Why Kids Need Time in Nature

Here's an interesting article on the David Suzuki Foundation's website about the importance of giving children the gift of time outside. Give it some thought. We can do better and it starts with choices you can make in your family.

"Ontario's Healthy Kids Panel recently proposed a strategy to help kids get onto a path to health. The problem is that the path doesn't lead them into nature. Though the report quotes parents' comments and research showing kids spend dramatically less time outside than ever, it doesn't encourage time in nature.

That said, many of the report's recommendations should be implemented and supported locally, provincially and nationally to reduce the risks of obesity. Encouraging parents and children to be more critical about dietary choices and requiring more information and labelling from restaurants and food producers is long overdue.

Ontario isn't the only province working to reduce obesity rates and support parents raising healthy children, particularly in the early years. Alberta released relevant reports in 2011 and Quebec has had a ban on advertising junk food to children since 1980. No one can argue against public awareness and education around the benefits of healthy eating and active living. But a provincial, patchwork approach to addressing these issues isn't enough. We need a national strategy to get our kids eating healthy foods and being active in nature.

Although it seems logical that much of the time spent being active will take place outside, the Ontario report acknowledges that "many communities are not designed to encourage kids to move or be physically active...and have few safe green spaces." One parent in a focus group explains that the parks in his community are either gated or locked up once school is closed. So, even when there is green space, it's not always accessible.

Last year, the David Suzuki Foundation conducted a survey with young Canadians and found that 70 per cent spend an hour or less a day outdoors. The 2012 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card says they spend almost eight hours a day in front of screens. So it's not that kids don't have time to be outside. It's just not part of their lifestyle."
Read the full article.. Source: David Suzuki.org

Healthy Kids Need Time in Nature

Remember International Mud Day?

Remember how much fun we had celebrating International Mud Day at Discovery Child Centre?

Here's a blog post by LetTheChildrenPlay about letting kids have fun with mud.

1. Playing with Mud can make you happier - Scientists have discovered something that children have always known - playing in the mud can lift your mood. Recent studies have revealed that dirt contains microsopic bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae which increases the levels of seratonin in our brains, helping to relax, soothe and calm.
2. Playing with Mud can make you healthier - Step away from the antibacterial hand wipes. Research has shown that playing in the dirt - including very wet dirt - is good for a child's immune system.
3. Playing with Mud can make you smarter - Throw away the flash cards and sent your child outside to play instead. Studies have found that playing in the dirt can make you smarter. The same release of serotonin that occurs when playing in M. vaccae dirt has also been shown to improve cognitive function.
4. Playing with Mud helps children learn and develop - Sensory, hands-on play feeds children's brains. Listing all the ways playing with mud - a delightfully sensory experience - can help children to learn and develop would be a whole post in itself. So I'm going to send you here for a thorough look at the value of sensory play.
5. Playing with Mud connects you to nature - If you never know something, it’s hard to care about it. Many kids these days never know the outdoors beyond the school playground or their own backyards, if they even have one. Getting kids outside to play (as a place to act out make believe worlds and explore) creates happy memories with the one most primal element in our world: nature.

Read the full article and see points number 6-10

Ten Reasons We Should Let Children Play in Mud..

And here, re-posted are our pictures from International Mud day!






Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Seeds of Empathy Program - Visit with Baby Rowen

Baby Rowen came to visit our Kindergarten class yesterday. To prepare, we have been reading stories about crying and emotions and doing various activities to reinforce the children's learning. (When I feel Sad by Cornelia Maude Spelman & K...athy Parkinson; and Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees). We learned that everyone cries when they feel sad or hurt. We can help friends who feel sad. Rowen was alert and happy and seemed truly engaged with the children. We sang him songs, and played a few games. We tried the toys again and everyone cheered when he reached for the cube! He is not only babbling now, but laughing too! Boy, how he has grown in three weeks! We can't wait for his next visit.

 

 

 

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

How to Dress Kids for the Cold Weather

Here's an interesting blog post to share now that we're heading into November. Having the right clothing makes all the difference to enjoying time outside in the fresh air. For children, water proof finishes are essential because they'll be in the water or snow given half a chance.

Don't curtail your outside activities once the temperature drops., be prepared with the right clothing and you'll be able to get outdoor exercise anytime.


http://alphamom.com/parenting/baby/cold-weather-dressing-for-kids/

Nature for Infants and Toddlers

Safety for children when you go outside is extremely important, but it's also important to give them challenges. Going outside and walking is different than walking inside on a flat surface. Different muscles are used and the toddler learns to adjust their balance.

Our children love going outside at our facility in all seasons. Even November!

Here's a video about Nature for Infants and Toddlers.

If you need more information about Discovery Child Care's nature focused child care programs, including before and after school care, please contact us 705-733-2052

Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters

Have a safe and fun Halloween evening!

Make Halloween safety part of your holiday fun. Start with these practical Halloween safety tips.

By Mayo Clinic staff
It's the time of year for costumes, sweets, and tricks and treats. Put Halloween safety first with these common-sense tips.

Carve safely

Are your children begging to carve pumpkins? Make Halloween safety a family affair.

• Decorate with markers or paint. Let young children draw faces on pumpkins with washable markers or child-friendly paint. Leave any carving to an adult.
• Use candles with care. Place candlelit pumpkins on a sturdy surface away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended. Better yet, light pumpkins with flashlights or battery-operated flameless candles instead.

Get clever with costumes

From furry animals to princesses and superheroes, choosing costumes wisely is an important part of Halloween safety.

• The brighter the better. Whether you buy a costume or make one yourself, choose bright colors and flame-retardant materials. If your child will be trick-or-treating outdoors after dark, attach reflective tape to his or her costume.
• Size it right. In case it's chilly outdoors, make sure your child's costume is loose enough for warm clothing to be worn underneath — but not long enough to cause tripping. Avoid oversized shoes and high heels.
• Skip the masks. A mask can obstruct your child's vision, especially if it slips out of place. Use kid-friendly makeup instead.
• Limit accessories. Pointed props — such as wands, swords and knives — may pose safety hazards.

