Early Knowing Centre Literacy Activities in the house 18424
Literacy blooms in daily minutes, not just throughout circle time on a class carpet. If you have a preschooler who lights up at storytime or a toddler who drags a crayon across the wall and calls it a "dragon," you already know this. The habits that construct confident readers and expressive authors begin with the method we talk, listen, explore print, and play with noises. Families typically ask what they can do in the house to enhance what their child finds out at an early learning centre or daycare centre. The brief response: more than you believe, and it doesn't need a teaching degree, a Pinterest board of crafts, or expensive materials.
I have actually worked together with teachers in certified daycare programs and neighborhood preschools enough time to see which home activities actually move the needle. These practices feel basic, however they are stealthily powerful when done consistently. They likewise make life with young kids more linked and less transactional. Listed below, you'll find methods that fold into hectic routines and still fulfill the requirements that early childcare experts appreciate, from phonological awareness trusted daycare South Surrey to print ideas and oral language.
How early learning centres approach literacy
A quality early knowing centre integrates literacy across the day instead of isolating it to one block. Educators weave in abundant vocabulary throughout snack discussions, label shelves to cue print awareness, set out open-ended writing tools, and invite kids to determine stories. They prepare little group activities connected to developmental objectives: segmenting syllables with claps, matching uppercase and lowercase letters, narrating image sequences. The method is playful however intentional.
When families look up "preschool near me" or "daycare near me," they often want reassurance that literacy becomes part of the strategy. Ask how the centre reads aloud, whether children get to deal with books individually, and how composing emerges in projects. In places like The Learning Circle Childcare Centre, for example, I've seen teachers keep clipboards in the block location for "plans," include dish cards to the dramatic play cooking area, and turn nonfiction books to match children's present fascinations. These choices matter more than the size of the library.
Now the home side. You do not need a classroom corner stocked with leveled readers. You require intentionality. The following sections break down what to do, why it works, and what to watch for.
Talk first, always
Reading rests on language. Long before kids connect letters to noises, they discover that words carry meaning and that discussions have shape. The biggest literacy lift in your home originates from premium talk, not expensive phonics drills.
Aim for back-and-forth exchanges. If your toddler says "truck," withstand the fast "Yes, a truck." Broaden it: "Yes, a glossy red fire truck with a high ladder. It's spraying water." You've included adjectives, syntax, and story components. At dinner, narrate your day in a manner your child can track. Give precise terms for everyday things like whisk, envelope, invoice, and zipper, not just "thingy" or "things." Vocabulary grows in context.
On strolls, use time markers: the other day, today, tomorrow. Spatial words too: beside, between, under, behind. These anchor future understanding. Keep an ear out for their pronunciations and grammar peculiarities. If your three year old states, "I goed," mirror back with natural modeling, not a correction that halts the flow: "Oh, you went to the park. Who did you see there?"
Read aloud like a writer, not a narrator
Most families read at bedtime. That's a start, however literacy grows when books appear in daytime, noisy-moment, waiting-room life. Spread them where your child lives: near the shoes, beside the cereal, in the restroom basket. Turn weekly to keep curiosity fresh.
During read-alouds, slow down. Trace a finger under the title. Call the author and illustrator. Point out endpapers or speech bubbles. Without turning the night into a lesson, you are modeling print conventions. Select books with rhythmic text for young children and layered stories for preschoolers. Mix fiction with nonfiction. A three years of age's fascination with buses can carry an info book, a counting reader, and a photo-heavy guide about road signs.
Many teachers in early child care programs utilize interactive techniques, typically called dialogic reading. You can too. Ask "What do you notice?" instead of "What color is the pet?" Time out before turning the page so your child can predict what occurs next. If they lose interest, pivot: "Let's inform the story with the pictures." It still counts.
One caution: it's appealing to pick up an understanding quiz after every page. Keep concerns open and infrequent so the story keeps its music. The goal is delight and immersion as much as skill.
