Language and Literacy in the Early Years – Four Pillars of Learning
Language and Literacy in the Early Years – Four Pillars Of Learning – Pillar #1
by Susie Beghin, RECE, Founder of Alpha’s Discovery Kids
When I sat down to write my book, Learn To Play, my goal was to share the knowledge and learnings that I have personally had during my time as an ECE educator and a mom.
My mission has always been to give children the best start in life, and at the core of this is showing children how to develop the critical skills they need to succeed in life.
Parents and Caregivers are the most important educators for our children, and our goal at Alpha’s Discovery Kids is to help enhance what parents are already doing at home by guiding children through each of our Four Pillars of Learning, allowing them to learn in a meaningful way.
When I developed the Four Pillars of Learning system, my focus was on developing a program that meets a child’s needs from physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual well-being.
The Four Pillars of Learning consist of Language & Literacy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), Physical Activity & Nutrition and Mindful Awareness. These pillars are taught in every classroom in each of our 3 locations.
LANGUAGE & LITERACY – THE FOUNDATION OF ALL PILLARS
Just like the foundation of a house helps support the rest, Language & Literacy is the basis of all the other pillars. However, children cannot learn the other pillars without first learning communication, both spoken and written.
In the early years, especially at the toddler stage, we heavily focus on spoken language, as this is the basis for the eventual skill of reading and writing.
We understand how imperative helping little brains to form is, and we recognize that each stage of growth and development requires focused and unique techniques geared towards helping kids learn and grow to the best of their ability.
When it comes to language and literacy, at Alpha’s Discovery Kids, we understand that the more we speak with children and engage them in real conversation, the better the child will develop these skills.
By teaching language and literacy in a fun and intuitive way that is easy to understand and remember, kids get to be kids while learning! And we don’t leave the learning to just one part of our day – literacy is weaved into every aspect of our children’s day. From listening to language songs during meal times to narrating play, we make learning language part of everything we do.
All of our early childhood educators narrate and label throughout the day. We even label objects with their word (e.g. the word table is taped onto a table) so that sight word memory can be infused throughout the classroom.
And by narrating and providing a play-by-play of what they are doing or using, our teachers can help the children increase their vocabulary in an easy and fun way.
THE JOLLY PHONICS PROGRAM
Here at Alpha’s Discovery Kids, we use the award-winning Jolly Phonics program. This program has been incredibly successful in helping kids learn to read and write in their early years. The program teaches letter sounds instead of the alphabet, starting with the most common letter sounds (S, A, T, etc.).
The goal is to start getting kids familiar with letters they will most often see and use for reading and writing. And by using a play-based program that uses music and song to teach letter sounds and letter names, kids can then piece together the various sounds to make words.
The amazing part of this program is that when kids learn the letter sounds, even if they don’t know the names of the letters yet, they can piece the sounds together to create words. And by blending the sounds, they can start to build and formulate words and, eventually sentences!
We also understand that learning styles will vary from child to child. Our literacy programs work for any type of learner. If your child is an auditory learner, they’ll learn from the catchy songs. If they are visual learners, they’ll learn from the movements and actions. And if they are Kinesthetic, they’ll learn by body movements that accompany the letters.
All of our knowledge and nurturing staff have one goal – to keep your child safe while fostering their creativity in a warm, caring environment while allowing them to reach their full potential.
By being patient and using specific strategies to help build their language skills, it’s amazing to see the progress a child can make.
Our New Mississauga Location is located at 2632 Liruma Road, Mississauga, ON L5K 1Z1. To book a tour or for more information, please contact us at https://www.alphasdiscoveryclub.com/contact/ or call us at 905-823-8257.
Alpha’s New Mississauga Daycare Location Grand Opening event!
Alpha’s Discovery Kids New Mississauga Daycare Location Grand Opening event!
by Susie Beghin, RECE, Founder of Alpha’s Discovery Kids
It’s hard to believe that our new Mississauga Daycare location has been open for 1 month already. This has been a whirlwind of excitement, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be able to welcome more families and children to their new ‘home away from home.’