Trick-or-treat with care

The promise of Halloween candy may leave stars in your child's eyes, but Halloween safety still rules.

• Get in on the fun. Accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. Pin a piece of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside your child's pocket in case you get separated. Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group of friends, parents or older siblings. Make sure someone in the group carries a flashlight with fresh batteries.
• Stay close to home. Don't allow your child to go door to door in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
• Set ground rules. If your child will be trick-or-treating without you, establish a route and set a curfew. Review safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes and never going inside a home. You may want to give your child a cell phone for the evening should he or she need to contact you.
• Inspect the treats carefully. Don't let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Feed your child a healthy snack before heading out, and inspect the treats before allowing your child to dive in. Discard anything that's not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable. If you have young children, weed out gum, peanuts, hard candies and other choking hazards.
• Ration the loot. If your child collects gobs of goodies, dole out a few pieces at a time and save the rest. You may even ask your child if he or she would like to swap some — or all — of the candy for something else, such as a special toy, book or outing. You might also suggest donating excess candy to a food shelf or other charity.
• Plan a party. Consider planning a trick-or-treat party with a couple of neighbors instead of house-to-house door knocking. Decorate the garages, have a costume contest, and plan games and prizes.

Stay safe and sweet on the home front

If you'll be handing out treats, make sure you're ready for trick-or-treaters.

• Clean up. Put away anything trick-or-treaters could trip over, such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations. Clear wet leaves, snow or other debris from the sidewalk.
• Turn the lights on. Replace any burned-out bulbs to ensure good visibility at the walkway and front door.
• Control your pets. Take no chances that your pet might be frightened and chase or bite a child at your door.
• Consider sugar substitutes. Instead of handing out sugar-laden treats, try stickers, glittery pencils, rubber insects or colored chalk.

If you'll be driving on Halloween, watch for children who might pop out between parked cars. Be especially careful entering or leaving driveways and alleys. Extra caution can help ensure Halloween safety for everyone.

Discovery Child Care's trip to the pumpkin patch

What can you say? These pictures show how much fun we had at Chappell Farm, celebrating the fall and enjoying a trip to a pumpkin patch.

Enjoy the show!

Chappell Farm Slideshow!

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Pumpkinny PD Day at Discovery Child Care

School aged children joined us for a fun-filled PD day. 

We spent the day together working with "pumpkinny" things. We designed, created and played our own games using real pumpkins and gourds: "gourd pine cone toss", "gourd bowling" "ker-pumpkin" and "pumpkin ski ball". We... enjoyed messing around with the pumpkin spice rice, pumpkin playdough and pumpkin goop. 

We were very excited to have a visit from Jenny as well. she came to our class and helped us learn how to crochet! With practice and patience, we started to get the hang of it and we are very proud of the bracelets we made. Thanks Jenny, for spending your time with us. 

We also had a pile of laughs playing "scarecrow tag" and "hide and squish" outside in the sunshine. Finally we roasted the seeds from our pumpkins and had the chance to taste them. DELICIOUS! We are "thankful" for such a great day!
 

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Discovering Butterflies with Butterfly Kisses

The children at Discovery Childcare, Harvie Road - really enjoyed a visit with Heather Willet from Butterfly Kisses Educational Outreach, October 8th. Here are some pictures from the program which included capture and release tagging.

Butterfly Kisses bring children a unique experience with curriculum-linked programs exploring the wonder of butterflies.

Observing and caring for a butterfly, students learn far more than habitats and need for species. They gain a sense of responsibility and respect for life.




Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Tips to Help Your Family Get More Active

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, children ages 5 to 17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. While organized sports can make a significant contribution, the type of physical activity doesn't need to be all intense. A simple walk in the park or the woods contributes to health and fitness in children.

Here are some tips from the Canadian Living Blog on incorporating more exercise into your family routine.

Tips on how to incorporate more exercise into your children's lives:
• Keep your house stocked with items that promote activity, such as basketballs, soccer balls (or any type of ball), skipping ropes, Hula-Hoops, scooters, skateboards, a trampoline, bikes, in-line skates and, of course, all of the requisite safety equipment.

• Limit screen time – this includes time spent in front of both the TV and computer. And try to keep both out of your kids' bedrooms.

• Set up a badminton set in the backyard. It's a great introduction to tennis and other racquet sports, especially for younger kids.

• Give your kids outdoor chores – they love to help out and get dirty. Getting your kids gardening, raking, shovelling and carrying wood is a win-win situation: You get a break and your kids get some fresh air and exercise.

• Check out nearby yoga studios for kids' yoga classes. Yoga is a great activity for a rainy day. Don't have a studio nearby? A yoga mat and Pilates ball are all kids need to do their own indoor yoga class.

• Play outdoor games like Frisbee, tag and hide and seek with your kids. Games like these are great ways to spend long summer evenings.

• Start a family tradition of an evening walk or bike ride.

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Discovery Staff Attends Seeds of Empathy Training

We're off to weekend Seeds of Empathy training with Michelle H, Michelle D, and Jody. It's going to be a fun weekend of learning! Can't wait to bring this amazing program to the children of Discovery!

Seeds of Empathy is designed for Early Childhood settings to foster social and emotional competence and early literacy skills and attitudes in children three to five years of age while providing professional development for their educators.

Seeds of Empathy is unique in that it powerfully engages children experientially through a community family – an infant and parent, building on the attachment relationship demonstrated between the two.


Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052
 

Discovery Child Care Kids Play I Spy With Nature

The Kindergarten class at Harvie went on an “I Spy Scavenger Hunt” this week. They were given descriptive words, including “soft”, “green”, “bumpy” “long” and “edible” (which we learned means something we can eat) and they went off into the playground to find one thing each for each of the descriptive words. 

When the game was finished, we brought our collection into the classroom and created a giant chart where we categorized our nature items by description. 

We worked hard and discussed all of our items along the way and, when we were done, we noticed that some items could be described using many different words. 

For example, a purple bean can be long, soft, colourful and edible and a piece of bark can be brown, hard and bumpy! What a great way to incorporate nature, language, math and social skills into one super fun activity!




Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Children are Exercising More and Eating Better

Here is good news about lifestyle changes having a positive effect on children. Healthy food and lots of exercise!

We're pleased to offer our children a chance to grow their own food in our outdoor garden and pick berries and fruit. Learning about where food comes from and what is healthy can start at almost any age.

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

The Star | Children Exercising More and Eating Better

"New research shows we’re doing something right in the battle against childhood obesity.

In a study published in the October issue of the journal Pediatrics, lead author Ronald Iannotti writes that kids aged 11 to 16 are exercising more often and eating more fruits and vegetables. They’re also watching less television and consuming fewer sweets and sugary drinks.

“It may be that current public health efforts are succeeding; the trends from 2001 to 2009 are encouraging,” the study says.

When it comes to obesity risk factors such as exercise and healthy eating, she adds that Canadian trends tend to mirror American ones, with Canadian numbers slightly better.
 

Warshawski argues the push to get kids to adopt healthy lifestyles needs to start while they’re in the womb, earlier than marketers begin to build brand loyalty for junk food among kids.
 

“There are a lot of societal forces which are driving behaviour the other way,” he says. “We’ve just got to keep the pressure up.”

Too Poor For Nature Report

A recent report published in the U.K. presented findings about childhood poverty. David Bond, HuffPost, commented..

"The revelation from the report, though, is that children growing up in poverty are nine times less likely to have access to green space. They have far fewer places to play and tend to live in environments with poor air quality. These three million children are not just growing up in material poverty, but in environmental poverty. They can not afford nature."

The following film examines child poverty.

'Greater Expectations' looks at how poverty and disadvantage still wreak havoc on children's lives, causing them to lag far behind their more affluent peers in almost all areas of their lives, from health to education, early development to housing.

All of us at Discovery Child Care, believe that all children need to spend time in green space and learn about nature. Our programs are based on integrated learning, taking the classroom to outdoors.




Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Overcoming First Day of School Jitters

Although I don't want to wish away the last few weeks of August, the start of elementary school is just around the corner for many young families. It should be a positive exciting time for everyone! Here are some tips to start off on the right foot.

1) Talk the Talk: Pick a time when your child is calm and well rested to sit down and have a conversation about the first day of school. Listen for any fears and talk about your own school experiences, or the first day memories from their siblings. Make sure you talk about the fun activities as well as explain some of the expectations around behaviour.

2) Visit the School: Take a field trip during August and visit the school playground. Have a look at the doors and look inside the windows. Point out things in the neighbourhood on the way.

3) Make it Easy: Plan the logistics for drop off and pick up so you don't have any unnecessary tense moments. Make sure your child is well aware of the plans and comfortable with the arrangements.

4) Assure Your Child: Give your child a strong sense of security by assuring them of the days schedule and how things works, such as lunches and play time. Children thrive on reassurances especially when starting something new.

5) Make it Special: If it makes starting school easier then splashing out on a new back-pack or pair of shoes can go along way. Having a special toy to return to after the big day could also be a pleasant event.

6) Security & Comfort: Think about including a special toy, picture, or book in your child's backpack to make them feel connected to home and secure. It might just make the difference between an okay experience and a great one.

7) Plan B: If your child is uncontrollably upset or stressed about the first day of school make sure you have a plan. Could you possibly stay with them for a short time in the classroom? Could you have a favourite toy at hand or a small gift for the teacher that your child can present to establish a connection? Is there a child in the classroom that you know and could be buddied up with yours?

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Playing outside is so important to your child's development - Here's why..

The weather is perfect today. Crystal blue sky with white clouds and a gentle breeze. It's the type of day made for playing outside and learning about nature!

Playing outside may seem like all fun and games - but when you think about it, children are learning so much by being active in the open outdoor environment.

• preschoolers practice and master emerging physical skills like, running, leaping, jumping, ball-handling, catching, lifting objects, pulling and carrying.
• children burn more calories outside which helps prevent obesity
• outdoor light affects the pineal gland, the part of the brain that regulates the biological clock and is vital to the immune system
• outdoor games encourage communication skills and vocabulary
• children have an improved aesthetic awareness, an appreciation of the beauty around us
• being outside stimulates other senses like hearing (bird song, wind rustling), smell (fragrance of flowers, mud, plants), and touch (tree bark, grass, snow)
• being outside lets children be loud, messy, and boisterous - have fun with fewer limitations

Here are some activities from The Early Childhood News..

1. A nature walk is a great way to enhance children’s appreciation of the natural environment. Ask them to tell you what they're seeing, hearing, and smelling. Encourage them to touch – to discover the smoothness of a rock, the roughness of bark, and the fragility of a dried leaf. For young children, these are science experiences.
2. Set up an obstacle course with old tires, large appliance boxes, and tree stumps. Moving through it will teach important concepts like over, under, through, and around.
3. A "listening" walk makes for a wonderful sound discrimination activity. As you walk with the children, point out the sounds of birds, passing cars, whistling wind, even your footsteps on the sidewalk. What sounds can the children identify on their own? Which are loud and which are soft? Which are high and which are low? What are their favorite sounds? Bring along a tape recorder so the children can try to identify the sounds at a later time!
4. Bring the parachute or an old sheet outside and play parachute games (shaking it, circling with it, making waves with it, or bouncing foam balls on it).
5. Bring a portable boom box outdoors and let the children experience the joy of dancing in a natural environment!
6. Try "water painting," in which children paint the side of a building with a brush and a bucket of water. It exercises arms and upper torso while also teaching about wet and dry, light and dark, and evaporation.
7. Chasing bubbles gives children a chance to run!

