Bayridge & Henderson Child Care Centres
1035 Bayridge Drive K7P 3B8 Kingston, ON, Canada

This is what Early Childhood Edcation at our centres is all about!

Great news everyone! They have changed the regulations about testing and exclusions for children in child care. Thanks to everyone who advocated on behalf of children and families. It really goes to show how strong our voices can be when we work together! Here is a link to the new Ministry Guidelines for schools and child care: ... https://covid-19.ontario.ca//Screening%20Children%20v1.0%2 See more

Here is a great article - with thanks to one of our parents for sharing!! https://www.cbc.ca//stop-touching-my-childs-hair-and-dont-

I'm loving this

An article from another child care centre in Kingston was front page of the Whig today. Unrealistic regulations for childcare are affecting everyone, and we need to advocate at every level for what’s best for children and families! https://www.thewhig.com//daycare-director-says-runny-nose-

A petition to change the Runny Nose Regulation in child care. It’s worth a try everyone!! http://chng.it/ct4g2jhcyr

Brain Development is key!

Children are never too young to start learning about consent and it’s just as important for boys and girls! With thanks to one of our parents for sharing this.

Hoping some of you may find this helpful!

Parents, educators and friends, please join us in advocating for our children!

Some great ideas in this article!

Play is what we do!

Jackie Bright, School age Educator and cook at our Henderson site has just published her first novel!!! Jackie Bright, we are so proud of you and we can’t wait to read it! The book is available for pre-order now - follow the link and order your copy today! ... https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Going-Inspire//ref=mp_s_a_1_5

Too funny, had to share it!!

At our centres, children are encouraged to take healthy risks and educators help them to make decisions which demonstrate their competence during routines and play situations. Consider this, opportunities for measured risk-taking can create more able-bodied and self-assured children who will be better equipped to live safer lives in the long run than if we overly protect them to be safe in the momentary short term. If we stop children from being able to come in contact with... perceived risky situations or elements in their worlds, we are setting them up to be less able to know how to be safe in the future when we are not around to protect them. We want durable, resilient, sensible children who grow up to become durable, resilient, sensible adults. If we jump in at every sign of danger, or have the goal of eliminating every chance of a hurt, loss, or injury, we are doing the development of that child an injustice. We are cutting out perhaps the most important aspect of growing up healthy and safe: coming in contact with risk, assessing it, and making one’s own decisions about how to proceed, how to be safe. This can only truly come from experience and knowing who you are and what you can handle; and what you don’t want to handle and would rather say ‘no’ to. This is the very definition of an empowered and self-aware child. Rusty Keeler, in his new book, Adventures in Risky Play A See more

A great article! With thank to one of our parents for sharing :) https://preschoolinspirations.com/security-blanket-loveys/

Tonight we had to play screening at our house, just like at the daycare. Ty and Neve took turns being Lisa, the centre Supervisor, who conducts our screenings, asks the questions and does the temperature check. It was the cutest thing ever!

Re: Today’s announcement about return to school Today our Premier and the Education Minister made an announcement about what return to school would look like for September 2020. The announcement also included some important news about child care. Here are two links with more information about the announcement: https://news.ontario.ca//ontario-continues-to-gradually-an... https://www.limestone.on.ca//ministry_confirms_school_reop Over the next week we will be working on a plan for all of our current families to return to child care and our before and after school programs. Then we will be contacting families on our waiting list for available spaces. We look forward to working with you through the next stage of this journey! Krystal Oxbro, RECE Director

Something to think about today!

Let’s all spend some extra time filling up our kid’s cups this weekend!

We can’t wait to reconnect with all of the children that are returning to our centres when we re-open for regular care next week!!

Make time for some extra snuggles with your child today!!

It’s PRIDE month!! We have been celebrating with photos and art at the emergency care centres. We also received a lovely gift of Pride Pins for all our staff from Mark Gerretsen’s office!

Nicole, Supervisor of our Henderson site, wants to share with you one of her favourite stories! We all miss story time with the children and hope you can enjoy this one with your child. (There will be more to come in the future from other educators, so keep checking in regularly!)

Here’s a message from Rowan and Vaughn from Bayridge: Rowan and Vaughn are getting into trouble on the daily- playing outside, singing and dancing, and sharing with their siblings. They miss all of their educators and friends, and Rowan is still talking about her upcoming wedding to a friend at daycare. Did you know her Grams is going to bake the wedding cake? And Mommy will pick up chicken nuggets for the party? Hope you’re all doing well!

Not a bad idea

Hope the sunshine today brings a smile to your face!

Please join us to celebrate a socially distanced Pride this year!

A shout out to all our great parents...hang in there! No matter what is going on, know you are not alone!

To whomever stopped by Bayridge today and left us the beautiful flowers today, thank you!!!

Our family landscaping crew worked hard today, weeding and mulching the front garden at Bayridge today!

We are excited to announce that we opened our emergency childcare centre for essential workers at Henderson on Wednesday! We are able to accept 18 children who have been approved by the City of Kingston. A huge thank you to all of the educators who will be working at Henderson, you make a great team!

Mielle, from our Bayridge site has been keeping busy making bird feeders with peanut butter and birdseed, and painting the fence!

We are happy to let everyone know that we have been approved to open as an Emergency Child Care Centre at our Henderson site, starting this Wednesday, May 13, 2020! The list of essential workers for emergency childcare was recently expanded. Check out the City of Kingston’s website for details on eligibility and application. https://www.cityofkingston.ca/resident/covid-19

What about that weather last night!!??!!

Asher misses all of his friends and hopes to get back to Bayridge soon. Stay positive everyone!

Preston says: We’ve been keeping busy with a ton of sensory activities, reading all the books in our house, and going on litter walks to pick up garbage in our neighbourhood. As much fun as we are having, we cannot wait to go back to Bayridge!

Levi from the Bayridge centre would like to say hello to everyone! Although he is enjoying spending time at home with mom while dad is still working, he is really missing all his friends and educators from the Ocean room. He is looking forward to seeing everyone soon hopefully

Joey from our Bayridge site has been very keeping busy during this time off! He has potty trained, celebrated his birthday, gone for daily walks with his family (often past the daycare - always waving at Balou the Bear who lives outside the centre by the front door!), played lots of playdough and LEGO with his siblings, and enjoyed lots of movie nights thanks to Disney+. Here a photo of him decorating his birthday cake and on a walk. He misses his friends and teachers a LOT, even teared up a couple times when we walked past.