We value play as a meaningful and essential foundation for learning. We provide children with rich opportunities to co-construct their knowledge through play-based, hands-on experiences that encourage exploration, collaboration, and active participation in their learning.
At Little Friends, we want children to develop a strong sense of agency and create a holistic, inclusive environment where every child feels valued and supported.
Our program is grounded in emerging and play-based learning inspired by the FLIGHT framework, fostering creativity, curiosity, and exploration. We strive to create a rich and engaging environment that nurtures children’s natural wonder through thoughtfully planned themes, activities, crafts, songs, books, and special events.
We use the play based goals from FLIGHT to guide our student learning and care. Well-Being, Play and Playfulness, Communication and Literacies, and Diversity and Social Responsibility.
Before children enter formal schooling, these goals aim to support the development of:
• a strong sense of well-being and belonging within a caring learning community;
• meaningful opportunities for play and playfulness with others in thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor environments;
• growing confidence in communication and early literacies through opportunities to express, share, and develop ideas using multiple forms of representation; and
• an increasing awareness of diversity and social responsibility, including respect for their own and others’ identities, responsibility to themselves, one another, and the environment, and an emerging understanding of themselves as citizens.
Makovichuk, L., Hewes, J., Lirette, P., & Thomas, N. (2014). Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework. www.flightframework.ca
Toddler Room
Tuesday & Thursdays or Wednesday & Fridays from 9:05 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
The Toddler Room is for children aged 19 months (before September 1st, 2026) to 3 years of age. This unique program is often a child’s first experience in a structured educational setting with teachers and a group of children. This early socialization allows them to learn to share, follow instructions, and sets the foundation for future learning. This class has a maximum number of nine children per day.
At our toddler program, we believe children are capable, curious, and full of potential. Our program is rooted in learning through play, strong relationships, and respect for each child’s unique learning journey.
Our approach centres on meeting children where they are. We prioritize building trusting, responsive relationships that allow children to feel safe, confident, and ready to explore. From this foundation, we intentionally support growth across all areas of development (social and emotional well-being, communication and language, fine and gross motor skills) while naturally weaving early numeracy, literacy, and speech development into everyday play and routines.
Our program follows an emergent, child-led approach, meaning learning experiences are thoughtfully planned based on children’s interests, strengths, and curiosities. Educators act as partners in learning, observing closely, responding intentionally, and creating inviting environments that encourage exploration, problem-solving, creativity, and connection.
We believe learning is holistic, relational, and joyful. By honoring each child’s pace, interests, and voice, we create meaningful opportunities for children to grow, belong, and thrive…today and as lifelong little learners.
Playroom
Tuesday & Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Playroom program is designed for three-year-olds (on or before December 31, 2026) and offers age-appropriate activities, toys, and learning tools that support children’s emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development. Our 3-year-old program provides a warm and welcoming introduction to learning through play.
Held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00–11:30 a.m., children participate in open-ended play, gross motor movement, storytelling, sensory exploration, art, music, and STEM experiences. All learning opportunities are inspired by the FLIGHT framework and focus on social, physical, intellectual, literacy, creative, and emotional development.
Early literacy skills are nurtured through alphabet recognition, letter–sound correspondence, identifying beginning sounds in words, understanding that letters form meaningful words, spelling their name, story comprehension, and recognizing rhyming words.
Playschool
Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Our Playschool program prepares four-year-olds (on or before December 31, 2026) for their next big educational step into Kindergarten, while nurturing a lifelong love of learning. Our 4-year-old program is thoughtfully designed to support growing independence and build a strong foundation through play-based learning.
Offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9:00–11:30 a.m., the program encourages curiosity, meaning-making, imagination, creativity, playful exploration, problem-solving, and multimodal literacies. Guided by the FLIGHT framework, we view children as strong, capable, and resourceful learners, confident contributors and emerging citizens.
Children engage in singing, dramatic play, and construction activities while developing language and early literacy skills. These include understanding and using new vocabulary, building morphological awareness, learning letter–sound relationships, exploring letters through creative crafts, and practicing letter formation and printing. Hands-on experiences encourage curiosity, support active engagement, and provide essential building blocks for future learning.
Important Information
Policy & Procedures Handbook
Fee Schedule
Parent Participation Duties