The benefits of playing outside are easy to see - and like all things in life, it's about finding the right balance between the indoor classroom experience and nature's outdoor classroom!

Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..

Our Summer Campers Visit Nicholyn Farms

Our Summer Campers took a trip recently to Nicholyn Farms to learn about where food comes from. The children saw plants growing, livestock such as sheep and chickens, and had a great packed lunch. Have a look at the slideshow below and you'll see what a perfect school trip it was!



Learn more about Nicholyn Farms:
"Since 1982 our family operated farm has been ever evolving to meet the changing needs of your family. Our pleasant store specializes with meeting the growing demands of health and environmentally conscious people. We take pride in offering a one-stop shopping experience for locally produced, certified organic and traditionally raised products. Your local farmers thank you! We are able to make available our own sustainably raised pork, beef and chicken products. Our animals are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, eat an all vegetable diet with no animal by-products and are treated with dignity and respect.  Our beef cattle graze on pasture, the pigs enjoy fresh air and sunshine, and the chickens scratch in the earth!"

Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..

Summer Camp at Discovery Child Care - Smores!

What special treat do you think of when you think summer camp? Smores, of course! The slide show below shows Discovery Child Care children making and enjoying the chocolate cookie treat.



Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..

Berry Picking at Discovery Child Care in Barrie

Children at our Discovery Child Care Centre enjoy many outdoor activities such as gardening. Our Centre's backyard garden includes berry bushes and the slides below show the children picking berries and enjoying the summer harvest.



Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..

Discovery Child Care Kids Visit the Ontario Seed Plant

Summer Camp photo's from our Discovery Child Care Summer Camp, 2013. These pictures were take during a recent field trip to Angus, to visit the Ontario Seed Plant.

The tree seed facilty was established in 1923. It plays a key role in the protection of Ontario's rich natural heritage. The facility collects seeds from about 50 different native species and supplies smaller nursery operations, large forestry companies and the public. It also maintains a seed bank of native tree specieis from across the province and makes seed available for reforestation.



Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..

Summer Camp at Discovery Child Care! Pizza and Paperbag Gowns..

From make your own Pizza to outdoor Plays - the kids are having a great time at Summer Camp at Discovery Child Care!



Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052

2013 International Mud Day at Discovery Child Care, Barrie

Wow! International Mud Day was so much fun! Here is a slideshow of some of the activities that took place. Barrie CTV News came out for a visit and reported back on the 6pm News. The kids had a great time getting muddy and making things with mother earth!



At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Slideshow - 2013 Family Fun Fair at Discovery Child Care, Barrie

Everyone had a great time at this years Family fun Fair at Discovery Child Care's Harvie Road location in Barrie. Lots of games, fun things to do, sno cones, and BBQ! Thank you to all staff and helpers, the children loved the event!


At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Celebrating International Mud Day | CTV Barrie News

Celebrating International Mud Day | CTV Barrie News

21 Fun Ideas to Connect Kids With Nature

Here are some ideas to have fun learning about nature with your kids. Children readily pick up attitudes and you can make a big impression by taking them outside more and being enthusiastic about the natural environment.

1. Encourage children to play, dig and plant their own garden areas.
2. Plant trees! Trees are a valuable resource for our natural setting.
3. Picnic in your backyard.
4. Study your surroundings and observe the wildlife. Make a daily log book.
5. Take a hike! Walk in the woods; tour the community garden and wetlands.
6. Rake the leaves and use a push mower. Without power mowers and blowers the air is cleaner. Your children can safely participate in gardening and learn to care for the earth.
7. Participate in Earth Day and Wild Life Appreciation days.
8. Build birdhouses and bat boxes with your children.
9. Install a sundial.
10. Learn about beneficial insects.
11. Teach recycling! Create a compost pile.
12. Learn to recognize sounds of birds and other creatures.
13. Be an observer of nature. Point out interesting plants and animals.
14. Talk about the weather.
15. Draw pictures of clouds or make cloud art out of cotton balls.
16. Make a rain gauge.
17. Collect items from a nature walk and put them in a scrapbook.
18. Learn about bees and pollination.
19. Make a mini rain barrel and use it to water a plant.
20. Take out library picture books about nature.
21. Make up a poem about your favourite insect.

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Get Outside Tomorrow for Canada's Longest Day of Play

On June 21st, Canada celebrates 'The Longest Day of Play'. Why not be part of this event and plan a trip to the park or the lake for Friday June 21st. The idea is to encourage families to get outside and have some fun! Here's some information about the Longest Day of Play including a video from the Particpaction website.

"Remember playing as a kid until the streetlight went on? Well it’s time to bring that back. On June 21st Canadians can take advantage of the most daylight hours of the year and celebrate the first annual Longest Day of Play.

On the Longest Day of Play we want all Canadians to head to the park after dinner. Bring a ball, bring your kids and invite all your friends. Might as well bring the dog too! Fill the playgrounds, parks and school fields with those who are out for the sheer love of play.

Celebrate Canada's Longest Day of Play - June 21st 2013

Active play may be fun, but it’s certainly not frivolous. Play allows youth of all ages to try new things, test boundaries and use their imaginations.

In addition to the physical health benefits, active play offers cognitive, emotional and social development benefits. It has been shown to improve and foster motor function, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving and social skills, the ability to control emotions and preschoolers’ speech. And, it’s lots of fun!

