Play is the highest form of research.

Bumble Bee Garden Child Care is committed to offering a warm and cozy home-away-from-home for children (18 months to 5 years) where they light-up and joyfully look forward to coming to play, explore and learn. We believe in creating an environment where children make friends and wonderful memories, and where parents have the peace of mind of knowing that their child is in a safe and peaceful environment,  where they are being cared for with the same kindness, warmth, and love that they would get at home. 

A primary focus of the centre is to ensure that children are happy.  We believe that there are many benefits that come from children enjoying their first learning experience outside the home.  Children are encouraged and supported as they develop key skills that prepare them for the next stage of their developmental and educational journey. We teach lifelong learning behaviours: kindness, collaboration, and independence while encouraging good manners. 

Learning is fostered through play. A play-based emergent curriculum is implemented by the kindest and most encouraging educators who are committed to providing a warm and stimulating environment filled with engaging activities. With consideration to the uniqueness of each child in our program, activities and experiences are balanced to incorporate indoor and outdoor play, with opportunities for active play, rest/quiet time, and small group teacher facilitated activities. 

The foundation of this philosophy is based on the view that children are competent, capable, curious and rich in potential. This is in alignment with the Minister of Education’s policy governing child care in Ontario, the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and the provincial framework to guide programming and pedagogy in licensed child care settings, How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. 

The Ontario Ministry of Education's framework to guide programming and pedagogy in licensed child care settings, How does learning happen? Ontario's Pedagogy for the Early Years is based on the latest research, theory and practice on what’s most important for children. It guides program development and implementation, organizing early childhood programming into four interconnected foundations. 

• Belonging: cultivating authentic, caring relationships and connections 
• Well-being: nurturing children’s healthy development and supports their growing sense of self 
• Engagement: providing an environment and experiences to engage children in active, creative and meaningful exploration, play and inquiry
• Expression: fostering communication and expression in all forms 

We believe deeply in life long learning. To ensure our programs consistently achieve the highest standards of quality, and that we are in alignment with best practices, we regularly review literature from the top minds in the field. 

 If you are interested in reading along, below are some helpful resources in Early Learning and Early Childhood Education. 

“How Does Learning Happen?” Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/pedagogy.html

Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/oelf/

Think, Feel, Act: Lessons from Research About Young Children http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/ResearchBriefs.pdf

Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University

https://developingchild.harvard.edu

The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/programCCEYA.pdf