We are beyond ecstatic about how well-received our new location has been, and we have just wrapped up our fantastic grand opening event, which took place on February 25th, 2023.
I feel a mixture of joy, happiness and sincere gratitude for everyone who supported me along the way and made this newest Alpha’s Discovery Kids location possible. Our event was a true celebration of support and community and I couldn’t be more proud of this brand new centre.
A recap of our grand opening event
A day to remember, our grand opening event was a huge success. In addition to the many new and existing families and children of Alpha’s Discovery Kids, our families, friends, colleagues and community members, we were pleased to have welcomed distinguished guests, Charles Sousa, Member of Parliament of Canada – Mississauga-Lakeshore, Rudy Cuzzetto, Member of Provincial Parliament – Mississauga-Lakeshore and Councillor Alvin Tedjo, Ward 2 Mississauga, and we are incredibly thankful that they took the time to attend and support this event.
Our children are our future, and having the support of all those who attended means the world to us. It was an incredible sight as we were able to see the reactions of everyone who toured our new centre. I couldn’t be more proud to provide a safe space where our children can be cared for in a fun, loving, educational environment.
And earlier this month, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce to our daycare. We are incredibly grateful for the support of Mr. Lecce, and for his participation in celebrating our grand opening.
Our new Mississauga Location
Bright, airy classrooms. Fresh white walls. A blank canvas to create multitudes of amazing memories. Our newest location has been a true labour of love.
And this weekend, we were able to celebrate everything our new location has to offer. With 6 classrooms that can accommodate 93 children, flexibility with both part-time and full-time care available and an inclusive environment where every child is welcome, the feedback we have received has been outstanding.
At the core of Alpha’s Discovery Kids is our unique 4 Pillars of Learning Curriculum. With the first 6 years of a child’s life being the most formative, it is imperative that we help children understand they can grow to be anything they desire.
From Language/Literacy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), physical activity/nutrition and mindful awareness, these 4 Pillars are integral to everything we do. And in our new location, these pillars are reflected in every room you visit.
MPP Charles Souza stated “Early years education is so critical, and we know how important it is in terms of everyone becoming who we are today and leaders of the world thereafter. Using the 4 Pillars of Learning principles that Susie talked about, is essential.”
Alpha’s Discovery Kids offers a family first mentality, caring and experienced teachers and thoughtfully laid out spaces meant to foster children’s creativity while ensuring the well-being of each child is at the forefront.
Each of our Alpha’s Discovery Kids locations echoes our core values while aiming to provide warm, consistent care that helps spark children’s natural curiosity, exploration, play and inquiry. From nurturing staff, to community involvement, to flexible, safe learning spaces, we are pleased to provide our families with childcare they have come to trust.
Our commitment to offering safe, exceptional childcare is our top priority and having the ability to host our families and community members in our newest Mississauga location is truly the icing on the cake.
Thank you to each and every one of those who attended our grand opening celebration and for making it such a great success. We look forward to welcoming families to Alpha’s Discovery Kids!
We can’t wait to welcome you to Alpha’s Discovery Kids!
Our New Mississauga Daycare Location is located at 2632 Liruma Road, Mississauga, ON L5K 1Z1. To book a tour or for more information, please contact us at https://www.alphasdiscoveryclub.com/contact/ or call us at 905-823-8257.
Alpha’s Discovery Kids – Your home away from home
Alpha’s Discovery Kids – Your home away from home
by Susie Beghin, RECE, Founder of Alpha’s Discovery Kids
“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox
Every year, Family Day is celebrated across Ontario to bring families together – to strengthen their ties and celebrate what family means to each of us.
As a parent, nothing is more important to me than my family. And at Alpha’s Discovery Kids, we like to think of ourselves as part of your family, where our goal is to create a nurturing, safe space where every child feels that they are at their home away from home.