Unfortunately, 63% of Canadian kids free time after school and on weekends is spent being sedentary. We need to get our kids moving, and we’ve got plenty of great ideas, tips and information on bringing more play into your children’s lives." source: Participaction.com

Discovery Child Care Recognized For Their Commitment to Creating a Healthy Environment

From the Earth Day Canada website - the description of Discovery Child Care's 2013 Small Business Hometown Heroes Award.

Discovery Child Care Centre:
2013 Small Business Hometown Heroes Winner

Barrie, ON

Discovery Child Care Centre is an Eco-Healthy certified licensed child care centre that brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature. Their commitment to creating a healthy environment for children in their care, their families, staff, and the community sets them apart from other licensed child care programs.
Discovery Child Care Centre’s two locations are maintained by organic methods, with no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or insecticides used on the premises. They use environmentally friendly cleaners, blue box recycling, practice water conservation by using rain barrels, and use the green bin and compost as well. They are the first licensed child care centres in Ontario to be Bullfrog Powered using 100% renewable energy. Both centres have a no idle parking policy, as well, one of the sites has geothermal heating/cooling and will have solar panels installed this year.

In addition to having environmentally sustainable sites, Discovery Child Care Centre brings environmental philosophies into the classrooms through hands on learning. The children learn how to reduce, re-use, recycle and compost and about water conservation. They are also actively involved in their own organic gardens and harvest what they have grown to make jams, pickles and salsa. At the end of the growing season, the children donate a portion of the fresh, organic harvest to the Barrie Community Food Bank.

As part of Discovery Child Care Centre’s commitment to connecting children with nature, children spend a minimum of two hours outside every day. The children are given the opportunity to interact with items found in nature, encouraging them to become stewards of the earth. Discovery Child Care Centre’s nature classroom project is the first Nature Explore Certified Classroom in Canada, earning it international recognition.

Discovery Child Care Centre has been well received and has won many environmental, community and business leadership awards, such as the City of Barrie Award for Business of the Year, Environmental Action Barrie awards, and Bell Canada Green Awards. Their environmental programming has been featured in Childcare Today Magazine and Seneca College Alumni Magazine. Discovery Child Care Centre’s founder, Karen Eilersen, shares her knowledge of setting up an eco-friendly child care business and the importance of connecting children to nature by presenting at various child care conferences and was the keynote speaker at the Humber College Places of Natural Discovery Conference for early childhood educators.

Earth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to support a healthier environment. We educate, empower and inspire Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to achieve local solutions to improve the state of the environment through our suite of year-round and award-winning programs.
The success of EDC programs—focused on education, action, recognition and financial support—lies in the fact that they teach Canadians about simple, easy-to-accomplish actions that any person can do.

 

Discovery Child Care Named Hometown Heroes - We've won the 2013 Earth Day Canada Award for Small Business!

Press Release: Toronto, June 6, 2013

 

A decade-long volunteer, a fast-growing green team and a committed child care centre receive national environmental awards - Earth Day Canada’s Hometown Heroes Awards recognize and celebrate environmental leadership.

 

Toronto (06/06/13) Earth Day Canada (EDC), with support from the RBC Foundation and Mill Street Brewery, is pleased to announce that the Individual winner Dawn Deydey of Fernie, British Columbia, Group winner Lower Mainland Green Team (LMGT) of Surrey, British Columbia, and Small Business winner Discovery Child Care Centre of Barrie, Ontario have been selected as EDC’s 2013 Hometown Heroes.

“These people are shining examples of those making significant strides towards creating a healthier environment,” says Jed Goldberg, President of EDC. “They have been instrumental in creating change at the local level and deserve national recognition for their community-based conservation; responsible business practices, and; community engagement efforts.”

Discovery Child Care Centre is an award-winning eco-friendly licensed child care centre that brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature. Along with having two environmentally sustainable sites, they bring environmental philosophies into the classrooms through hands-on learning. Children spend a minimum of two hours outside every day to encourage them to become stewards of the earth and learn how to reduce, re-use, recycle and compost and about water conservation. They are also actively involved in their own organic gardens.

The winners will be presented the awards at Earth Day Canada’s Gala on June 12, 2013 in Toronto in front of 500 business and environmental leaders. The Hometown Heroes Award Program was established in 2004 by Earth Day Canada to recognize and celebrate environmental leaders who foster meaningful, long-term community awareness and action. For more information about Earth Day Canada’s Hometown Heroes Award Program, please visit earthday.ca/hometown.

Read the entire press release with full descriptions of other award winners..

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Organic Gardening at Discovery Child Care

 The Backyard Urban Farm Company came to visit the kindergarten children at Discovery Child Care and helped us put in our organic gardening beds. Thank you Arlene & Carrie!

We've planted 3 of our 5 gardening beds with Tomatoes, Marigolds (or as the children call them "miracles"), peppers, fennel, basil, dill and so much more.

The children are excited to help out and see the plants grow!

Here's some information about the Backyard Urban Farm Company.

"BUFCO is dedicated to participating in a worldwide food movement that encourages lowering our carbon footprint and trying to live more sustainably, naturally, independently and locally. Planting and saving heirloom and non-GMO seeds (genetically modified organisms), and preserving the harvest are top priorities for us. We strive to build a sense of community by facilitating sharing a portion of the harvest with our neighbours and local food banks. We bring new opportunities for families and individuals to learn, teach, relax, play in and eat from their own gardens. We believe that by tending our garden, we feed our minds, bodies and souls, and contribute to the greater good."

