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Play & Learn Program Gives Parents Options and Support

With its access to the great outdoors, structured and unstructured educational play program, and emphasises on inclusion for developing children, Play & Learn provides parents and caregivers with the ideal environment to help their little ones build valuable skills.

Children grow, learn and develop at different paces – and that’s okay! The challenge can be in finding the right learning environment that is ideal for their needs. For parents and caregivers in Canmore, finding a preschool program for children in need of additional support is a bit easier thanks to Play & Learn.

Liz Westman, Education Director of MECS, explains, “The Canmore Play & Learn Preschool was formed last year by Maximize Early Childhood Services to supplement the limited number of spaces available for preschoolers in Canmore, as a result of the COVID restrictions. As an Alberta Education approved Private ECS operator, MECS provides support and programming to children experiencing developmental challenges. However, Play & Learn is inclusive and open to all preschool aged children.”

Westman is involved with MECS and Play & Learn as an Alberta Certificated Teacher. While this is not a requirement for licensed preschools in the province, this certification and associated experience provide an advantage in the programming.

Play & Learn was very successful during COVID; so much so that the program will continue. With a maximum class size of 10 for the four-day, three-hour sessions (8:45-11:45 or 12:30-3:30 Mon-Thurs), each child gets the personalized attention they need while having plenty of room in the expanded space to gain skills and dexterity through play. The adjacent green space and playground are also used; weather permitting, the children have plenty of time outdoors.

“In addition to outdoor play, the children do crafts, sing, dance, listen to stories, and learn about their world through playing and investigating. Being an inclusive preschool is very important to us so that children learn to play together and to recognize each other’s strengths, challenges, similarities, and differences,” says Westman.

The benefits of play for children affect every aspect of their lives. According to the Canadian Public Health Association’s (CPHA) Children’s Unstructured Play Position Statement, “Unstructured play happens when children follow their instincts, ideas and interests without an imposed outcome. It provides the opportunity to develop physical, mental, emotional and social health while contributing to risk management skills and resilience. These skills provide the foundation for children’s success across the life course.”

The statement goes on to note, however, that access to unstructured play has become an issue for many children today. CPHA lists recommendations for government, municipalities and public health agencies, including a call for play elements that provide sensory and tactile experiences that are accessible for all abilities, and natural elements in manufactured play facilities.

With its access to the great outdoors, structured and unstructured educational play program, and emphasis on inclusion for developing children, Play & Learn provides parents and caregivers with the ideal environment to help their little ones build valuable skills.

“We have been so lucky to hire an amazing team who are 100 per cent committed to the kids,” Westman concludes. “Our parents have been so encouraging and, very importantly given the times – flexible. The Canmore community has helped tremendously with donations of toys (a special shout out to donator Hi Jinx!) and cash (thank you Crossway Community Thrift) as well as donations from our families. We are located at the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and we are so grateful to the board and congregation there for allowing us to use the upstairs space. They are so good to us!”

Parents interested in Play & Learn should register early. For more information about Play & Learn or about services for children who need additional supports, visit www.maxecs.org or email [email protected]. MECS can also be found on Facebook.
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