It truly takes a village to raise a child, and we certainly take this to heart. With a ‘family first’ mentality, we understand that as a parent, if you are not able to be with your children throughout the day, you want to ensure you’re leaving your child in the care of those who will treat them as you would.
I feel that no other word better encompasses what we do every day than love. And loving each and every child that comes into our doors is what we do best. Being part of the Alpha’s Discovery Kids family means having your own extended family, one who wants the best for each family member and shows this during every interaction.
As an Early Childhood Educator, I fully understand the needs and requirements of children and how daycare can make such a drastic change to their lives. And I feel blessed to be able to provide an environment where each teacher becomes an extension of your family. Where family and core values are incorporated into every child’s learning. Where comfort and safety are a top priority. And where the opportunity to teach children some of their most important life skills is a responsibility each of us takes to heart.
The Alpha’s Discovery Kids Difference
At Alpha’s Discovery Kids, we know that the first six years of a child’s life are the most formative. These are the years when young brains develop rapidly, and children are like sponges, soaking up information and modeling behaviours from those around them.
And it’s only when a child feels loved and secure that they will develop the confidence needed to explore and learn. That’s why each of our ECE teachers are hand-picked for their loving nature and wealth of experience working with children.
Providing the best learning environment possible is at the core of everything we do. And that’s why we have created an emergent, inquiry-based curriculum that sets children up for academic success. With each child’s unique strengths taken into account, we believe in child-initiated and teacher-supported learning experiences that foster their naturally inquisitive nature and cater to their individual needs. We do this by focusing on our Four Pillars of Learning:
- Language/Literacy
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)
- Physical Activity/Nutrition
- Mindful Awareness
With opportunities to create, build and explore abound, we have created a warm and caring environment where kids can be kids.
Every space in each of our Alpha’s Discovery Kids locations has been modelled with a child’s comfort and needs in mind. With classrooms designed to create a feeling of home, we always strive to make the hours they spend away from home filled with learning, familiarity and fun.
From toys that many kids might already have at home to our family board, where children can see photos of their families throughout the day, showing kids that they are important and loved is woven into every single thing our teachers do.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Alpha’s Discovery Kids!
With our Alpha’s Discovery Kids family growing at an incredible rate, we are so excited to welcome more families to become a part of our own.
We have just opened our amazing new Mississauga location and are excited for you to see it! With most spaces being booked on the spot, we encourage you to book a tour today or come to the Grand Opening event on Feb 25th from 10 am – 12 pm.
To book a tour or for more information, please contact us at https://www.alphasdiscoveryclub.com/contact/ or call us at 905-823-8257.
Alpha’s Discovery Kids Celebrates Their 2nd Mississauga Location Opening!
Alpha’s Discovery Kids Celebrates Their 2nd Mississauga Location Opening!
by Susie Beghin, RECE, Founder of Alpha’s Discovery Kids
As I walk into our bright, brand-new Mississauga daycare location, I’m overwhelmed with pride and happiness. From the new shiny floors to the perfectly white walls, I can’t wait to see our newest location transform from a blank canvas into many children’s home-away-from-home.
As an ECE (Early Childhood Educator), and a mom, there is nothing more fulfilling to me than being able to help the many families in our community by providing them with a safe place where their children will be nurtured and cared for in a fun and educational environment.
The History of Alpha’s Discovery Kids
Alpha’s Discovery Kids has certainly transformed since its birth in 2004. We started as Alpha’s Discovery Club, an indoor playground, and evolved into our first daycare location in Mississauga in 2012. Built from ground zero, we started with no students and quickly transitioned to full programs and a packed waiting list and, from there, opened our 2nd location in Oakville in 2019.
And here we are today. Opening our 2nd location in Mississauga – and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
A true labour of love, Alpha’s Discovery Kids is more than just a daycare. It’s many children’s second homes and second families. As a parent, I understand the trust and faith it takes to leave your child in someone else’s care. And that’s why at Alpha’s Discovery Kids, every child in our care is treated as an extended part of our own families. Our children are our most precious gifts, and we always aim to teach and nurture children in a loving, respectful manner. Our goal is to do our best to give them our best.
