EarlyON Child and Family Centre, Markham
EarlyON Centres are family support hubs offering free, inclusive, and welcoming programs for families, caregivers, and young children from birth to six years old. EarlyON programs are aligned with How Does learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. These play-based programs provide families with opportunities to connect with qualified Early Learning professionals, receive resources tailored to each family and child’s unique needs, and access parenting and child development workshops and community services.
Embracing Diversity at EarlyON Markham
EarlyON Markham stands out for its commitment to cultural inclusivity. Recognizing the diverse demographics of its community, it offers programs in a variety of languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, Urdu,
French, and American Sign Language, to name a few. This ensures that every family feels welcome and supported. That is not all! EarlyON Markham has forged strong partnerships within the community that provide information and services for families. For instance, its partnership with York Region Public Health enables the program to offer workshops that educate caregivers on feeding and nutrition. Another successful partnership is with the Aaniin Community Centre, which provides space for EarlyON Markham to operate their “Zumbini” and “Baby Sing & Sign” programs.
A Team Dedicated to Families
The team at EarlyON Markham is dedicated in strengthening the centre by seeking out various partnerships that meet the needs of the families. They support the whole family and prioritize mutual respect, cooperation, communication and teamwork to provide optimal services to families. They encourage feedback from families through monthly program evaluation surveys to enhance experiences. Families have reported feeling more socially connected in their community by attending EarlyON Markham. The team at EarlyON Markham fosters a sense of belonging, social support, practical and affordable resources, and an overall welcoming learning environment for both caregivers and children.
Here are some testimonials from families that have attended EarlyON Markham and mobile sites:
“I wanted to take some time to express my appreciation to the staff at Armadale. Every morning after dropping my daughter to school, my son and I head to Armadale and are always the first ones there. The warmth, care and kindness that we are met with every morning is truly remarkable. The staff has begun to feel like family and have made us feel very welcome. I am truly grateful for the services provided by Early ON and especially the staff.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you and your wonderful team for their great effort in maintaining the EarlyON program. My wife and I have been attending the Hagerman Centre for several years and bringing our grandsons. We find the centre to be extremely welcoming, clean and innovative. Recently, we really enjoyed the Creative Chefs program during March Break. In closing, we are very lucky to have your team lead these unique programs for the betterment of all of our children. Great work!!”
“As a first-time mom, I was initially nervous about bringing my child to the classes, especially since he wasn’t comfortable around anyone other than family. However, the EarlyON Markham staffs were incredibly understanding and encouraging. They took the time to check on my child’s progress and helped him feel comfortable. Thanks to their support, my child has become more confident and has bonded with them in just a few weeks.”
“For the last year, my daughter and I have attended Nature and Me at Toogood Pond Park nearly every week. We’ve been so grateful that the program was available year-round rather than just in the warmer months. Even when my child was the only child present, as sometimes happened in the winter, it was still good for both of us to get out of the house and give [them] the chance to interact with the program staff and take part in the many creative art and nature activities that had been planned each week. And I’ve been particularly impressed by the range of creative activities they have offered over the last year. My child especially enjoyed “nature cooking” (mixing leaves, grass, etc. in an old pan with a wooden spoon) and water play. In addition to being great for [my child], these programs have been such a gift for me as a first-time parent living in a new city without much of a support network. It was wonderful to have the early on staff as a regular supportive presence in our lives. I felt more confident in my parenting and [my child’s] growth and development thanks to their ongoing encouragement. Thank you for being a lifeline for us during a very pivotal year.”
Whether you’re looking for a place to connect with other families, access valuable resources, or simply enjoy quality time with your little ones, EarlyON Markham Centre is the perfect place to play, learn, and connect.
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