Fewer than 1 in 4 children in Canada have access to early education programs.
Although research suggested that early childhood education and care provides children with fundamental foundations for future learning by fostering the development of cognitive and non-cognitive skills, a 2015 report on child care and early education, notes that fewer than 1 in 4 children in Canada have access to early education programs in child care spaces. The spaces that do exist are often unaffordable.
We support child develop in five key domains, which are known to promote optimal development and resilience:
- Physical Health & Well-Being
- Social Competence
- Emotional Maturity
- Language & Thinking Skills
- Communication Skills & General Knowledge
Early intervention or school preparedness is important for all children to ensure they are reaching the appropriate grade or age-level standards. Statistics Canada reports that 3.2% of Canadian children have a learning disability—increasing the importance of learning intervention and strategy development.
Our Early Childhood programs provide support and programing to families to support children prepare for school readiness; as 29% of kindergarten-aged children in Alberta are experiencing great difficulty in two or more developmental areas.