Davar Child Development Centre
3413 19th Avenue SE T2B 0A6 Calgary, AB, Canada

Davar Parents & Guardians, All of us here at Davar Child Development Centre would like to express our sincerest gratitude for your trust in caring for your Mighty Learners over the past 17 years. It is with great sorrow that we announce the closure of the Development Centre as of March 31, 2021. Here at the Development Centre, our educators have always striven to provide the highest standard of care for our citizens, and will continue to do so as we move through this difficu...lt transition. Our educators and Program Manager remain committed to providing the best practices to support you and your Mighty Learners over the coming months and, should you be interested in remaining within the Davar Child Care Society, will do our best to help facilitate a transition to one of our Davar Family Day Homes, where possible. For more information on our Family Day Homes, please reach out to Debbie via phone or e-mail, or check out the Davar Child Care Family Day Homes Facebook page: Davar Child Care Family Day Homes Thank you for your understanding.

Reminder: Davar Child Development Centre is closed Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 in observation of Remembrance Day. We will be open as usual on Thursday, November 12th, 2020. Talking about Remembrance Day can be tricky for young children, and This West Coast Mommy has a lovely article on 5 ways to share information about the significance of poppies and the sacrifices made to ensure safety for all. Whether you come from a military background or not, it's important to discus...s Remembrance Day and acknowledge what it means for us as Canadians who benefit from the bravery and determination of our soldiers, fallen and standing. https://thiswestcoastmommy.com/5-ways-talk-child-remembran/

Early literacy doesn't have to just be about printing! The Stay-at-home-Mum Survival Guide outlines a great, reusable activity to build letter recognition and early literacy skills through your child's own name in this awesome article, using paper plates and velcro! Spreading the steps over multiple days keeps the activity fresh and fun while encouraging your child to revisit the game again and again. Have fun spelling!... https://thestay-at-home-momsurvivalguide.com/preschool-nam/

We are pleased to announce that we have been selected as a new ELCC centre within the $25-a-day program! That means that your child care fees will be reduced to no more than $25 a day, effective June 1st, 2018. Even more, as a subsidised facility, your fees could be even further reduced through the subsidy program. All of us here at Davar Child Development Centre are so proud to be a part of this incredible program providing quality, affordable childcare to residents of Albe...rta. For more information on the program, and what that means for you, please visit http://www.alberta.ca/elcc. You can contact us for available spaces via the following: Phone: (403) 291-6822 6:30am-6pm E-Mail: [email protected], or Web: http://www.davarchildcare.org We look forward to welcoming you to our family!

Many Mighty Learners and adults will be returning to school soon, and our little ones may have some questions about what that will look like, and may have some worries, too. Thats totally normal! The team at Bright Horizons compiled this informative article featuring some common questions & answers that our children may have and need: at the end, there are some extra resources they have also compiled for any person seeking extra guidance as we navigate our current situation...! We at Davar know that our parents and guardians are always thinking the best for their Mighty Learners, and we know that any decision made around how to access learning opportunities for our precious learners was not an easy one. We are here to support you and your Mighty Learners however we can! https://www.brighthorizons.com//talking-to-children-about-

Davar Child Development Centre families: Davar Child Development Centre has been grateful to provide care to families of core service and critical infrastructure workers for the past month, and we are pleased to announce the re-opening of the daycare as per Albertas Relaunch Strategy Stage 1 recommendation, as of Tuesday, May 19th, 2020. The re-opening of the centre is done so with strict guidelines. We are operating with a limit on the number of children and educators in th...e building, strict sanitation process, and limited entry to families with pre-determined drop-off and pick-up times in place to minimize risk of transmission. We follow rigorous screening every day to ensure the safety of our dedicated educators and the Mighty Learners entrusted to us. Spaces are limited due to capacity guidelines; should you urgently require care, please contact Debbie during business hours at 403-291-6822, or via e-mail at [email protected] to discuss whether we are able to accommodate your Mighty Learner at this time. We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding during this unprecedented time, and we look forward to having our community reunited when it is safe to do so. For the most up-to-date information on Albertas COVID-19 Relaunch Strategy, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-relaunch-strategy.aspx

Early literacy doesnt have to just be about printing! The Stay-at-home-Mum Survival Guide outlines a great, reusable activity to build letter recognition and early literacy skills through your childs own name in this awesome article, using paper plates and velcro! Spreading the steps over multiple days keeps the activity fresh and fun while encouraging your child to revisit the game again and again. Have fun spelling!... https://thestay-at-home-momsurvivalguide.com/preschool-nam/

Looking for ideas for your little ones while the schools are closed? Vivify has compiled this fantastic calendar full of ideas for incorporating science and mathematics into your home activities, and visiting the web page will also allow you to see the awesome list of Free Online Learning Resources that they have taken the time to organize and vet, so you know your Mighty Learners are getting some great learning experiences during this uncertain time. https://www.vivifystem.com//top-stem-resources-for-school-

