Program

Infants – 6 months to 18 months 

We offer full and part-time programs for this age group. Each program offers a caring and stimulating environment that helps each infant meet their needs. Personalized schedules are encouraged when your child commences, but as they grow, develop, and become familiar with our staff, we encourage schedules and feeding times to change, to ensure an easier transition into the next program they may be entering. Daily activities, crafts, songs, games and age appropriate toys surround your child. Infants also experience two hours outdoors (1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon) where children are encouraged to explore their world in a safe and loving environment. The teacher/child ratio in our infant rooms is 1:3, and our infant rooms have a capacity for up to 9 children.

Toddlers – 18 months to 30 months

We offer full and part time programs that help stimulate physical and mental growth. In this program, planned indoor and outdoor activities give children the freedom to explore in a safe and stimulating environment. Our classrooms encourage both, physical and emotional exploration. The guidance of teachers is very important for this age group. Our carefully selected R.E.C.E teachers will help encourage age appropriate abilities, such as verbal communication and social interaction. We provide a hot lunch and two snacks daily. Our teachers also introduce “toilet training” in this program, and help the children get onto a routine so they can become successful. The teacher/child ratio in our toddler rooms is 1:5. and our rooms have a capacity for up to 15 children.

Junior Preschool – 2 ½ to 3 years

Your preschooler will enjoy our spacious, well lit rooms! Our program will encourage your child to explore language, literacy, mathematics, classification, social interaction, creative experiences, drama, and music. The teachers plan activities based on the interests of the children. Your preschooler will spend lots of time running, jumping, being messy and developing social skills. They also become aware, and learn to function as part of a group in a fun and enthusiastic way, both indoors and outdoors. A hot lunch and two snacks are also served on a daily basis. The teacher/child ratio for this classroom is 1:8, and has a capacity for up to 21 children.

Senior Preschool – 3 to 5 years

Preparation for Kindergarten is the key element for the senior preschool program. Small Wunders offers this full day program which is designed to introduce Language, Math, Science, and Creative Arts. We are able to be more hands on with the children because our teacher/child ratio remains lower than those in the public education system. Our teacher/child ratio for this classroom is 1:8 and has a capacity for up to 24 children. This full day program also allows children to remain in one consistent place throughout the day, and allows them to still enjoy the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive aspects that their daycare program has to offer. The preschool group is encouraged to rest during a designated “rest time.” This group is also provided a hot lunch and two snacks throughout the day.

Program Statement

Small Wunders Child Care Centres believes that children are competent, capable of complex thinking, curious and rich in potential. Children are intrinsically motivated to learn and when provided with enriched environments, nurturing adult interactions, support and the freedom to explore, they become self motivated learners.

The understanding of children has evolved over time and is influenced by ongoing research, experience, collaboration with families and community partners. Our ability to adapt and change has allowed Small Wunders Child Care Centre to be responsive for children and families.

Children’s social and emotional growth is at the forefront of our mission. Our caring, trained and nurturing staff promote children’s social and emotional development. We know that these are key foundational skills for success later in life.

All families come from different backgrounds. Parents are children’s first and most important teachers, and always want what is best for their children. We believe that when your children are out of your care, the support system you choose for your children should help raise resilient, healthy, and successful people. We recognize that parents are the experts of their children and know them best. Small Wunders works hard to create a safe, warm and inviting place for children and their families to learn and grow together. Parents are always welcome to participate, share, network and get involved at Small Wunders.

As providers of high quality licensed child care in Burlington and Mississauga, we participate in Quality Initiatives from both regions. We are governed by the Ontario Ministry of Education and regulated by the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. Small Wunders has embraced and is working with the Ministry of Education’s release of the “How Does Learning Happen” framework. This framework has been the inspiration for our program statement.