Infant Program

6 months - 18 months

Our infant classrooms focus on the individual care needed for every child.  The environment is a nurturing, caring and safe classroom where are free to explore and learn. Daily Communication between the teachers and parents will keep you informed about your child's day and developmental milestones.  The Classroom is bright, spacious and consists of developmentally appropriate infant materials and curriculum program.

Toddler Program

18 months - 2 ½  Years of Age

As toddlers take their first few steps, a whole new world begins to unfold. At the Distillery District Early Learning Centre we channel this excitement and energy toward positive growth for the child and their personality. Toddlers will learn to master the art of language and mobility and develop new ways to express their needs. They begin to interact with peers, parents, and caregivers on a more complex level. These new achievements contribute to the toddler's overall feelings of self-esteem and confidence. We encourage children to solve problems, make choices, and practice self-help skills, that will empower them with independence and self-reliance. Our toddler curriculum promotes language and communications skills, social and emotional growth, early cognitive skills and development. The toddler room is arranged so that most of the activities are child-choice. Our structured group activities include art, cooking, music and movement. However, we do incorporate the Reggio Emilia approach in the classroom in a way appropriate to the age of the children. We do follow their interests and often themes arise and are focused for a time, such as "cows" or "babies".

Preschool Program

2 ½  to 4 years of Age

Preschoolers are ready to learn many new concepts including numbers, colours, shapes, size, position, patterning, sequencing and vocabulary. The Reggio Emilia Approach encourages children to explore their interests while deepening their understanding of the world through long term and small group and individual projects. In addition, children will use a wide variety of media including paint, clay, wire and wood, as well as theatre and music to enhance communication and listening skills and stimulate abstract and sequential thinking. Children engage in, and learn about, targeted subjects through active participation in: Discovery science projects, Literary activities, Dramatic play, Computer activities and daily reading aloud. The preschool years are the time when children begin to develop a keen understanding of themselves and a heightened awareness of the world around them. Our Centre offers a preschool curriculum that provides many opportunities for children to demonstrate and practice their decision making and self-help skills in a supportive and safe environment. There is also plenty of time for running, jumping, dancing and developing social skills by functioning as part of a group.

JK/SK Program

4 to 5 years of Age

Our JK/SK program is centered on the early education of your child.  Our unique age specific program and curriculum are designed to move your child ahead developmentally, get him ready for school and teach him important skills in an environment that is warm, nurturing and fun.  We believe a strong foundation from which students can grow to become active participants in life-long learning.

Central to the philosophy of early childhood are the beliefs that:

• all aspects of development are interrelated
• growth and learning are continuous processes
• each individual child is worthy of respect and encouragement.

A Kindergarten program based on this philosophy needs to be a balanced one, providing opportunities for individuals to develop in each of the physical, socio-emotional and intellectual areas. The neglect of one area jeopardizes achievement in the others.  For this reason, our program places emphasis on the development of the whole child.