Feeling unsure of how to keep your kids engaged while at home? Active for Life has compiled a list of 200 activities to promote early learning while keeping active! There are lots of learning opportunities as we navigate our days, and getting outside (while staying away from high-traffic areas like playgrounds) is great for keeping your kids occupied and giving yourself a well-needed break with some fresh air. Take a look, and have some fun while you learn! ... https://activeforlife.com/200-activities-you-can-do-with-k/

Here are 25 screen-free activities you could try with your kids during the school closures! Thanks to Pobble for compiling this graphic

Davar Child Development Centre families: Effective immediately (March 16, 2020) the Government of Alberta has issued an indefinite closure to all schools, daycares, and post-secondary education facilities as a precautionary measure to help prevent the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19. We understand that this will be disruptive for many of our families, and we thank you for your patience and cooperation. The health and safety of your Mighty Learners comes first, and w...e will continue to maintain the safe and loving environment ready to welcome our incredible community back as soon as we are able to. For more information on the steps Alberta is taking to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and to receive the most up-to-date information as it progresses, please visit: alberta.ca/covid19

Davar families, we would like to thank you for entrusting your magnificent Mighty Learners with us for 2019, and extend our gratitude to you for being with us into another year. Please stay safe and warm over this Winter Break, we look forward to seeing you in 2020, and wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Do you practice dialogic reading with your children? Do you know what dialogic reading is? Are you unsure of how to engage in dialogic reading with your child(ren)? Dialogic reading is an important asset in building our childrens vocabulary and linguistic processing skills--the ability to learn from text and spoken word--and is easier than you might think! Research Parent has generously provided a free "cheat sheet" of prompts for you to practice asking questions and expand...ing on your childs observations when reading books, as well as delving into what the process looks like and why its so important, so take a look, and get talking! https://researchparent.com/dialogic-reading-cheat-sheet/

Looking for a fun, free way to entertain your kids as the nights get earlier and evenings get darker? Look no further than your own neighbourhood! Holiday light displays are up all over the city, and Family Fun Canada has compiled a trusty list of some spectacular displays in and around the city, or you could take a walk around your own block and see what your neighbours have done to celebrate the winter holidays! Grab some hot chocolate to go, and see the sights https://www.familyfuncanada.com//christmas-light-displays/

Dont forget! Clocks go back at 2AM on November 3rd, 2019!

A reminder to all of our beautiful families, we are closed MONDAY, 14TH OCTOBER in recognition of Canadian Thanksgiving. We will be open as usual on TUESDAY, 15TH OCTOBER. We wish you all a lovely long weekend, we are so thankful to be trusted with the care of your amazing Mighty Learners!

Autumn is just around the corner! With so many changes occurring to delight our senses, why not take a look at this list of Creative September Activities (though they are fun to do at any time!) and enjoy some quality time with your own Mighty Learners! The Artful Parent has even included a printable list for your ease, so take a look and get creating! https://artfulparent.com/september-activities-for-kids/

Looking for something to do this long weekend? ToDoCanada has compiled a handy list of things happening around our city this weekend for you and your family to enjoy! Please take a look, enjoy your long weekend, and we will see you on Tuesday, September 3rd! https://www.todocanada.ca/things-to-do-calgary-this-weekend/

Over the summer, we ask parents to bring in lots of spare clothes as we engage in water play on a near-daily basis, whenever the temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius! Kids Club ELCC in Australia compiled this handy list for why Water Play is such an important part of early childhood development, so please take a look! Here, weve decided to share some of the fun weve had in the ECS room just in the past few weeks getting totally soaked and learning through fun!... https://www.kidsclubchildcare.com.au/5-benefits-of-water-p/

Yee Haw! Stampede is back, and so are the awesome events for families! The Calgary Stampede is running from the 5th-14th of July, with a sneak peek the evening of July 4th, starting at 5pm. With a parade route reversal and free admission on Parade Day from 11AM-1:30PM, its even easier to get in on the first day of Stampede fun. ... For all our Paw Patrol super-fans, dont miss out on the meet-and-greet that takes place on Wednesday, July 10th for the BMO Kids Day! Check out the Value Days Schedule at the link below, or access the other event schedules to start planning your Stampede today! https://www.calgarystampede.com/stampede/value-days

Have you ever overheard or uttered the phrase, "All they do is play all day"? Its true! Play is an invaluable part of childrens early development, and all the best learning is done through open-ended play. As the weather moves warmer, we can also expect plenty of prairie rain, which our young Mighty Learners just love to explore! In order to facilitate their important outdoor play, we ask that you provide waterproof outerwear so that they can get good and muddy. Its mud ...season! For an insight into our belief that play is vital and necessary to childrens development, please take a peek below at this brilliant article on the benefits of play, particularly outdoors! https://galileo.org//artic/let-the-children-play-hewes.pdf

One of our favourite things to do is combining Art & STEM, making it ever easier to get our kids into early science and engineering activities while also stimulating their artistic side! The Artful Parent has provided a list of resources and techniques for making your very own Magnetic building set out of some cardboard and magnetic adhesive strips. Lets get building!... https://artfulparent.com/diy-magnetic-building-set-cardboa/

! Gng x f ci, Happy Lunar New Year! Did you know that it is the year of the Earth Pig? Over at https://chinesenewyear.net/ , they have compiled a great array of information for you about the Chinese Lunar Zodiac, foods & drink, and even more information about ways to celebrate the New Year! All of us here at Davar Child Development Centre wish you a prosperous New Year!