 

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Join Us June 13th, for the annual Discovery Fun Fair

Discovery Fun Fair is two weeks away! Lots of fun for everyone: Jumping castle, Clarabella the clown, BBQ dinner, snow cones, carnival games, face painting, Taekwondo Demonstration, silent auction, vendors and so much more! Everyone welcome. We hope you can join us:

Thursday June 13th, 6-8pm, Discovery-Harvie Road playground.

http://www.discoverychild.on.ca/

Call for Tickets ! 705-733-2052

Our Team at Fill The Beetle - for the Barrie Food Bank, May 25th, 2013

On Saturday, May 25th, Discovery Child Care Centre participated in the Best Western Hotel’s 2nd Annual Fill the Beetle Event. Staff donated their time to come out and collect food for the Barrie Food Bank. The centres collected food throughout the month of May and by the time the event rolled around, we had already filled our beetle!!! Discovery raised 680 pounds of food for the Food Bank!! Together with the other companies at the event, we raised 3762 pounds of food and collected $520 in cash donations!! Thank you to everyone who donated food for this worthy event. We couldn’t have done it without you!

A Pirate Garden and Other Gardening Ideas for Kids

Kidsgardening.org is a website devoted to teaching children about gardening, both in school programs and by offering fun ideas and projects for at home. As we are just over the May 24th threat of frost in central Ontario, many families in our community are starting gardening projects. Here are some ideas and advice about creating a fun, safe, plant-friendly garden for kids.

A Pirate's Garden - by Sarah Pounders
Ahoy Matey! Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to capture a child’s attention outdoors? Dare to walk the plank and plant a Pirate’s Garden! We love themed plantings as much as any kid, so when educator Carrie Ann Smith shared the idea of a Pirate’s Garden with us, we just had to pass it along. Here are some elements to include so that even the most reluctant swashbuckler will come running to the garden:
Treasure: Plant a pot of gold. Find an old wooden box, drill a few holes at the bottom, fill with soil, and then plant yellow blooming plants like marigolds or calendula.
Ship or Hideout: A bean tepee can represent a pirate ship or hideout. To build a bean tepee you will need some long supporting pieces, and a method of attaching them at the top, tepee-style. There are kits available to purchase commercially, usually using bamboo poles and a plastic connector ring. Or, you can easily build your own by lashing together some straight tree branches that are about eight or nine feet long, top with a pirate flag, and let the fast growing runner beans cover the structure.

read this article..

Planting a Child Friendly Garden -National Gardening Association
Gardeners love to share their interest in gardening, and sharing with their children can be particularly rewarding. Even 2- and 3-year-olds can help plant their own little patch, and watch as life unfolds around them. Here are some suggestions for making gardening enjoyable -- and safe -- for young children.

read this article..

Discovery Child Care Teachers Complete Incredible Years Training

Congratulations to Katie, Trish, Kass and Michelle H. for completing the Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management Training Series! The teachers participated in a 6 week course with other RECE's and Child Care Assistants to better develop their skills as teachers. They showed great dedication and commitment to their classrooms and to the children. They were a part of in depth group discussions, homework and self-reflection. Way to go ladies!! :)

Learning in a Nature Explore Classroom

Here is the beautifully written introduction to a white paper, Young Children Learn Through Authentic Play in a Nature Explore Classroom. It contains the research into this subject by Dimensions Early Education Programs located in Lincoln, New England, USA. It is a fascinating, well documented study. At the bottom of the blog post is a link to the PDF.

"Once upon a time, in the not so distant past, many children left the adult world on a daily basis and entered an outdoor world filled with fantasy and improvisation. They played alone, in pairs, or in groups. Using sticks, branches, logs, sand, dirt, water and other natural materials they build forts, castles, houses, ships, rockets - some were large scale models while others were miniatures. As they ran, jumped, dug, climbed, threw, slid, twirled and whirled, their imaginations took them across the

prairie in covered wagons, up the tallest mountains, into outer space and high sea adventures. ..These children were immersed in authentic play, play that engaged them, mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally...

Extensive research has documented the powerful role of play in children's development and the importance of getting children outdoors. Yet, in today's culture both play and time in nature have become endangered species. Richard Louv's well known book, Last Child in the Woods describes the growing phenomenon he labeled 'nature deficit disorder.'"

source: Young Children Learn Through Authentic Play in a Nature Explore Classroom
whitepaper based on Research Conducted at Dimensions Early Education Programs Lincoln New England USA

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Using Digital Photography To Reconnect Children With Nature

I found this video on the Children & Nature Website showing the research of Amy Thompson into using a digital camera as a tool to encourage children to get outside and interact with nature. Enjoy!



From YouTube And Published on Apr 10, 2013

Amy Thompson -"I made this video to fulfill the requirements of Miami University's Biology in the Age of Technology course, Spring 2013. I hope that by sharing my video with parents in my community, I will encourage them to get outdoors and show them how digital photography can be used to reconnect their children with nature."

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

Build A Bug House - An Eco-Project Idea for Kids

Here's a fun activity for children that can be used when teaching them about gardening and insects. Build a Bug House - is a pdf guide by Earth Day Canada suggesting several types of bug houses you can make with basic materials from around your home.

What's this contraption?

It's one of the bug houses you can make! For more eco-friendly craft ideas and projects visit the EcoKids website.

Download the pdf guide here.

Earth Day at Discovery Child Care - Did You Know?

Parents Canada asks, "How will you celebrate Earth Day?" The way Jed Goldberg sees it, Earth Day (April 22) is partly a day for reflection. “This is the day to pause and consider what our

environmental issues are around the planet, but more importantly, what the solutions are,” says Jed, president of the Toronto-based Earth Day Canada organization.

Looking for some green solutions for your home or community to mark the day? “There are lots of ideas that can be done on Earth Day. It just takes a bit of creativity,” says Jed. “Maybe it’s time to plan a vegetable garden or a garden with native shrubs which use a lot less water,” he says. “As a community, you could set up an electronics recycling depot or help organize a free compost distribution.”

Earth Day is an important event to mark, but at Discovery Child Care, we celebrate Earth Day, every day, with our environmental initiatives. Here are some of things we do on a daily basis as part of our commitment to sustainable energy, recycling, and reducing our environmental footprint.