With over 10 years of experience, we pride ourselves on our family environment, where every single experienced teacher is chosen because they are caring, flexible and nurturing, with a capacity and desire for life-long learning. With an ever-evolving field, we are constantly learning – learning more about children and how to teach them, learning new strategies and techniques and learning how to deliver the best care to every child.
A peek inside our new Mississauga location
“My mission is to give each child the best start in life” – Susie Beghin
The first 6 years of a child’s life are the most pivotal. With a child’s brain growing at an exponential rate, as Early Childhood Educators, we are helping to form these little brains, so they grow and become anything they desire to be.
We consider ourselves blessed to be able to have an impact during these formative years, and it’s why our unique curriculum is the key part of all of our programs at every location. We have developed The Four Pillars of Learning, and these pillars are reflected in every room inside our Alpha’s locations. Our Four Pillars of Learning are Language/Literacy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), physical activity/nutrition and mindful awareness.
Our new Mississauga location embodies everything that Alpha’s Discovery Kids is about. Fresh, clean and inviting, with a capacity of 89 children, we are excited to welcome the newest members of our Alpha’s family. Each classroom has been thoughtfully laid out, from bathrooms set up within the classrooms (with mini toilets made for mini bodies!), to organized storage, to our Four Pillars of Learning areas.
We have 6 classrooms at our new Mississauga location, divided by age group:
- 2 Toddler Rooms (ages 12m-2.5 yr) with a capacity for 14 children in each room
- Junior Preschool Room (age 2.5-3.5 yr) with a capacity for 16 children
- Senior Preschool Room (age 3.5-4.5 yr) with a capacity for 16 children
- Kindergarten Room (age 4-6yr) with a capacity for 13 children
- School Age Room (age 6+ yr) with a capacity for 19 children
With teachers who are always patient, caring and committed to making each child’s experience the best it can be, Alpha’s Discovery Kids is a loving and inclusive daycare whose top priority is the well-being of each child.
We are pleased to offer:
- Flexibility: We understand every family has different needs. We work with each family according to their schedule, offering both full-time and part-time We will always do our best to accommodate your schedule based on availability.
- Inclusive environment:
- Every child is welcome at Alpha’s Discovery Kids. We are a fully inclusive daycare experienced in welcoming special needs children. We also participate in PIRS (Peel Inclusive Resource Services), providing additional support services to children with special needs.
- We celebrate diversity and all cultures at Alpha’s Discovery Kids. We accommodate all dietary restrictions, offer a fully Halal menu, and are Halal Certified. Our menu is designed with a child’s nutrition in mind, and we offer nutritious, hot meals representing all food groups
- Technology: We understand that it can be difficult to leave your child at daycare, and that’s why we use our HiMama app. Giving families peace of mind, the app provides the ability to check in with teachers, see photos and videos of your children, see the schedule of the day’s activities and receive real time reports of your child’s day (including food consumption, sleep schedule, etc)
We’d love for you to come in and take a tour of our new location, and we are now accepting registrations. With many of our families booking on the spot, we encourage you to book your tour today.
The response to our new Mississauga location has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are so happy that our families love our new space.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Alpha’s Discovery Kids!
Our New Mississauga Location is located at 2632 Liruma Road, Mississauga, ON L5K 1Z1. To book a tour or for more information, please contact us at https://www.alphasdiscoveryclub.com/contact/ or call us at 905-823-8257.
10 Years – A Reflection
10 Years – A Reflection
By Susie Beghin
As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Alpha’s Discovery Kids Preschool and Daycare, this is a great opportunity to reflect on the past 10 years and recognize those who have made it all possible.