Print awareness without worksheets
Children gradually discover that print carries meaning, runs delegated right in English, and is made of letters that remain steady. Residences loaded with labels and indications function as mini classrooms. Tape your child's name to their drawer, label kitchen bins, write "mail" on a shoebox near the door. When you make a grocery list, state it aloud while writing. Show how your hand moves across the page. Invite your child to "sign" their art with a scribble, then talk about the letters you see in their name.
Menus, leaflets, calendars, and shop receipts are all literacy tools. In the vehicle, read signs together. Start with ecological print your child already acknowledges, like logos. As interest grows, point out the very first letter of words and the noise it makes. Do this sparingly and playfully. If you press too difficult on letter-of-the-day worksheets, lots of kids shut down. There will be time later on for formal phonics. In the meantime, the intention is discovering, not mastering.
Phonological play in the margins of the day
Phonological awareness is the umbrella term for hearing the sounds of language, from big chunks like words and syllables to small phonemes. This skill anticipates reading success highly, and it develops through video games, not drills.
Turn regimens into sound play. At breakfast, clap out syllables in oatmeal, yogurt, straw-ber-ry. On the way to a certified daycare or local daycare, play "I hear with my little ear" and call products that begin with the very same sound: "bus, bin, baby." If that's too easy, attempt ending sounds: "truck, stick, bike, appearance." Keep it short and cheerful.
Kids like rhymes. Check out rhyming books and time out before the rhyme so your child can chime in. If they offer nonsense words, commemorate. Nonsense still trains the ear. For older young children, attempt oral blending: "I'm considering an animal, d-o-g." Have them blend the sounds to say pet dog. Then reverse it and ask to sector: "Say map. Now state it without m." This can take months to click. When it does, you'll see it overflow into pretend writing and letter interest.
Early writing as meaning making
Writing is not just penmanship. It's the act of putting concepts into noticeable kind. Let your child draw daily with varied tools: thick markers, triangular crayons, chunky pencils. Offer vertical surface areas like easels or a taped roll of paper on the wall, which build shoulder and core strength, foundations for later great motor control.
If your child determines a story, write it down. Keep it quick. Read their words back slowly, pointing under each word. You have actually just revealed one-to-one correspondence and honored their voice. Conserve the story in a folder. In time, kids observe that their squiggles transform into letter-like types, then letters, then strings of letters with spaces. They might write "I LV DG" and happily check out "I enjoy canine." Don't fix it into an ideal sentence. Ask to read it to you, then go under it and compose the conventional variation in small print. Both variations matter.
Functional writing hooks numerous children much better than journaling triggers. Make birthday cards. Leave a note for a sibling on the refrigerator. Produce an indication for the block tower reading "Do Not Knock Down." Put a small note pad near the play kitchen so they can take "dining establishment orders." These genuine contexts mirror what they see in an early learning centre and after school care programs: writing woven into play.
Storytelling, sequencing, and memory
Narrative abilities bridge oral language and reading understanding. Practice in every day life. After a trip to the park, ask, "What occurred first? What next? What at the end?" Usage pictures on your phone to make a quick three-picture sequence. Slide in between descriptive and causal concerns. "Why did the slide feel hot?" motivates connected thinking.
Retell preferred stories with props. A scarf becomes a river, obstructs ended up being homes, stuffed animals become characters. Let your child guide. If they switch the ending, roll with it. This is wedding rehearsal for comprehending plot, point of view, and inference.
If your childcare centre near me uses family events, search for story dictation activities. Educators will scribe your child's words and assist them act it out with peers. You can mirror this in your home on a small scale. The arc matters less than the sensation that their concepts bring weight.
Building a book-rich home on a genuine budget
A well-stocked home library does not suggest buying fifty brand-new hardbounds. Utilize what's available. Public libraries are gold, specifically when you tap the curator's understanding. Lots of branches curate "grab and go" bags by style or age. Turn books weekly or every 2 weeks. See yard sale or neighborhood swaps. If you can, keep a couple of sturdy board books in the vehicle and a slim paperback in your bag for waits.
Think range. Consist of poetry and tunes, folktales from your household's heritage, basic graphic books with large panels, informational texts with pictures, and wordless photo books that welcome narration. Wordless books develop storytelling in effective ways. Take turns telling what happens and notice how your child's version shifts over time.
