageable risks appropriate for their age and abilities, and engage in creative problem-solving is critical for children’s physical and mental health and well-being.
Not all outdoor play needs to be high energy or focused on gross motor skills. Children benefit from a variety of opportunities to engage with the natural world, including exploration, investigation and observation of the environment.
A growing body of research suggests that connecting to the natural world contributes to children’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Children should be provided opportunities to engage with nature regardless of where the child care centre is located. All varieties of natural environments provide opportunities to enhance children’s sense of wonder and joy in the world around them, from large urban centres with small patches of green space to rural programs with vast fields and forests.