Wonder Child: The ECE Lab

  Hello to all my wonderful parents and curious minds! As I sit here today, I’m reminded of a moment in my  centre  last week. A little girl picked up a simple, smooth grey stone. To anyone else, it was just a rock. But to her? At first, it was a piece of gourmet birdseed for her imaginary feathered friend. A few minutes later, that same stone became a sturdy stepping stone, connecting a path across a "lava" floor. This is the beauty of  Loose Parts Play . I know it can feel a bit daunting or even "messy" to some parents—seeing a basket of sticks, stones, or wooden rings instead of a shiny new gadget. You might wonder, "What do they even do with this?" But let me tell you, as an ECE with 20 years of experience,  when a toy has no fixed purpose, the child’s imagination becomes its engine.  Today, let's explore why these simple materials are often more beneficial for deep creative thinking than highly stimulating electronic toys. 1. Cultivating the ...

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow explorers of childhood! Spending time with four-year-olds often feels like stepping into a world filled with endless questions, dramatic stories, and surprisingly thoughtful conversations. One moment, we are making a school bus craft together, and the next, a child is asking me whether astronauts bring snacks into space. I often find myself smiling during conversations with this age group because four-year-olds are wonderfully curious, imaginative, and eager to understand how the world works. Just recently at our  centre , I watched a group of four-year-olds spend nearly twenty minutes carefully building a “road to go home” out of blocks. They eagerly explained how the road needed hills, signs, and turns “just like a real road,” showing just how deeply children at this age observe and recreate the world around them. Moments like these remind me that four-year-olds are no longer toddlers; they are becoming more socially aware, emotionally...

  Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating those first wobbly steps, and now, here we are in the vibrant 25 to 30-month stage. As an Early Childhood Educator in Canada for over 20 years, I’ve always found this particular window to be full of "musical magic." Just the other day at my centre, I was playing one of my favourite transition songs, "Tap Your Toes." There’s a specific part where the lyrics go,  "Knock your knees," requiring the children to intentionally bring their knees together.  I watched in awe as a few of our 30-month-old "experts" concentrated so hard, successfully knocking their knees with the biggest grins on their faces. It’s a seemingly small movement, but it represents a significant leap in muscle control and the cognitive ability to process complex instructions. In today’s post, we’ll explore the physical and mental milestones that make this age so spectacular. 1...

Hello to all my wonderful parents and fellow educators! The 19 to 24-month stage is often filled with endless movement, curiosity, and a strong determination to do everything independently. One little child at our centre insisted on “sweeping” the floor every single visit. She would carefully copy every movement she saw adults making, completely focused on her important job. Moments like these are a wonderful reminder that toddlers learn so much simply by observing the world around them. At this age, children are no longer content with simply watching adults; they want to participate. Whether they are pretending to cook, carrying tiny bags around the house, or trying to “help” with laundry, toddlers are beginning to see themselves as capable members of their family and community. This growing independence may feel chaotic at times, but it is also an important stage for language development, symbolic play, emotional growth, and physical coordination. Today, let’s explore how this exciti...

  Welcome back, wonderful parents and caregivers! If you feel like you’ve finally started to catch your breath, you’re not alone. Many parents tell me that the first six months are the most challenging as everyone adjusts to a new world. But around the seven-month mark, a beautiful shift happens. You may begin to feel more comfortable  going  out again,  meeting  friends, and  engaging  with the world again.   Most importantly, your baby is becoming much more engaged with you and the world around them. Between 7 and 9 months, many babies enter a stage I like to call the “Interactive Explorer.” This is when your baby shifts from mostly observing the world to actively engaging with it. You may notice them reaching, rolling, scooting, or even attempting to crawl. At the same time, they begin to connect socially—responding to your voice, copying your gestures, and showing excitement during interactions. It’s an exciting stage full of discovery, ...