If you are supporting a bilingual home, keep both languages alive in your home library. You don't need translations of the same title, though those can be useful. Better to have abundant, authentic texts in each language and to discuss the stories.
When screen time helps, and when it gets in the way
Screens can support literacy if you treat them as tools, not babysitters. Video calls with grandparents can be language-rich if you prep with your child. Help them prepare to reveal an illustration or inform a short story. Audiobooks and story podcasts construct vocabulary and attention, specifically throughout automobile rides. If your toddler listens to a narrative each morning on the way to toddler care, that's a constant input of language.
Avoid auto-play spirals that encourage passive viewing. Pick apps with open-ended production over tap-to-animate characters. If your child enjoys a favorite story, follow up by drawing a picture of a scene and identifying it together. Co-viewing matters. When you sit next to them and comment or ask a few concerns, screen time becomes discussion time.
Bridging home and centre: how to partner with educators
Families and educators share the very same goal, even if resources vary. If you are registered at an early learning centre, whether a small certified daycare or a larger childcare centre, ask the lead teacher for the present literacy focus. Are they playing with rhymes? Structure letter-sound connections for the first letter in names? Practicing recounts of shared experiences? Aligning your home activities to those objectives gives your child repeating without boredom.
During pick-up, it's tempting to hurry. If you can spare two minutes once a week, ask for a picture: one strength your child showed and one next step. Educators at places like The Learning Circle Childcare Centre typically write "discovering stories" and are happy to offer examples of what to try in the house. If you look for "childcare centre near me," add a concern to your trips: How do you communicate literacy objectives to families?
After school care for older young children and kinders brings a different rhythm. Ask how they approach homework-like tasks. They should not be designating worksheets. Instead, they might run book clubs with photo books, puppet theatres, or comic-making stations. Obtain their ideas for weekends.
For the child who resists books
Not every child melts into a lap for stories. Some need to move while listening. That's fine. Try stand-up storytime while your child bounces on a tiny trampoline or builds with magnets. Time out and ask them to show with their body how a character feels. Deal books that match their fascinations: trains, bugs, baking. Attempt high-contrast art or interactive flaps for young toddlers. Keep sessions brief and frequent.
Some kids withstand because the text feels too dense. Select books with less words per page and strong photos. Wordless books often break through resistance since children control the speed. Let them "read" to you, even if the story meanders. They are discovering the spine of narrative and practicing meaningful language.
If attention wobbles, stop before your child disconnects. Say, "We'll find out more later." The goal is keeping books connected with enjoyment. Ending up every book is not the badge of honor; going back to books tomorrow is.
When to concentrate on letters and names
Names carry magic. Start there. Numerous early knowing centre class have name cards at sign-in. Do the same in the house. Print your child's name in a clear font and location it where they can see it daily. Make it a light routine to "sign in" at breakfast or tape their name above a hook for their backpack if you're headed to a daycare near me. Present uppercase for the very first letter and lowercase for the rest, since that's how print operates in books. Gradually, welcome them to find the letter that begins their name in daily print.
Introduce a handful of letter sounds naturally. Usage initial noises in your environment: M for milk, S for soap, B for bed. State the noise, not the letter name, when playing sound video games. If your child requests more, follow their curiosity. If not, trust the sluggish develop. Forcing a letter-of-the-week in the house can sour interest. The teachers will provide methodical guideline when appropriate.
The role of play in literacy
Play is not a break from discovering; it's the engine. early child care near me In significant play, kids adopt roles, work out scripts, and utilize language with function. In blocks, they prepare, describe, and problem-solve. In sensory bins, they tell pretend worlds. If you equip your home with open-ended materials and time for disorganized play, you have actually set the stage for literacy to flourish.
Add print props to play. A takeout menu in the play cooking area asks to be checked out. A bus path map in the living room becomes a pretend commute. Tape a few simple labels on racks, like books, puzzles, art, to encourage print awareness and tidy-up abilities. If you visit a preschool near me or a daycare centre, you will likely see these same techniques in action since they work and they scale.