When I first started the business in 2004, which was originally called Alpha’s Discovery Club, it was an indoor playground that provided educational entertainment and extra-curricular programs for children up to 10 years old. The business evolved over time, and it became clear to me that my dream was to open an education-focused child care facility for young children.
I realized that dream in 2012 – 10 years ago – with the first location in Mississauga called Alpha’s Preschool Academy and Child Care Centre. Over the years, the name changed slightly to what is now known as Alpha’s Discovery Kids Preschool and Daycare.
When we first opened our doors in September 2012, we had 8 children enrolled. Over the years, we have grown to our full capacity of 69 kids and expanded to open other locations in Oakville and Mississauga.
It wasn’t easy to leave my previous “corporate” job and start a new business. But I felt almost compelled to do it and haven’t looked back! It was the best decision of my life. I would say that my inspiration for starting Alpha’s was my son Gabriel, born in 2002. It was by being his mom that I learned that my true passion in life was to work with kids. In 2007, my son John-Michael was born, and he inspired me to pursue the dream of owning my own daycare – which came to reality a few years later in 2012.
We have had some very special educators that have been with us throughout these 10 years that have made a huge impact on our organization. Amanda, Roda, Meg are educators who were with me from the very beginning and are still educating children at Alpha’s. I am so thankful to all our educators – past and present! They have helped us create a unique curriculum called The Four Pillars of Learning. Through their hard work, they have contributed to make Alpha’s a place that I am truly proud of!
When I look back over these years, I can’t help but smile. I think about how lucky I am to be doing something that I love every day. I am truly honoured to be involved in the formation of these precious “Alpha’s kids” in our care. We are so grateful to the parents for their trust and support over the years. These little ones have made me smile and laugh – it is truly a joy to watch them learn!
Finally, I want to give special recognition to my husband, Adriano, who has supported me throughout these 10 years, both financially and emotionally. He has made it possible for me to follow my dream! Without him, Alpha’s would never exist!
Join me on August 27th as we celebrate this special 10th anniversary with a huge carnival theme party!
Here’s the details:
Saturday August 27, 2022
11:00 – 2:00 pm
Free Admission
Sleep Tips for Young Children: How to get a good night’s rest
Sleep Tips for Young Children: How to get a good night’s rest
Some say “never wake a sleeping baby” but what if the baby won’t sleep at all? What if they sleep too much? Knowing how much sleep your child needs can be confusing because it seems everyone has an opinion on the topic and there is so much information to sift through about sleep tips.
Keep in mind that what works for some may not work for all. While some of you may be simply exhausted because your child doesn’t sleep enough, other parents may be experiencing worry about children who sleep too much. Some children will naturally fall below the recommended or typical sleep amounts for their age group and can function well on less sleep. Some children may need extra sleep, but it’s something to monitor because that means less awake time to learn and play. You’ll want to check with your pediatrician if your child’s sleep needs are excessively high or low.
If these topics are keeping you up at night and your child too, you are not alone. Sleep is a big topic among parents and it’s important to remember to stick to the facts. Always use reputable sources of information online, books or consult with your doctor rather then using the advice in a mommy’s group, from a friend or family member. Although the latter may be a trusted source, it’s best to check on that advice with a professional to make sure it is sound.
How Much Sleep Do Children Need?
This chart is a general guide to the amount of sleep children need over a 24-hour period, including nighttime sleep and daytime naps.
| Infants (4 to 12 months old) | 12-16 hours |
| Toddlers (1 to 2 years old) | 11-14 hours |
| Children (3 to 5 years old) | 10-13 hours |
| Children (6-12 years) | 9-12 hours |
| Teenagers (13-18 years old) | 8-10 hours |
Here’s some handy sleep tips that may help your child (and you) get the sleep you need:
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Establish a regular sleep pattern
Establishing a regular sleep pattern is important. It will help your child understand when it is time to sleep. Also, your child will have better sleep. Bedtime shouldn’t vary by more than an hour across all days of the week (even weekends) – whether your child has an early start the next morning or not. The same goes for waking time.