• Both our locations are exclusively maintained by organic methods - no pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides used on the premises.

• We diligently use the blue box program and with over 200 families we only put out one trash can per week!

• We use rain barrels and compost too. Discovery Child Care was Ontario's first licensed child care centre Bullfrog Powered, using 100% green electricity!

• Our Harvie Road location has geothermal heating and cooling plus solar panels.

• We have a no idle zone policy at both sites!

• We want to lead by example, and our children are taught the three R's, reduce, recycle, and re-use.

To learn more about our eco-based Child Care programs please contact us at one of our centres in Barrie. Looking for some fun activities to share with your children? Visit EcoKids and you'll find some great ideas for games, crafts, and projects.

We Treasure Feedback From Our Families!

Here is a wonderful email I received from one of the families at our Harvie Road location. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we're doing.
"Our two girls have taken advantage of the infant, toddler, preschool, kindergarten and school age programs at Discovery (Harvie Road). Discovery stands out above the rest because of the incredible outdoor play space, the quality of their meals and snacks, their efforts for continuous improvement, and their teaching staff. The outdoor play space is

complete with a three distinct play areas for different ages, gardens, sandboxes, a slide, a music area, a bike path, shade trees, a tennis court, and a skating rink in the winter. The meals and snacks are cooked from scratch on site by the same friendly face that we saw when we arrived for our first day seven years ago. Discovery has implemented several improvements over the last few years; a security system to restrict access to the centre to authorized parents, new "branding" of the centre with gorgeous painted murals, standard monthly update cards for parents including photos of their child's activities, the addition of an infant care room with cribs, eco-healthy child care designation, and more. The teaching staff is amazing - they work individually with each child to help them reach their potential, they communicate directly with parents by name, and they're FUN!
When any child encounters the possibility of a new environment, the concept can be daunting. We found that any demonstration of hesitation from our children was met with compassion and creativity on the part of the teachers at Discovery. Now it is not uncommon for either one of them to say, "Can't we just stay for a few more minutes?"
On a side note, I want to specifically recognize the efforts of a few teachers - 
Angela - I know she's not there anymore, but I have amazing memories of her gentle spirit with my one-year old. 
Jody - Jody has been creative and patient with A's little spirited self.
Alicia - On E's first day seven years ago, I was waiting out in the hall to hear how long she would keep crying. Alicia walked by, touched my shoulder, and said, "it gets easier". How did she know I was trying not to cry myself? Maybe I'm more transparent than I realize!
Chelsa - Chelsa always greets me by name when she sees me. No big deal for some, but a demonstration of relational strength to me.
Everyone else has been great, too - these few just stand out and I wanted to be sure that you know."

Together in Nature - Tips for a Closer Family

For Debra Scott, taking her daughter on weekly nature outings with other families was a revelation. "I noticed on those days my daughter slept better and had a better appetite. I noticed I  slept better as well and was in a better mood. Especially during the winter months, stressful things seemed less important after a good play outside."

As you may know, forming a close bond with your child is one of the most important things you can do - from infancy right up through the teen years. Strong early bonds with parents, grandparents, and other caregivers can help children feel a sense of trust and confidence throughout their lifetimes.

For all these reasons, spending time in nature with your children may be an ideal way to nurture family bonds, whether you're dealing with a fussy infant or a recalcitrant teen. Nature doesn't have ring tones or deadlines. You can reach it without spending a penny. And you can even get outdoors together with other families to increase the sociability and fun.

Read more about this in Together in Nature - Pathways to a Stronger, Closer Family, a PDF document from the Children & Nature Organization.

At Discovery Child Care, in Barrie Ontario, we believe in the importance of connecting children with nature. Contact Us to find out more about our eco-friendly child care facility and our nature programs.

What toddlers learn from water play

It's no secret that toddlers love to play with water. Here's why the lessons learned are worth the mess.

Look at that busy little guy, pouring water from yogurt container to funnel to yogurt container... to floor. He's learning about cause and effect, about warm and cool, about floating and sinking. He's calming himself after a

hard day of being small in a big world. He's learning new words, and thinking about the wetness of the water and the bubbliness of the bubbles.

And you thought he was just flooding the bathroom?

What if there was a clean, creative, natural play material that was piped right into your house, 24 hours a day, every day? You guessed? It's water. Along with the wonderful bright (expensive) toys that Grandma buys, and the paints and play dough and other neat craft stuff you provide, don't forget about water. Pamela Taylor, early childhood development instructor at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, says, "Young children are drawn to water. They're curious about it. It's a universally appealing play material with unlimited possibilities."

What are some of the possibilities? What does a toddler get from playing with water, besides wet?

Read more..

// Originally published in Today's Parent May 2001

We are now booking Tennis Lessons at Discovery Child (Barrie, Harvie Rd Location)

Hello Everyone - We're looking forward to getting outside and starting our Tennis program for 2013.  If you're interested in booking Tennis Lessons please contact us now!

OUR HEAD COACH:   We are very lucky to have Michelle May returning for another year of coaching!

• Tennis Canada  Certified Level 2 Coach
• Certified Fitness Professional
• Certified Sports Instructor
• St Joseph’s High School Varsity Coach
• Director of Tennis Operations Olympia sports Summer Camp (week 3)
• CIAU collegiate Player and OUAA doubles champion

SMASH TENNIS  (3-5 year olds) 

Introduce your child to the sport of tennis.  Tennis can be a sport for a lifetime and your child’s first experience with tennis is a very important one.  At the entry level

SMASH TENNIS is packed with fun games and social interaction. 