A light-touch routine that sticks
Parents ask for schedules. Rigid timetables collapse under real life, but little anchors hold. Here's an easy day-to-day flow that families find manageable:
- Morning: a brief, lively sound game during breakfast or the drive to childcare. 2 minutes is enough.
- Midday: a spontaneous read-aloud of a brief book or a page or more of a longer one. Keep books within reach in the cooking area or living room.
- Afternoon: open-ended drawing or composing invitations. Leave paper and markers out. If interest is low, include a function like making an indication or a card.
- Evening: a longer cuddle-read or a story podcast before bed. Dim lights, let the voice do the work.
- Weekly: a library check out or book rotation at home. Swap in a couple of new titles and retire others to keep things fresh.
The regular adapts for families with shifting shifts, siblings, and tight commutes. Miss a block and continue. Consistency throughout months, not excellence each day, builds skill.
Assessment without anxiety
You can observe development without turning your home into a screening center. Expect these markers over time: richer vocabulary in daily talk, longer attention throughout stories, playful attempts to rhyme or break words into beats, interest in letters in their name, and drawings that consist of deliberate marks or letter-like shapes. Kids progress unevenly. A child may leap forward in sound play and stall in interest in print, then change 6 weeks later.
If your gut flags something, talk with your child's educators. Share what you see at home. Early finding out professionals can screen for language hold-ups, hearing issues, or other issues and recommend targeted supports. Early intervention works best when it's collaborative and low stress.
Making it operate in busy or multilingual households
Time poverty is real. If you manage several jobs or look after elders, keep literacy micro. Tell jobs currently occurring. Talk through recipes while cooking. Inform a one-minute story throughout toothbrushing. Keep a basket of books near the shoes for a five-minute read while putting on boots. The aggregate of small moments rivals a single long session.
In multilingual homes, speak the language you know best when talking and informing stories. Depth matters more than ideal positioning with school language. Children can transfer narrative structure and vocabulary richness across languages. If your early knowing centre primarily utilizes English and you speak another language at home, let teachers know. They can prepare assistances like visual schedules, gestures, and cognate awareness.
When to look for outdoors help
If your three or four years of age shows little interest in responding to sound play over months, has a hard time to follow simple directions regularly, or has relentless trouble producing sounds that limits intelligibility, bring it up with your licensed daycare teacher or pediatrician. They might recommend a hearing check or a referral to a speech-language pathologist. Numerous services can be accessed through community programs or school districts at no charge for eligible children.
Note the difference in between normal developmental quirks and red flags. Mix-ups like "pasghetti" or "aminal" prevail and typically resolve. Frustration that leads to behavior changes, or an unexpected regression after a period of development, should have attention.
Connecting with community resources
Beyond your early knowing centre, aim to neighborhood hubs. Libraries frequently run toddler storytimes and preschool literacy play sessions with tunes and movement. Some childcare centres partner with libraries for outreach; early learning centre near me ask if yours does. Museums sometimes host early literacy days where kids "check out" displays through scavenger hunts and simple triggers. Neighborhood moms and dad groups switch books and share pointers about relied on programs.
If you're examining choices and typing "childcare centre near me" into a search bar, trip with a literacy lens. Do you see children's determined stories posted at kid height? Exist comfortable book corners along with active areas? Do staff interact with children in discussions instead of instructions just? A centre that values language reveals it on the walls, in the racks, and in the quality of interactions.
A final word on patience and joy
Children remember how literacy felt at home. Whether you rest on the flooring with a tattered library copy or doodle a silly note in a lunchbox, you're developing not just abilities however identity: "I am an individual who likes stories. I can share ideas. Print helps me do it." That belief brings them from toddler care to kindergarten and beyond.
Families and educators share this work. The Learning Circle Childcare Centre and other thoughtful programs can prime the pump throughout the day. Nights and weekends provide those seeds water and light. It does not take excellence. It takes existence, a couple of routines, and a willingness to talk, read, sing, doodle, and laugh together.