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A consistent bedtime routine
It is good to have the same routine before bed each night. This will help prepare for sleep. Quiet activities are good, such as reading a book or having a bath or shower. In the half hour before bed, there are some things you want to avoid such as active games, playing outside, TV, internet or mobile phone games. These activities will stimulate the child and make it difficult to fall asleep.
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Make sure the bedroom is comfortable
The bedroom should be quiet, comfortable, and dark. Some children like a night light. This is fine. Make sure your child sees the bedroom as a good place to be.
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Bed is for sleeping, not entertainment
Devices and games will distract your child and are not good for their sleep. Keep them out of the bedroom. “Needing” to watch a screen to fall asleep is a bad habit. This can easily develop, but you don’t want it to happen.
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Some foods can disturb sleep
A high intake of sugary or fatty foods has been linked with more restless sleep. Avoid sugary or high fat snacks before bedtime, as well as large meals. A small healthy savoury snack, one hour before bedtime, would be fine.
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Take care with daytime naps
It is normal for young children to nap during the day. As your child gets older, they will need less sleep. This means they will need to nap less. The number and length of naps depends on your child. If your child is not going to sleep at a reasonable time at night, it may be time to shorten or stop daytime napping.
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Exercise and time outside
Daily exercise is an important part of healthy living. It also promotes good sleep. Time spent in bright daylight does the same. Outdoor exercise achieves both these things. It’s best for young children to go outside for at least 2 hours throughout the day to get the physical activity they need. However, it is best to steer clear of vigorous activity in the hour before sleep.
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Work with your doctor
If your child is sick or isn’t comfortable, their sleep will suffer. Some children suffer from specific sleep problems such as frequent nightmares, snoring or sleep apnoea. It is important that these problems are dealt with. If you think ill health is involved, discuss this with your family doctor.
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Specific sleep-related issues in children
The Sleep Health Foundation has a range of helpful fact sheets for children with sleep issues. These include tips on sleep issues for children with ADHD (see ADHD and Sleep in Children) or autism (see Autism in Children and Sleep), as well as more general topics such as bedwetting (see Bedwetting), childhood snoring (see Childhood Snoring and Sleep Apnea) and behavioural problems with settling to sleep (see Behavioural Sleep Problems in School Aged Children).
Sleep is important, not only for your child’s well-being, but yours too! For more information about how we promote children’s well being, check out our programs!
Top 4 Fall Family Fun Activities
Top 4 Fall Family Fun Activities
What are your favourite Fall activities to enjoy with your family?
September has arrived and that means as the leaves slowly change colour, we have a short window to still enjoy some warm (or warm-ish) fall weekends to spend outdoors before Jack frost makes an appearance. As sad as we are to say good-bye to summer there is still so much to enjoy in the fall. Autumn seems to come and go so fast so let’s get a jump on the fun with some outdoor activities with the kids. Here are 4 festive fall ideas to enjoy in September and October during Harvest time …. I can already smell the apple pie…
1. Visit a pumpkin patch
As the harvest season comes to an end, there is nothing more fun than picking your own pumpkin – even if you decide not to carve it. They look lovely on your front step. There are so many beautiful varieties and colors. I especially like the white “ghost pumpkin”.
Here’s a list of pumpkin patches in the GTA.
One of our favorite farms for pumpkin picking is Springridge Farm. It is a beautiful farm with lots of opportunities for children to play in the fresh fall air. With the charming backdrop of this colourful farm, you will be sure to capture your kids in action or the most perfect fall family pictures.
2. Enjoy a Fall Fair
There’s nothing like spending the day at a fall fair and enjoying the food, rides and games. Here is a list of fall fairs across Ontario with a list ranging from very old ones in small towns like the Norwood Fall Fair, to the huge Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.
There are many fairs that will be taking place soon. Oh, how we have missed fairs!
