13390 Yonge Street, Unit 7, Richmond Hill, Ontario,
905-773-6677
info@playislandexplorers.ca

Program Philosophy

Richmond Hill School Programs

Play Island Explorers is a place for the children in our community to come and express themselves freely, build respectful relationships with peers, grow in their area of interest, and build their self-esteem.

Our primary goals are to provide an educational preschool, and after school program based on the children’s interests. We will provide a safe and stimulating environment to effectively meet the needs of all the children. Our goal is to work with each individual child, and encourage the children to build respectful relationships with their peers within the community, all while having fun learning through various activities which are experimental, challenging, and based on their interest. During this period we would provide the children in the after school program with a healthy snack, homework assistance, and to work together in a social setting to be creative and learn about their new finding interests. Our mission is to work with the children in our community and help build self-esteem, help to build respectful relationships with peers, keep the children active, work with the children in their area of interest, and expand in these areas with various learning activities. We make learning fun!

Our Preschool and After school program follows the Emergent curriculum of Art and Creativity in Reggio Emilia: Exploring the role and potential of ateliers in early childhood education, and How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the early years (2014) as its principal guiding document under the child care and early years act, (2014). In our Preschool program we have a mix of themes we set out to follow throughout the school year, as well as incorporating the childrens interests and expanding in those areas.

We follow the four foundations of how learning happens?

  • Belonging
  • Well-being,
  • Engagement, and
  • Expression

The Reggio Emilia Approach

  • Exposing the children to a wide variety of educational opportunities that encourage self-expression,
  • communication,
  • logical thinking, and
  • problem solving

We use these guidelines to address each child’s need for fun, creativity, active play, communication skills, expression, engagement, belonging, problem-solving and decision-making skills, cognitive growth, social interaction, rest, well-being, and nutrition. We make each day an exciting learning experience by including opportunities for socialization, group play, reading, and arts & crafts.

We strive to be organized around the foundations of belonging, well-being, engagement expression, in children where the goals and expectations integrate the six guiding principles of ELECT (Early Learning for Every Child Today). Besides How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years, Play Island Explorers Centre program also references, and is in compliance with the following policies, pedagogy and curriculum documents for programming by the Ministry of Education:

  • Ontario Early Years Framework
  • Ontario Early Learning Framework
  • Think, Feel, Act Lessons from Research About Young Children

Play Island Explorers views your children as competent individuals, capable of complex thinking, curious and rich in potential. We value and build on their strengths and abilities. We encourage them to interact and communicate in a positive way and support their ability to self-regulate. Our programming allows your children to realize their full potential by indulging their capabilities and curiosities. They can try new things and explore new ideas; all while learning and developing at their own pace.