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Age: 6 months-3 years
The Infant/Toddler Program
Our Infant/Toddler program is designed to meet the individual needs of each child. We provide loving attention for each child’s caregiving needs, while offering stimulating and educational activities and experiences. We provide a balance of activities that promote social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development. Our program includes stories, music, sensory play, indoor gym/outdoor play, and nature exploration. Teachers and children explore together and engage in co-constructed, inquiry based learning. We provide daily nutritious snacks and we offer an optional hot lunch program.
Age: 3-5 years
The 3-5 Program
We offer an active-learning, play-based program that inspires inquiry and creativity. We provide a balance of activities and experiences that promote social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development. Teachers and children engage in co-constructed, inquiry-based learning. Our program includes language and literacy, art, science, cooking, music/movement, indoor gym/outdoor play, nature exploration and outings. We provide daily nutritious snacks and we offer an optional hot-lunch program.
Music And Movement Program
Our music program is taught by Ryan Sloan, an Early Childhood Educator and musician, who has taught preschool children for many years. Ryan introduces the children to a variety of instruments and teaches them rhythm, pitch, and recognition of songs and tunes. The music and movement sessions are interactive and fun as children experience the joy of learning through music.
Yoga Program
Our yoga program is led by Cyndy Power, who has many years teaching yoga to children and adults. During the sessions, Cyndy guides the children through mindfulness and movement exercises to explore and support physical and emotional well-being. Children gain skills that help to improve focus, calm the nervous system, gain greater confidence and self-awareness, and develop a positive self-image. The yoga sessions promote physical literacy, relaxation and mindfulness with no religious component.
Hot Lunch Program
We offer an optional hot lunch program for a nominal charge, provided by the North Shore Meals On Wheels. Parents choose from a menu that rotates monthly and consists of full nutritious meals that include soup, protein, starch, vegetables, and fruit for dessert.
Field Trips
We go on field trips in the community with our 3 to 5 year olds to places like Lighthouse Park, Ambleside Park, John Lawson Park, West Van Library, as well as North Vancouver Presentation House and Kay Meek Centre for children’s theatre productions.
Program Highlights
Acorn Early Education Centre is a well-established Licensed Group Child Care Facility offering quality full day care and education for children 6 months to 5 years of age.
Snacks & Lunch Program
Nutritious snacks provided, optional hot lunch program
Multilingual staff
TESOL certified with ELL experience
Qualified ECE Staff
Caring, experienced and qualified ECE, Infant/Toddler, Special Needs staff certified in First Aid
Science and Nature
We provide children with opportunities to engage with the natural world through outdoor play, nature exploration and neighbourhood walks, and field trips. We aim to give the children opportunities for adventure and autonomy. Children rely on their senses to obtain information while they learn how to manage risk and gain confidence in their own abilities. The natural environment provides an abundance of learning opportunities and physical exercise, as well as having a calming effect on emotions. The children also engage with the natural world through projects such as growing vegetables and flowers, watching the metamorphosis of caterpillars to Painted Lady Butterflies, egg incubation to chicks hatching, bird inquiry, and climate change awareness.
Social Responsibility
Children and teachers engage in inquiries and projects together, such as preparing food hampers, creating care packages for the Downtown Eastside, sponsoring a child through World Vision, engaging in climate action initiatives, and learning about the heart-mind principles through the Dalai Lama Centre.
Culture & Diversity
We strive to facilitate children’s positive personal and cultural identity by developing awareness, understanding, and appreciation of all the facets that contribute to a healthy sense of one’s self. This includes awareness and understanding of one’s family background, culture, heritage, language, values, beliefs, and perspectives in a pluralistic society. Families are invited to join us for various cultural celebrations and activities throughout the year, or to share something about their family/culture with us.
Communication & Literacy
We understand that children use multiple modes of expressive languages to communicate ideas, participate in relationships, and make meaning in their homes and communities. Children are free to express themselves in a multitude of ways. We provide opportunities for exploring language and literacy through reading stories, and exploring letter recognition and letter sounds through the Fun Family Phonics program. We also explore languages such as French, Spanish, Chinese and Farsi through songs and activities.
Community Engagement
To enrich our curriculum and broaden children’s horizons, we invite a variety of special guests to come and give presentations on different topics. Some of our special guests have included Cinema Zoo, Orphaned Wildlife (O.W.L.), the Bug Lab, Elmer the Safety Elephant, West Van Fire Department and West Van Police Department.
Family Engagement
Throughout the year we hold various activities and events that families are invited to attend such as our Halloween Parade, Winter Holiday Party, Mother’s Day Tea Party, Father’s Day Coffee Party, and the Year End Farewell event for our children leaving for kindergarten.