3. Apple Picking
There are many farms to visit at this time of year to get the festive fall feeling we all love. These farms are not limited to just pumpkin picking! Some farms, like these local favorites, Chudleighs and Downey’s, have fun activities for children, apple picking and lovely shops where you can purchase apples and baked goods. Check out this link for more apple picking spots where you can pick your own apples.
4. Get lost in the moment in a Corn maze
Before escape rooms for centuries many have found fun in the challenge of escaping a corn maze. Fall in Ontario brings a variety of farm activities including some amazing corn mazes which can encompass 20 acres! Some are cut in a seasonal or sports theme, but all are a super fun way to spend an afternoon. If you are feeling brave, check out this link where you can find a corn maze to find your way out of!
Enjoy the season! We would love to see you share your fall family pics with us.
Back to school during a Pandemic: What to expect in 2021
Back to school during a Pandemic: What to expect in 2021
After a warm summer, September has finally rolled around and it’s that time of year when our little ones head back to school or perhaps start attending a new daycare or preschool. We are now 18 months into a pandemic and it’s not over yet! We seem to headed toward a fourth wave here in Ontario which will increase our anxiety levels as we strive to find ways to get back to some kind of normal routine while staying safe.
So, what can you expect for this new school year? Many of the COVID protocols and policies for schools and daycares will continue into the 2021-22 school year. Here’s what to expect:
COVID PROTOCOLS
- Screening – Be prepared for daily screening of your child. Whether your child attends daycare, preschool or any type of school, there will be a requirement for the school to screen the child daily to ensure the child is free from COVID related illness symptoms, has not travelled in the last 14 days and that everyone in their household is also healthy and not exposed to anyone with COVID or COVID symptoms.
- Illness – As cold viruses circulate in the Fall/Winter, be prepared to stay home with your child when they are ill for a few days. Also be prepared to get your child COVID tested if you want them to return to school or daycare quickly. Without testing, your child would need to isolate for 10 days.
- Masks – Masking of children over two years old is still recommended by public health. For children in daycare under 5 years old, masks are not mandatory but still recommended at the parent’s discretion. If your child is between 2-5 years old and attending daycare, you will need to decide if your child will wear a mask or not. Starting in Grade 1, masks are mandatory so ensure your child has a comfortable mask that they can wear for long periods of time.
- Face-to-face communication – Much of the communication between teachers and parents will take place via zoom. In daycares and schools, the use of apps makes it easier to communicate with teachers even though you can’t see them face-to-face on a daily basis.
- Hand Hygiene – Ensure your child knows how to properly wash hands and use hand sanitizer.
In addition to these COVID protocols, there’s the regular back to school preparation as well. Here’s some tips to help you prepare:
Back to school
BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS
- Set safety rules for travelling to and from school: if your child walks or rides the bus to school, talk to them specifically about safety rules. For children in daycare, you may want to discuss parking lot safety and suggest that they need to hold your hand while walking from the parking lot to the daycare entrance.
- Label all clothing and supplies (but not where visible): It’s important to label everything that you bring to school or daycare to avoid it ending up in the lost and found. Remember to label on the inside so that it is not visible to strangers.
- Ask your child open ended questions about their day as part of your pickup routine: find creative ways to talk about it rather than the typical question “How was your day?” which normally doesn’t give you much info. Make sure your child understands that it’s okay for them to talk to you and their teacher about their needs or concerns.
- Role play: talk to your child about the new teacher/school/daycare and make it positive. If you are anxious about anything, they will pick up on that and it will cause them anxiety too! You can also role play different situations that may come up at school or daycare such as dealing with conflicts.
I am sure that for most of us, the first few weeks following back to school can be a little crazy. Remember to breathe, take time for yourself and enjoy the moment! Before you know it, your kids will be all grown up!
Especially in the younger years, our children will look to us for reassurance about daycare and school more than we think they will. While a cautious parent is a good parent, a wise parent will take great care to monitor the messages that they are sending to their child. If you start early by teaching your child how to stay safe and lay some ground rules, then you are off to a great start with preparing your child for life in the real world.
