Early Knowing Centre Literacy Activities in your home 21549
Literacy flowers in everyday moments, not just during circle time on a classroom rug. If you have a preschooler who illuminate at affordable daycare centre storytime or a toddler who drags a crayon across the wall and calls it a "dragon," you already understand this. The habits that build confident readers and meaningful writers start with the method we talk, listen, explore print, and have fun with noises. Households typically ask what they can do in the house to reinforce what their child discovers at an early knowing centre or daycare centre. The brief answer: more than you think, and it doesn't require a mentor degree, a Pinterest board of crafts, or costly materials.
I have actually worked together with educators in licensed daycare programs and community preschools long enough to see which home activities in fact move the needle. These practices feel basic, however they are stealthily effective when done regularly. They likewise make life with young children more linked and less transactional. Below, you'll find methods that fold into busy regimens and still meet the requirements that early childcare specialists appreciate, from phonological awareness to print principles and oral language.
How early learning centres approach literacy
A quality early learning centre incorporates literacy across the day rather than isolating it to one block. Educators weave in rich vocabulary throughout snack discussions, label shelves to cue print awareness, set out open-ended writing tools, and invite children to dictate stories. They prepare little group activities connected to developmental goals: segmenting syllables with claps, matching uppercase and lowercase letters, telling image series. The approach is lively however intentional.
When families look up "preschool near me" or "daycare near me," they often desire reassurance that literacy becomes part of the strategy. Ask how the centre reads aloud, whether children get to handle books independently, and how composing emerges in projects. In locations like The Learning Circle Childcare Centre, for instance, I have actually seen teachers keep clipboards in the block location for "blueprints," include dish cards to the dramatic play kitchen, and turn nonfiction books to match kids's present fascinations. These options matter more than the size of the library.
Now the home side. You do not need a class corner stocked with leveled readers. You need intentionality. The following sections break down what to do, why it works, early child care programs and what to view for.
Talk initially, always
Reading rests on language. Long before children link letters to noises, they discover that words bring significance which discussions have shape. The most significant literacy lift in your home originates from top quality talk, not expensive phonics drills.
Aim for back-and-forth exchanges. If your toddler says "truck," withstand the quick "Yes, a truck." Broaden it: "Yes, a shiny red fire engine with a tall ladder. It's spraying water." You have actually added adjectives, syntax, and story components. At dinner, narrate your day in a manner your child can track. Give exact terms for everyday things like whisk, envelope, invoice, and zipper, not just "thingy" or "stuff." Vocabulary grows in context.
On strolls, utilize time markers: yesterday, today, tomorrow. Spatial words too: next to, in between, under, behind. These anchor future understanding. Keep an ear out for their pronunciations and grammar quirks. If your three years of age states, "I goed," mirror back with natural modeling, not a correction that halts the circulation: "Oh, you went to the park. Who did you see there?"
Read aloud like a storyteller, not a narrator
Most families check out at bedtime. That's a start, but literacy flourishes when books appear in daytime, noisy-moment, waiting-room life. Spread them where your child lives: near the shoes, next to the cereal, in the restroom basket. Rotate weekly to keep curiosity fresh.
During read-alouds, slow down. Trace a finger under the title. Call the author and illustrator. Mention endpapers or speech bubbles. Without turning the night into a lesson, you are modeling print conventions. Choose books with rhythmic text for young children and layered stories for young children. Mix fiction with nonfiction. A 3 year old's fascination with buses can carry a details book, a counting reader, and a photo-heavy guide about road signs.
Many teachers in early child care programs use interactive strategies, typically called dialogic reading. You can too. Ask "What do you observe?" instead of "What color is the dog?" Time out before turning the page so your child can forecast what happens next. If they lose interest, pivot: "Let's inform the story with the photos." It still counts.
One caution: it's tempting to stop for an understanding quiz after every page. Keep questions open and irregular so the story keeps its music. The objective is joy and immersion as much as skill.
Print awareness without worksheets
Children slowly learn that print brings meaning, runs delegated right in English, and is made from letters that remain stable. Homes loaded with labels and indications work as mini class. Tape your child's name to their drawer, label kitchen bins, compose "mail" on a shoebox near the door. When you make a grocery list, say it aloud while composing. Demonstrate how your hand moves across the page. Invite your child to "sign" their art with a scribble, then speak about the letters you see in their name.
