Educational Philosophy
About Light & Salt Programs
Light & Salt Family Day Home offers a personalized care environment, where I am able to provide individual attention and care to each child. Located in a residential setting, and provides a familiar and homely environment for children, which can help them feel comfortable and secure. With smaller group sizes than center-based child care programs, I can offer a more intimate and individualized learning experience, children may develop a stronger relationship with me, which can promote healthy social and emotional development and also makes the learning flows naturally.
Before and After School Care
After a long day at school, children are ready for a break to rest and/or spend time doing what they love. At the comfort of a "second home," the children can socialize, play and develop projects and hobbies that best fit their unique personality. At Light & Salt Family Day Home they will have the following:
- Free playtime
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Building blocks, pretending play, open-ended materials, board games, and more
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Free art experience like drawing, colouring, melting beads, bracelets, etc
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Sensory experiences like Play dough and clay
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Quality Books
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Outdoor play - backyard mud kitchen, Playground, Sports, Lake Sundance facilities, including courts, ice skating (according to season)
- Craft projects - painting, cooking, sculpting, sewing, gardening
- Clubs - according to children’s interests (dancing, acting, singing, building, crafting, sports etc.)
- Music, Art, Nature and Literature appreciation - Charlotte Mason's approach
- Field Trips (PD Days)
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Included:
PD Days
Afternoon Snack
Quiet/Resting time (if the child needs it)
Pick up and drop off (Sundance/Midnapore neighbourhood schools)
Early Childhood Education
When I look at a child, I don’t see the future, I see the present. From zero to 6 years, the child’s brain creates the foundations that will guide the child for her whole life! That means that early childhood is the perfect time to develop social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills.Play is the natural language for children to learn. Think about yourself: is much easier to learn something you enjoy than something boring that doesn’t apply to your reality. If it is hard for adults to learn in a boring way, can you imagine how much harder it is for children? This is why play is the base for learning in my philosophy. Children are mighty learners and we need to explore their interests to make the learning happen!Another key point is the uniqueness of each child. Doesn’t matter the age, each child has preferences, interests, family structure, and cultural background, and something that works perfectly for one child, could make no sense at all for another. Some 3 years old can show interest in letters and reading, while other 3 years old can love music and sports! I recognize and respect it, but I explore each child's interest to make her or him go further! Additionally, language, math, art, science, and technology can be anywhere! In a song, a child can expand their vocabulary. In art, they can learn about shapes, colours and patterns. And we should not forget that daily life experiences are powerful sources of learning, like chemistry when we cook or mix colours or social and emotional skills and we learn how to wait for the cake to be ready to eat. Learning is everywhere!As the base of my philosophy I have an emergent Curriculum, Flight Alberta framework curriculum, How Does Learning Happening (Ontario framework curriculum), Reggio Emilia approach, a little bit of Montessori and lots of outdoor play!For children that are ready for it, we will work on phonics in a fun way, as well on name printing and math basic concepts.Last, but not least, a trustful relationship is the foundation. Love, care and trust will always come first. Even more important than learning, I will work hard to create a meaningful relationship with the children and their families, and I know that this is the foundation for everything else!
