Fredericton Early Learning Center Inc.

The center will delay opening until 10:00 today due to the storm. My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause

FELC will delay opening this morning until 10:00 because of the storm.

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A train of sleds! Such cooperation!

We will delay opening until 9:30 today due to the storm

Outside on Tuesday, we made two amazing discoveries! First we found a “bird nest” (a leftover planter from our hanging baskets)! The kids had so much fun breaking apart the dirt and discussing where the nest came from, and how it ended up in our yard. Evelyn even got in the nest once we cleaned out all the dirt! The second discovery was a dinosaur fossil (a fossil) in the sandbox! The kids worked so hard digging away the dirt, and over lunch discussed what kind of dinosaur it could be!
-Written by Jessica

It is great to have some puddles to splash in again!

Research shows that Finnish children start school at the age of 7, yet they consistently outperform their peers worldwide in literacy, mathematics, and overall well-being.

But here’s what’s striking:
They don’t get ahead by rushing.
They thrive because they aren’t rushed.

Because here’s the truth: in Finland, childhood is still sacred. The early years aren’t filled with flashcards, early readers, and pressure to perform. They’re filled with forest walks, open-ended play, and long, unhurried moments of discovery.

🧠 Decades of research (Sahlberg, 2015; Whitebread, 2012; OECD, 2018) reveal that this slower start protects a child’s developing brain. Early play isn’t wasted time; it’s wiring time. When children build forts, climb trees, and explore mud puddles, they’re also building executive function, problem-solving, and emotional regulation, the very skills that predict lifelong success.

In Finland, teachers don’t “teach to the test.” They teach the child. Recess isn’t a reward. It’s a right. And homework in the early years? Almost none. Because rest and family connection are also seen as part of education.

Why does this matter?
Because too many children today are burning out before they even learn who they are. We push academics before self-awareness, competition over curiosity. We teach them to chase achievement before they’ve learned to love learning.

However, the Finnish model reminds us that a child who plays deeply learns deeply.
A child who feels safe will explore bravely.
And a child allowed to grow at their own pace will often surpass those who were hurried.

So maybe the question isn’t,
“How can we help our kids get ahead?”
Maybe it’s,
“How can we protect their joy long enough for learning to bloom naturally?”

Because childhood isn’t a waiting room for “real life.” It is real life… the most formative, fertile soil for everything that comes next. 🤍

References:
• Sahlberg, P. (2015). Finnish Lessons 2.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland?
• OECD (2018). Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators.
• Whitebread, D. (2012). The Importance of Play: A Report on the Value of Children’s Play with a Series of Policy Recommendations.

Learning story written by Cassidy

The children and team members surprised their educator and co-worker Raman by making Diwali bells and decorating and lighting candles for a little celebration on Monday. We hope you've had time to celebrate this week Raman!

A continuation of our snake skin exploration from last week!
To build on the children’s curiosity, I painted a layer of glue and paint onto a laminated photograph of a snake. Once it dried, the children eagerly helped “peel” it off, replicating the process of a snake shedding its skin. They were deeply engaged and took great satisfaction in helping the snake become “clean” again, showing their understanding that shedding is important for a snake’s growth and comfort. This simple, hands-on activity offered a fun and meaningful way to deepen their grasp of animal behaviours and continue exploring their natural curiosity about the world around them!

-Jessica Blair