Menus, leaflets, calendars, and store receipts are all literacy tools. In the vehicle, checked out indications together. Start with environmental print your child already recognizes, like logo designs. As interest grows, point out the first letter of words and the sound it makes. Do this sparingly and playfully. If you press too difficult on letter-of-the-day worksheets, many kids shut down. There will be time later for formal phonics. In the meantime, the intention is discovering, not mastering.
Phonological play in the margins of the day
Phonological awareness is the umbrella term for hearing the sounds of language, from big chunks like words and syllables to tiny phonemes. This ability predicts reading success highly, and it develops through video games, not drills.
Turn regimens into sound play. At breakfast, clap out syllables in oatmeal, yogurt, straw-ber-ry. On the way to a licensed daycare or local daycare, play "I hear with my little ear" and name products that start with the exact same sound: "bus, bin, baby." If that's too simple, try ending noises: "truck, stick, bike, appearance." Keep it brief and cheerful.
Kids like rhymes. Check out rhyming books and pause before the rhyme so your child can chime in. If they use nonsense words, celebrate. Nonsense still trains the ear. For older young children, try oral blending: "I'm considering a pet, d-o-g." Have them blend the noises to say dog. Then reverse it and ask to sector: "State map. Now state it without m." This can take months to click. When it does, you'll see it overflow into pretend writing and letter interest.
Early writing as indicating making
Writing is not just penmanship. It's the act of putting ideas into visible type. Let your child draw daily with diverse tools: thick markers, triangular crayons, chunky pencils. Offer vertical surface areas like easels or a taped roll of paper on the wall, which construct shoulder and core strength, foundations for later on fine motor control.
If your child dictates a story, compose it down. Keep it brief. Read their words back slowly, pointing under each word. You've just revealed one-to-one correspondence and honored their voice. Conserve the story in a folder. With time, kids discover that their squiggles change into letter-like kinds, then letters, then strings of letters with areas. They might write "I LV DG" and proudly read "I like pet." Do not correct it into a best sentence. Inquire to read it to you, then go under it and compose the standard variation in small print. Both variations matter.
Functional writing hooks numerous children better than journaling triggers. Make birthday cards. Leave a note for a brother or sister on the refrigerator. Develop an indication for the block tower reading "Do Not Tear down." Put a small note pad near the play cooking area so they can take "dining establishment orders." These genuine contexts mirror what they see in an early knowing centre and after school care programs: composing woven into play.
Storytelling, sequencing, and memory
Narrative skills bridge oral language and reading comprehension. Practice in life. After a trip to the park, ask, "What happened first? What next? What at the end?" Usage images on your phone to make a quick three-picture series. Slide in between descriptive and causal concerns. "Why did the slide feel hot?" motivates linked thinking.
Retell favorite stories with props. A scarf ends up being a river, obstructs ended up being homes, stuffed animals end up being characters. Let your child steer. If they switch the ending, roll with it. This is rehearsal for comprehending plot, viewpoint, and inference.
If your childcare centre near me offers family occasions, look for story dictation activities. Educators will scribe your child's words and assist them act it out with peers. You can mirror this in the house on a little scale. The arc matters less than the feeling that their ideas bring weight.
Building a book-rich home on a real budget
A well-stocked home library does not mean purchasing fifty brand-new hardbounds. Use what's accessible. Town library are gold, especially when you tap the curator's understanding. Numerous branches curate "grab and go" bags by style or age. Turn books weekly or every two weeks. Visit garage sales or area swaps. If you can, keep a few tough board books in the cars and truck and a slim paperback in your bag for waits.
Think range. Consist of poetry and tunes, folktales from your household's heritage, basic graphic books with large panels, informational texts with pictures, and wordless photo books that invite narrative. Wordless books establish storytelling in powerful methods. Take turns telling what happens and observe how your child's version shifts over time.
If you are supporting a bilingual family, keep both languages alive in your home library. You do not require translations of the exact same title, though those can be valuable. Better to have rich, genuine texts in each language and to talk about the stories.
