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Articles on Kindergarten

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‘Back to basics’ language used by the government distracts from the importance of continuously updating and revising curriculum. (Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages)

Changes are coming to Ontario’s kindergarten program — what parents and caregivers need to know

We need to ensure the best scientific research in play-based learning and early reading is leveraged, and teachers receive supports to meet children’s developmental and academic needs.
When four- and five-year-old children are provided with a full day of schooling, space is freed in child-care centres that is instantly filled by younger children. (Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages)

Children’s early learning belongs in neighbourhood schools

Access to schooling for four-year-olds is inconsistent across Canada. Families need to know children are immersed in high-quality early learning, and they shouldn’t be exhausted searching for it.
B.C. Premier David Eby signs a student’s cast as he visits a classroom to mark the opening of the new Bayview Community Elementary School, in Vancouver, B.C., April 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Why B.C. has ended letter grades for younger students

Parents need to directly hear from teachers and administrators via open houses or parent advisory councils to lift the fog of confusion and concern surrounding this change.
Early play-based learning helps children develop skills and knowledge before elementary school, and provides an essential foundation for learning in later years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Newly linked data can reveal academic development from kindergarten to high school in 150,000 students

A study following Ontario students between 2004 and 2012 can help policymakers ensure all students get the supports they need when they need them.
Locating early learning programs in schools provides stable programming infrastructure and allows for potential collaborations between early childhood educators and teachers. (Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages)

What to look for in a high-qualitypre-primary’ or junior kindergarten program

People, policies, practice and place all matter in publicly funded, school-based children’s early learning programs.
Canada is preventing provinces and territories from using federal child-care dollars to transform schools into one-stop centres for young children. (Pexels/Yan Krukov)

Why doesn’t Canada let schools provide child care?

Canada has much to learn from other countries about better ways of providing learning and care for children.
Ongoing monitoring of students in early grades will be important to identify how missing out on in-person classes has affected students. (Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages)

From full-day learning to 30 minutes daily: The effects of school closures on kindergarteners

The lack of a fully interactive environment in kindergarten due to pandemic school closures may negatively impact some children’s learning in later grades.
The core of education is to enable young learners to be kind, giving members of society. David Brewster/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Why do kids have to go to school?

The core principle of education is to enable students to become kind, giving and contributing members of their community and the world.
Kindergarten teachers were tasked with adapting a hands-on, play-based curricula in a virtual environment – a nearly impossible task even without parenting one’s own children at the same time. (Shutterstock)

Kindergarten educators with children at home struggled during the pandemic — mental health supports are needed

Kindergarten educators who taught from home during COVID-19 and who were primarily responsible for their own children self-reported poorer mental health than those without these responsibilities.
After long periods of social isolation with family members, it may be hard for some children — and parents — to be separated. (Pexels/ August de Richelieu)

Does my child have separation anxiety? How parents can help with children’s back-to-school fears

When you layer a pandemic on top of back-to-school, many children may struggle with separation anxiety. Here are some strategies parents can use to help reduce anxiety in their children.

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