Strathcona Child Development Centre

Using cars (and hands!), these children explored the cool paints on a hot day.

Bugs & Insects Habitat Exploration:

Today, the Oak children enjoyed exploring bug and insect habitats through an imaginative learning experience.

They discovered different kinds of bugs and insects displayed in various environments, such as grass, waterfalls & land areas.

The children were curious, engaging as they observed where insects and bugs live.

This exploration encouraged conversations about nature, habitats as well as the importance of caring for living things 🐞

Today, the Acorn children explored movement and motion with balls and paint.

The children dropped and pushed the balls down the ramp, spreading and mixing the paint. The children discovered that they could toss the balls onto the ramp and watch it roll down. The children explored playful exploration by experimenting what they could do with the balls and see what happens when the balls rolled through the paint.

This activity invited the children to explore movement through the rolling, pushing and tossing of the balls down the ramp. It invited them to explore their creativity through the mixing of the colours and the feeling of the paint on the ball and their hands.

Painting in the park!

Working together closely, the Tamarack and Willow children built these little homes.

Have a great day!

Via & Coffee

Today in Oak classroom, the children engaged in imaginative learning through our "Bug Research Lab".

With magnifying glasses,pencils, glasses & paper, they explored bugs & insects as scientists.

They observed closely, explored & documented what they found through drawings & marks on paper. Children also shared their ideas & findings with friends.

This activity encouraged observation skills, communication and a deeper connection with the natural world 🐞 🐜 🐛

Beautiful insect exploration in Oak classroom 🐞

Acorn at the Park

Today in Acorn we brought balls to the park and headed straight for the hill!

The children rolled, kicked, and tossed them down the slope, racing after them as they picked up speed. There was plenty of laughter along the way - plus a visit to the fountain and some very important geese to observe.

A wonderful morning that supported gross motor skills, dizzy play, physical health, peer communication, and playful problem solving.

Reflective planning is a powerful approach in early childhood and primary education. Here are the key benefits:
Cognitive Development
• Builds metacognitive skills — children learn to think about their own thinking
• Strengthens problem-solving by encouraging them to evaluate what worked and what didn’t
• Improves decision-making as they learn to anticipate outcomes before acting
Emotional & Social Growth
• Develops self-awareness and emotional regulation
• Fosters a sense of ownership and agency over their learning
• Encourages empathy when reflecting on group experiences and others’ perspectives
Academic Benefits
• Deepens understanding by moving beyond surface-level learning
• Improves retention — reflection reinforces and consolidates new knowledge
• Helps children set meaningful goals and track their own progress
Resilience & Growth Mindset
• Normalizes mistakes as part of the learning process
• Builds confidence through recognizing their own growth over time
• Encourages persistence when they reflect on how they overcame challenges
Lifelong Habits
• Lays the foundation for self-directed learning
• Develops habits of inquiry and curiosity
• Prepares children for collaborative environments where feedback and iteration are expected