When screen time assists, and when it gets in the way
Screens can support literacy if you treat them as tools, not sitters. Video calls with grandparents can be language-rich if you prep with your child. Help them prepare to show a drawing or inform a narrative. Audiobooks and story podcasts develop vocabulary and attention, specifically throughout vehicle rides. If your toddler listens to a narrative each early morning on the way to toddler care, that's a stable input of language.
Avoid auto-play spirals that motivate passive viewing. Choose apps with open-ended production over tap-to-animate characters. If your child watches a favorite story, follow up by drawing a picture of a scene and identifying it together. Co-viewing matters. When you sit beside them and comment or ask a few concerns, screen time becomes conversation time.
Bridging home and centre: how to partner with educators
Families and teachers share the exact same objective, even if resources differ. If you are registered at an early learning centre, whether a small certified daycare or a bigger childcare centre, ask the lead teacher for the current literacy focus. Are they having fun with rhymes? Structure letter-sound connections for the very first letter in names? Practicing states of shared experiences? Aligning your home activities preschool South Surrey programs to those objectives offers your child repetition without boredom.
During pick-up, it's tempting to rush. If you can spare two minutes when a week, request a picture: one strength your child revealed and one next step. Educators at places like The Learning Circle Childcare Centre frequently jot "finding out stories" and are happy to provide examples of what to attempt at home. If you look for "childcare centre near me," include a question to your tours: How do you interact literacy objectives to families?
After school look after older young children and kinders brings a different rhythm. Ask how they approach homework-like tasks. They must not be appointing worksheets. Instead, they might run book clubs with image books, puppet theatres, or comic-making stations. Obtain their ideas for weekends.
For the child who resists books
Not every child merges a lap for stories. Some need to move while listening. That's fine. Try stand-up storytime while your child bounces on a tiny trampoline or builds with magnets. Time out and inquire to show with their body how a character feels. Offer books that match their fixations: trains, bugs, baking. Attempt high-contrast art or interactive flaps for young toddlers. Keep sessions brief and frequent.
Some kids withstand since the text feels too thick. Choose books with fewer words per page and bold photos. Wordless books frequently break through resistance since children manage the pace. Let them "check out" to you, even if the story meanders. They are learning the spinal column of narrative and practicing expressive language.
If attention wobbles, stop before your child disconnects. Say, "We'll learn more later on." The objective is keeping books connected with enjoyment. Completing every book is not the badge of honor; returning to books tomorrow is.
When to focus on letters and names
Names bring magic. Start there. Lots of early learning centre class have name cards at sign-in. Do the very same in the house. Print your child's name in a clear typeface and location it where they can see it daily. Make it a light ritual to "check in" at breakfast or tape their name above a hook for their backpack if you're headed to a daycare near me. Present uppercase for the first letter and lowercase for the rest, because that's how print operates in books. Gradually, welcome them to identify the letter that begins their name in daily print.
Introduce a handful of letter sounds naturally. Usage initial noises in your environment: M for milk, S for soap, B for bed. Say the sound, not the letter name, when playing sound video games. If your child requests more, follow their curiosity. If not, trust the sluggish construct. Forcing a letter-of-the-week at home can sour interest. The teachers will supply organized direction when appropriate.
The function of play in literacy
Play is not a break from discovering; it's the engine. In dramatic play, kids adopt functions, work out scripts, and utilize language with purpose. In blocks, they prepare, explain, and problem-solve. In sensory bins, they narrate pretend worlds. If you stock your home with open-ended materials and time for unstructured play, you have actually set the stage for literacy to flourish.
Add print props to play. A takeout menu in the play kitchen begs to be checked out. A bus path map in the living room becomes a pretend commute. Tape a few basic labels on racks, like books, puzzles, art, to motivate print awareness and tidy-up skills. If you go to a preschool near me or a daycare centre, you will likely see these very same strategies in action because they work and they scale.
A light-touch regimen that sticks
Parents request schedules. Stiff schedules collapse under reality, but small anchors hold. Here's a simple daily flow that families discover achievable:
- Morning: a brief, lively sound video game throughout breakfast or the drive to childcare. Two minutes is enough.
