Children First Eagle Ridge Nest

We are an ELCC daycare centre that is non-profit, accredited and licensed.

At the Nest we consider child care to be an extension of the child’s home, and we work to build collaborative partnerships with families. Children develop problem-solving and conflict resolution skills as they participate in the broader community outside their home. We focus on developing the “whole child” by looking at and supporting the children’s social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and creative selves. Young children develop their natural intelligence through movement, play, and social interaction. Our participatory approach to caregiving tasks such as eating, napping, and clothes changing is incorporated into the daily life of the program, starting in our infant room and continuing throughout a child’s time at the Nest. Emphasis is placed on the use of an “emergent” curriculum, which arises out of the interactions between children, adults, and materials. Staff plan experiences for children based on their observations of children’s interests and needs, community events, seasonal changes, and their own passions. Activities include sand and water play, science investigation, art, music, movement, block building, storytelling, dramatic play, field trips, and outdoor activities. Another important element of our philosophy is our commitment to an anti-bias curriculum. In order to provide an environment which reflects appreciation for diversity, care is taken to choose books, music, activities, and classroom materials that reflect a variety of non-stereotypic images and roles. We count these people among our influences: Magda Gerber and the RIE approach, Bev Bos, Eleanor Reynolds, Margie Carter, Deb Curtis, Marshall Rosenberg, the schools of Reggio Emilia, and the children and families themselves. By following these inspirations, we strive to provide a program that offers an inclusive and fun learning environment that staff, children, and families can be proud to call their own.