Its the first day of Winter, and our last day of operations at Davar before our winter break! We will be closed as of 6PM today, and will reopen at 6:30AM on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019. For any inquiries during the break, please e-mail us at [email protected], or send us a message via our website, and they will be answered in the new year. From all of us at here at Davar, we hope that you and your family have a magical Christmas and a prosperous New Year!... We will see you in 2019! See more

Have you seen the new Central Library? With fantastic resources for kids, young and old, escape the chill and learn something new in one of the beautiful gathering spaces the Central Library has to offer! Calgary Public Library has compiled a navigation page to help you orient yourself with the new space, so take a look and plan a trip! You can even activate the library card that was sent home with your child(ren) during this past Library Month online, and begin their next re...ading journey even sooner. We are extremely grateful to the Calgary Public Library system for having one of their very special members come and read to our kids this past Library Month, so lets continue to foster the love of reading that your children have shown by visiting a library near you! https://calgarylibrary.ca/new-central-library/

The weather is fair, and with fair weather comes fun! Luckily for us, the people at Family Fun Calgary have taken the time to compile a list of family-friendly activities to enjoy this weekend! If youre looking for something to do with your kids, take a peek and enjoy this good weather and some quality family time in and around our city! https://www.familyfuncanada.com//family-friendly-events-i/

This is Calgary and, sure enough, weve got our first big dump of snow (with even more in the forecast)! Getting outside is the top recommended way to enrich childrens play, so here is a handy infographic courtesy of the NOAA on how to dress appropriately for the weather when our little ones are outdoors. We at Davar Child Development Centre do our best to have our kids outside in up to -15 with windchill during the snowy months, so please make sure your children have the appropriate outerwear to allow for safe and fun outdoor play! Stay warm, everyone!

Temperatures are getting higher and our little ones are extremely susceptible to heat-related illness like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. This handy infographic highlights the common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion vs heat stroke and what actions we can take once we see the symptoms. Prevention is always the best medicine, so stay indoors for the hottest parts of the day (usually 10am-3pm) and keep your activities to a minimum if you do need to go outside. Plan to be in the shade or an air-conditioned area and keep plenty of water available to keep yourselves and your children safe this summer.

New sign is up. With help from Alma. We did it!

Its getting hot out there! Extreme heat can make our little ones very sick very quickly, so be sure to stay inside in a well-ventilated, air-conditioned area during the hotter parts of the day and save this fun activity for the cooler evenings. Always check the up-to-date weather information for temperature, UV index, and air pollution levels--and react accordingly--to make sure you and your little ones stay safe and healthy this summer! http://www.readingconfetti.com//7-ways-to-make-ice-chalk.h

Looking for an immersive day for the family this Canada Day? Look no further than the Bow Valley College Powwow! Experience crafts, dance & music, food, a traditional tipi--and more--all on beautiful Princes Island Park, just off Memorial Drive, or a short walk from many transit options! Stop by from 11am-5pm July 1, 2018 and check out what the Iniikokaans Powwow has to offer! https://bowvalleycollege.ca//stud/iniikokaan-centre/powwow

What a beautiful, sunny day! As the weather continues to warm up, were looking forward to enjoying even more rays of sunshine--why not also do a little crafts to interact with that sunshine? Check out this post on ArtfulParent where theyve made melted bead suncatchers--they look absolutely beautiful and pretty simple to make! https://artfulparent.com/making-melted-bead-suncatchers/

Love is in the air! Valentines Day is coming up soon, and while we believe that we should show our love for each other every day of the year, we also believe in celebrating holidays with fun activities to engage our brains and our imaginations! Luckily for us, LittleBinsForLittleHands has compiled their handy list of activities framed around science and sensory play, but with that theme of love we expect from this time of year. Get busy making crystal hearts, engage your fine-motor skills with some cutting and crafting, or go for the good-old play dough recipe! Take a peek and feel the love <3 https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/preschool-valentines-/

Holiday Closures 2017

Its officially Winter! Today marks the Winter Solstice: the shortest day of the year, also known as Yule! A great way to get outside and celebrate daylight getting longer again is creating your very own Yule Log, an opportune time to discuss our changing seasons and get some exercise, to boot! Check out this handy list from thoughtco for what to decorate your Yule Log with, and have a happy holiday season! https://www.thoughtco.com/make-a-yule-log-2563006