- Midday: a spontaneous read-aloud of a brief book or a page or 2 of a longer one. Keep books within reach in the cooking area or living room.
- Afternoon: open-ended illustration or writing invitations. Leave paper and markers out. If interest is low, add a purpose like making a sign or a card.
- Evening: a longer cuddle-read or a story podcast before bed. Dim lights, let the voice do the work.
- Weekly: a library see or book rotation at home. Swap in a couple of new titles and retire others to keep things fresh.
The regular adapts for families with moving shifts, brother or sisters, and tight commutes. Miss a block and continue. Consistency throughout months, not perfection every day, constructs skill.
Assessment without anxiety
You can discover growth without turning your home into a screening center. Look for these markers in time: richer vocabulary in daily talk, longer attention during stories, playful attempts to rhyme or break words into beats, interest in letters in their name, and drawings that include intentional marks or letter-like shapes. Kids progress unevenly. A child might jump forward in sound play and stall in interest in print, then change six weeks later.
If your gut flags something, talk with your child's teachers. Share what you see in your home. Early discovering specialists can screen for language delays, hearing issues, or other concerns and recommend targeted supports. Early intervention works best when it's collective and low stress.
Making it work in hectic or multilingual households
Time hardship is genuine. If you manage multiple jobs or take care of seniors, keep literacy micro. Narrate jobs currently happening. Talk through dishes while cooking. Inform a one-minute story during toothbrushing. Keep a basket of books near the shoes for a five-minute read while putting on boots. The aggregate of small minutes measures up to a single long session.
In multilingual homes, speak the language you understand best when talking and telling stories. Depth matters more than perfect positioning with school language. Children can transfer narrative structure and vocabulary richness across languages. If your early learning centre mostly uses English and you speak another language in the house, let teachers understand. They can prepare assistances like visual schedules, gestures, and cognate awareness.
When to look for outside help
If your 3 or four years of age programs little interest in responding to sound play over months, struggles to follow simple instructions regularly, or has relentless problem producing sounds that restricts intelligibility, bring it up with your certified daycare teacher or pediatrician. They might suggest a hearing check or a recommendation to a speech-language pathologist. Many services can be accessed through community programs or school districts at no cost for eligible children.
Note the distinction between regular developmental quirks and red flags. Mix-ups like "pasghetti" or "aminal" prevail and generally deal with. Aggravation that causes behavior changes, or an abrupt regression after a period of growth, deserves attention.
Connecting with neighborhood resources
Beyond your early learning centre, aim to neighborhood centers. Libraries frequently run toddler storytimes and preschool literacy play sessions with tunes and motion. Some childcare centres partner with libraries for outreach; ask if yours does. Museums in some cases host early literacy days where kids "read" displays through scavenger hunts and simple triggers. Community moms and dad groups switch books and share pointers about relied on programs.
If you're assessing options and typing "childcare centre near me" into a search bar, trip with a literacy lens. Do you see kids's determined stories posted at kid height? Are there relaxing book corners in addition to active areas? Do staff communicate with children in discussions affordable preschool South Surrey instead of instructions only? A centre that values language reveals it on the walls, in the shelves, and in the quality of interactions.
A final word on perseverance and joy
Children remember how literacy felt at home. Whether you sit on the flooring with a tattered library copy or doodle a ridiculous note in a lunchbox, you're constructing not just skills however identity: "I am an individual who enjoys stories. I can share ideas. Print helps me do it." That belief brings them from toddler care to kindergarten and beyond.
Families and teachers share this work. The Learning Circle Childcare Centre and other thoughtful programs can prime the pump throughout the day. Evenings and weekends give those seeds water and light. It does not take excellence. It takes existence, a few habits, and a willingness to talk, check out, sing, doodle, and laugh together.