The Progressive Model approach is used for all SMASH programs making learning fast and easy. 
May 13-June 24  ($60/child) (no class May 20)
6 weeks, Mondays, Group 1:   2:15-3     Group 2  3-3:45  (maximum 6 children per group)

SMASH TENNIS (6-12 year olds) 

Suitable for both first timers as well as the intermediate player that wants to maintain a recreational level of play. Lessons are based on the Play and Learn principal with a focus on fun and development. Stroke Fundamentals as well as game based situational coaching make up the first half of lessons while the second half are dedicated to playing the game itself or specifically designed tennis oriented multi skill game play.

May 13-June 24  ($75/child) 6 weeks
Mondays, 3:45-4:45pm, 6-12 year olds (no class May 20)  Maximum 6 children per group

REGISTRATION & ENROLMENT

A registration/enrolment form and full payment of fees are required to hold open your child’s spot. Enrolment forms need to be completed and returned to the office prior to your child’s first day. 

Please call, email or drop by the office to register your child.  Please register no later than: Friday April 26th .

Payment is to be made by cheque made payable to Discovery Child Care Centre.  There will be a fee of $35 for any payment which fails to clear the bank for any reason.

Refund/Cancellation policy:

Requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Discovery Child Care Centre. In order to receive a refund, notice must be given a minimum of 2 weeks (10 business days) prior to the start of any lessons or camp. All refunds (less a $10 admin fee) will be processed once initial payment has cleared the bank.

WHAT TO BRING

  Child sized Tennis racquet (limited # of racquets available to borrow)
  Non-marking running shoes
  Water
  Sun hat
  Sun screen   

Discovery Child Care Centre information:

Harvie Road Location

Address: 101 Harvie Road, Barrie, ON L4N 9C9
Phone: 705-733-2052
Email: harvie@discoverychild.on.ca

Healthy Kids Need Time in Nature

Here is a wonderful article written by David Suzuki about kids, nature and healthy living - certainly subjects dear to my heart and I agree with David that we need a national strategy to get our kids eating healthy foods and being active in nature.  Please check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks - Karen, Discovery Child Care

Healthy Kids Need Time in Nature

By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Communications Specialist Leanne Clare

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/opinion/healthy-kids-need-time-in-nature-363444.html

Ontario’s Healthy Kids Panel recently proposed a strategy to help kids get onto a path to health.

The problem is that the path doesn’t lead them into nature. Though the report quotes parents’ comments and research showing kids spend dramatically less time outside than ever, it doesn’t encourage time in nature.

That said, many of the report’s recommendations should be implemented and supported locally, provincially and nationally to reduce the risks of obesity.

Encouraging parents and children to be more critical about dietary choices and requiring more information and labelling from restaurants and food producers is long overdue.

Ontario isn’t the only province working to reduce obesity rates and support parents raising healthy children, particularly in the early years. Alberta released relevant reports in 2011 and Quebec has had a ban on advertising junk food to children since 1980.

No one can argue against public awareness and education around the benefits of healthy eating and active living. But a provincial, patchwork approach to addressing these issues isn’t enough. We need a national strategy to get our kids eating healthy foods and being active in nature.

‘Make good things more accessible’

Although it seems logical that much of the time spent being active will take place outside, the Ontario report acknowledges that “many communities are not designed to encourage kids to move or be physically active…and have few safe green spaces.”

One parent in a focus group explains that the parks in his community are either gated or locked up once school is closed. So, even when there is green space, it’s not always accessible.

Last year, the David Suzuki Foundation conducted a survey with young Canadians and found that 70 percent spend an hour or less a day outdoors. The 2012 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card says they spend almost eight hours a day in front of screens.

So it’s not that kids don’t have time to be outside. It’s just not part of their lifestyle.

Much has been reported about a recommendation by the Ontario panel to ban junk food advertising that targets children under 12. This has worked in Quebec and is being discussed in Alberta.

But the approach has invited criticism from those who argue that people should have the right to choose.

It’s always tempting to focus on making bad things less accessible, but perhaps policymakers should be more creative and focus on ways to make good things more accessible.

Being in nature is good for all of us. People who get outside regularly are less stressed, have more resilient immune systems and are generally happier.

And it’s good for our kids. Studies show spending time in nature or green spaces helps reduce the symptoms of ADHD.

Even in built playgrounds, kids spend twice as much time playing, use their imaginations more, and engage in more aerobic and strengthening activities when the space incorporates natural elements like logs, flowers, and small streams, according to research from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Bring Nature Back Into Our Lives

Despite all the obvious health benefits of spending time outside, provincial and federal governments are failing to integrate a daily dose of nature into their policies.

It’s also something we as a society are failing to make a priority in the lives of our children. This inexpensive and effective way to make our lives healthier and happier should be an obvious solution.

We need to make sure our neighbourhoods have green spaces where people can explore their connections with nature.

We need to make sure our neighbourhoods have green spaces where people can explore their connections with nature.

We need to ask teachers and school board representatives to take students outside so that nature becomes a classroom.

And we need to stop making the outdoors seem like a scary place for children by helping parents understand that the benefits of playing outside outweigh the risks.

It will take public education and awareness-building as well as changes to the way we build cities and live in our communities to bring nature back into our lives.

Connecting kids to nature every day needs to be a priority policy objective in any strategy for healthy children and could easily have been integrated into the recommendations from the Ontario Healthy Kids Panel.

Taking our kids by the hand and spending time outside with them will have the added benefit of making us healthier and happier adults.

By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Communications Specialist Leanne Clare

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/opinion/healthy-kids-need-time-in-nature-363444.html


Discovery Child Care - Barrie, Ontario -- www.discoverychild.on.ca - Program Philosophy: Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. We follow an Emergent Curriculum philosophy which means: Your child will be provided with hands-on, play-based learning opportunities that will encourage active exploration, autonomy, choice, problem solving and plain old fun! Your child’s individual interests, abilities and needs will be considered when planning our indoor and outdoor programs.