For more information about COVID protocols in the upcoming school year in Ontario, Visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-health-and-safety-measures-schools
For more information about Alpha’s Kindergarten program, click here.
Rhythm and Rhyme and Early Literacy
- Rhythm and Rhyme and Early Literacy
Most parents would agree that learning to read is essential for young children. But how do we teach our children to love reading? At Alpha’s Discovery Kids Preschool and Daycare, we think reading and writing are so important that we made Language and Literacy our first pillar of learning in our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum.
Some of our favourite books for toddlers and preschoolers are written by Dr. Seuss. There’s just something about all of those wacky characters, silly rhyming words and colourful familiar stories. It’s always so much fun to invite children into a whimsical place that they will likely want to visit often.
The stories are so simple but are so broadly appreciated by both adults and children. I began to think back to my very first time I read an entire book by myself. In the summer between Grade 1-2, my grandfather gave me a copy of “The Cat in the Hat”. I remember how much I enjoyed the story. I started to flip the pages and wanted to read it again and again, memorized it and began to read it out loud with confidence. Soon after I began playing rhyming games which led to more word exploration with synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms.
The Dr. Seuss books show us that language and literacy can be fun and silly. Many Dr. Seuss books are written with lot of rhythm and rhyming words. Rhythm and Rhyme can help us in many ways. The rhythmic flow can hold the interest of the reader and the audience.
What we especially like about Dr. Seuss books is that his stories are far more than just lovely little springy poems but more of an introduction to language and literacy development. The books offer a bouncy, heavily rhythmic sound which gives the reader and the listener a crash course in early linguistics.
Rhythm is a vital tool for infants to understand when phrases end and begin. It is their first step in learning language and helps them develop a motor pattern. In a similar fashion before you learn to play an instrument you must first develop an understanding of rhythm. In the same way, rhythm helps to teach both language and literacy.
If you would like to learn more about how we teach language and literacy skills and what you can do at home to develop these skills, click on our Youtube video.
Stuffed with Love – Plush Toy Activity and Food Drive
Stuffed with Love – Plush Toy Activity and Food Drive
According to the 2020 Hunger report, food bank use was on the rise pre-COVID -19. With the onset of the pandemic, food banks experienced a surge in demand for food and necessities in communities across the country. As government supports and funding wind down, food bank use is now rapidly increasing. At Alpha Discovery Kids Preschool and Daycare, we understand that families of all tax brackets are struggling to catch up, stay ahead and even keep up. During this special time of year, we want to help, so we have joined “The Compass” in their efforts to gather food items that will be donated to those who really need a helping hand. The Compass is a Food bank and outreach centre located in Port Credit, ½ way between our Oakville and Mississauga centres. Their mission is to provide a place for people to come for help. They offer immediate assistance providing food and living necessities. In addition, they provide practical support, resources, and assistance to individuals with low incomes and or that are facing difficult times and challenges. We have coordinated an event called “Stuffed with Love” where our students will have an opportunity to build and stuff a plush toy called “build a perfect pet” on Dec 17th. We are able to offer these plush toys to our families for no cost thanks to the generous donation of Amber Dinda from Glen Abbey Decor. In addition, during the week of Dec 14-18th we have asked the families to help us stuff & fill something else…. A food donation box. We are accepting non-perishable food items and toiletries, basic needs for living, diapers, feminine products, and pet supplies. Each of our students will bring home a full-sized high-quality plush toy and customized T-shirt as part of the experience. Once they have completed building their “perfect pet” they will take it home with a personalized birth certificate. We are hoping to have a full box of donations from both our Oakville and Mississauga location to be delivered on Dec 21st to The Compass. We know that with all the closures and lockdowns, that these fun events are extra special and mean a lot to our families. It means a lot to us to fill our Alpha’s kids days with meaning and fun activities, but we also want to fill their hearts with opportunities to help others at the same time.