If you're all set to begin, pick one modification that feels light. Perhaps it's a two-minute rhyme game at breakfast or a trip to the library this weekend. Include another next month. Literacy grows like that, action by action, page by page, discussion by conversation.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre – South Surrey Campus
Also known as: The Learning Circle Ocean Park Campus; The Learning Circle Childcare South Surrey
Address: 100 – 12761 16 Avenue (Pacific Building), Surrey, BC V4A 1N3, Canada
Phone: +1 604-385-5890
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/
Campus page: https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/south-surrey-campus-oceanpark
Tagline: Providing Care & Early Education for the Whole Child Since 1992
Main services: Licensed childcare, daycare, preschool, before & after school care, Foundations classes (1–4), Foundations of Mindful Movement, summer camps, hot lunch & snacks
Primary service area: South Surrey, Ocean Park, White Rock BC
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View on Google Maps (GBP-style search URL):
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Plus code:
24JJ+JJ Surrey, British Columbia
Business Hours (Ocean Park / South Surrey Campus)
Regular hours:
Note: Hours may differ on statutory holidays; families are usually encouraged to confirm directly with the campus before visiting.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelearningcirclechildcare
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is a holistic childcare and early learning centre located at 100 – 12761 16 Avenue in the Pacific Building in South Surrey’s Ocean Park neighbourhood of Surrey, BC V4A 1N3, Canada.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus provides full-day childcare and preschool programs for children aged 1 to 5 through its Foundations 1, Foundations 2 and Foundations 3 classes.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers before-and-after school care for children 5 to 12 years old in its Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders program, serving Ecole Laronde, Ray Shepherd and Ocean Cliff elementary schools.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus focuses on whole-child development that blends academics, social-emotional learning, movement, nutrition and mindfulness in a safe, family-centred setting.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and is closed on weekends and most statutory holidays.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus serves families in South Surrey, Ocean Park and nearby White Rock, British Columbia.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus has the primary phone number +1 604-385-5890 for enrolment, tours and general enquiries.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus can be contacted by email at [email protected]
or via the online forms on https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/
.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers additional programs such as Foundations of Mindful Movement, a hot lunch and snack program, and seasonal camps for school-age children.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is part of The Learning Circle Inc., an early learning network established in 1992 in British Columbia.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is categorized as a day care center, child care service and early learning centre in local business directories and on Google Maps.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus values safety, respect, harmony and long-term relationships with families in the community.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus maintains an active online presence on Facebook, Instagram (@tlc_corp) and YouTube (The Learning Circle Childcare Centre Inc).
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus uses the Google Maps plus code 24JJ+JJ Surrey, British Columbia to identify its location close to Ocean Park Village and White Rock amenities.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus welcomes children from 12 months to 12 years and embraces inclusive, multicultural values that reflect the diversity of South Surrey and White Rock families.
People Also Ask about The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus
What ages does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus accept?
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus typically welcomes children from about 12 months through 12 years of age, with age-specific Foundations programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Where is The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus located?
The campus is located in the Pacific Building at 100 – 12761 16 Avenue in South Surrey’s Ocean Park area, just a short drive from central White Rock and close to the 128 Street and 16 Avenue corridor.
What programs are offered at the South Surrey / Ocean Park campus?
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers Foundations 1 and 2 for infants and toddlers, Foundations 3 for preschoolers, Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders for school-age children, along with Foundations of Mindful Movement, hot lunch and snack programs, and seasonal camps.
Does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus provide before and after school care?
Yes, the campus provides before-and-after school care through its Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders program, typically serving children who attend nearby elementary schools such as Ecole Laronde, Ray Shepherd and Ocean Cliff, subject to availability and current routing.
Are meals and snacks included in tuition?
Core programs at The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus usually include a hot lunch and snacks, designed to support healthy eating habits so families do not need to pack full meals each day.
What makes The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus different from other daycares?
The campus emphasizes a whole-child approach that balances school readiness, social-emotional growth, movement and mindfulness, with long-standing “Foundations” curriculum, dedicated early childhood educators, and a strong focus on safety and family partnerships.
Which neighbourhoods does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus primarily serve?
The South Surrey campus primarily serves families living in Ocean Park, South Surrey and nearby White Rock, as well as commuters who travel along 16 Avenue and the 128 Street and 152 Street corridors.
How can I contact The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus?
You can contact The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus by calling +1 604-385-5890, by visiting their social channels such as Facebook and Instagram, or by going to https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/ to learn more and submit a tour or enrolment enquiry.