If you're all set to start, pick one modification that feels light. Possibly it's a two-minute rhyme video game at breakfast or a trip to the library this weekend. Add another next month. Literacy grows like that, action by step, page by page, discussion by conversation.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre – South Surrey Campus
Also known as: The Learning Circle Ocean Park Campus; The Learning Circle Childcare South Surrey
Address: 100 – 12761 16 Avenue (Pacific Building), Surrey, BC V4A 1N3, Canada
Phone: +1 604-385-5890
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/
Campus page: https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/south-surrey-campus-oceanpark
Tagline: Providing Care & Early Education for the Whole Child Since 1992
Main services: Licensed childcare, daycare, preschool, before & after school care, Foundations classes (1–4), Foundations of Mindful Movement, summer camps, hot lunch & snacks
Primary service area: South Surrey, Ocean Park, White Rock BC
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Plus code:
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Business Hours (Ocean Park / South Surrey Campus)
Regular hours:
Note: Hours may differ on statutory holidays; families are usually encouraged to confirm directly with the campus before visiting.
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The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is a holistic childcare and early learning centre located at 100 – 12761 16 Avenue in the Pacific Building in South Surrey’s Ocean Park neighbourhood of Surrey, BC V4A 1N3, Canada.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus provides full-day childcare and preschool programs for children aged 1 to 5 through its Foundations 1, Foundations 2 and Foundations 3 classes.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers before-and-after school care for children 5 to 12 years old in its Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders program, serving Ecole Laronde, Ray Shepherd and Ocean Cliff elementary schools.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus focuses on whole-child development that blends academics, social-emotional learning, movement, nutrition and mindfulness in a safe, family-centred setting.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and is closed on weekends and most statutory holidays.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus serves families in South Surrey, Ocean Park and nearby White Rock, British Columbia.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus has the primary phone number +1 604-385-5890 for enrolment, tours and general enquiries.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus can be contacted by email at [email protected]
or via the online forms on https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/
.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers additional programs such as Foundations of Mindful Movement, a hot lunch and snack program, and seasonal camps for school-age children.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is part of The Learning Circle Inc., an early learning network established in 1992 in British Columbia.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is categorized as a day care center, child care service and early learning centre in local business directories and on Google Maps.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus values safety, respect, harmony and long-term relationships with families in the community.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus maintains an active online presence on Facebook, Instagram (@tlc_corp) and YouTube (The Learning Circle Childcare Centre Inc).
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus uses the Google Maps plus code 24JJ+JJ Surrey, British Columbia to identify its location close to Ocean Park Village and White Rock amenities.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus welcomes children from 12 months to 12 years and embraces inclusive, multicultural values that reflect the diversity of South Surrey and White Rock families.
People Also Ask about The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus
What ages does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus accept?
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus typically welcomes children from about 12 months through 12 years of age, with age-specific Foundations programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Where is The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus located?
The campus is located in the Pacific Building at 100 – 12761 16 Avenue in South Surrey’s Ocean Park area, just a short drive from central White Rock and close to the 128 Street and 16 Avenue corridor.
What programs are offered at the South Surrey / Ocean Park campus?
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers Foundations 1 and 2 for infants and toddlers, Foundations 3 for preschoolers, Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders for school-age children, along with Foundations of Mindful Movement, hot lunch and snack programs, and seasonal camps.
Does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus provide before and after school care?
Yes, the campus provides before-and-after school care through its Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders program, typically serving children who attend nearby elementary schools such as Ecole Laronde, Ray Shepherd and Ocean Cliff, subject to availability and current routing.
Are meals and snacks included in tuition?
Core programs at The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus usually include a hot lunch and snacks, designed to support healthy eating habits so families do not need to pack full meals each day.
What makes The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus different from other daycares?
The campus emphasizes a whole-child approach that balances school readiness, social-emotional growth, movement and mindfulness, with long-standing “Foundations” curriculum, dedicated early childhood educators, and a strong focus on safety and family partnerships.
Which neighbourhoods does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus primarily serve?
The South Surrey campus primarily serves families living in Ocean Park, South Surrey and nearby White Rock, as well as commuters who travel along 16 Avenue and the 128 Street and 152 Street corridors.
How can I contact The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus?
You can contact The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus by calling +1 604-385-5890, by visiting their social channels such as Facebook and Instagram, or by going to https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/ to learn more and submit a tour or enrolment enquiry.
