Early Learning & Childcare

Programs & Activities

The LIHC offers a variety of services and programs to support families with young children including daycare, the Aboriginal Headstart Program, and early childhood assessments.

We strive to provide care that is grounded in cultural humility, respect, and empathy. If there is anything we can do to make the care of your child more culturally safe and sensitive, please let us know.

Please choose a topic below or scroll down to learn more

Daycare →

Aboriginal Headstart →

Early Childhood and Pre-School Assessments →

Daycare

Contact Name: Lori Shea
Contact Number: (902) 831-2711
Contact Email: lori.shea@lennoxisland.com
Daycare is available to all on-reserve families with children aged 1 to 4 years. The daycare operates 5 days a week from 7:30am to 4:30pm at the Lennox Island Daycare Centre.

The daycare curriculum focuses on culture & language, and outdoor learning while also integrating practical life skills into daily programming. For example, during the spring, the daycare grows a garden and cooks/eats the food from the garden. Children also spend many full days in the forest gaining valuable and healthy learning opportunities.

Several programs are delivered through the daycare, including:

  • The Meddy Teddy Program
    • The Meddy Teddy Program offers a fun, interactive, and soft way to engage in yoga, meditation, and mindfulness individually, with your kids, or in a classroom setting. Serving as a role model and a supportive friend, Meddy Teddy helps young children adopt healthy and mindful lifestyles.
  • Moe the Mouse Speech and Language Curriculum
    • Moe the Mouse is a unique Indigenous speech therapy program tailored to meet the needs of Mi’kmaq communities. It uses Indigenous toys and stories to improve speech and language skills in children.

The daycare also benefits from the guidance and expertise of health specialists, including:

  • Occupational Therapist
    • Visits the daycare 2 to 3 mornings a week
    • Emphasizes outdoor learning/land-based opportunities
  • Speech Language Pathologist
    • Oversees The Moe the Mouse Speech and Language Curriculum Box
  • Physiotherapist
    • Offers services to children to improve strength, flexibility, movement, and range of motion

The daycare uses The Looksee Checklist to assess each child’s abilities and offer tips on how to help them grow.

The AQI Quality Assessment Tool is used to ensure the daycare provides the best environment, interactions, and programming.

Aboriginal Headstart

Contact Name: Lori Shea
Contact Number: (902) 831-3480
Contact Email: lori.shea@lennoxisland.com
Located: Lennox Island Daycare

The Aboriginal Headstart Program provides a supportive learning environment to children ages 2 and 3. It uses a play-based teaching model to help children develop social interaction skills and learn about their culture.

The curriculum includes Mi’kmaq language teaching and the Core Values Program (developed by AHSOR and Early Childhood Professionals). Where possible, the program is delivered in an outdoor classroom setting. Quality assessment monitoring ensures the program meets/exceeds the standards and remains relevant.

Early Childhood and Pre-School Assessments

Contact Name: Medical Office Assistant (MOA) – book an appointment with one of the community health nurses
Contact Number: 902-831-2711
Contact Email: Melissa.clements@lennoxisland.com

  • Early childhood assessments provide parents/caregivers with important information about their child’s development from birth to age 4.
  • These screenings take place at each Well Baby Clinic (2 mos to 18 mos) and include assessments of development, vision, hearing, speech, motor skills, and more.
  • At 4 years of age, a pre-school assessment, known as the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), is conducted. Designed with the parents/caregivers as the experts, the questionnaire is easy to complete and provides a helpful snapshot of your child’s development in five areas: Communication, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Problem-Solving, and Personal-Social.

When required based on the Nipissing Screening, ASQ or other developmental screenings, referrals are provided to specialists in speech, vision and/or hearing; Occupational Therapists; Physicians/Nurse Practitioners; Pediatricians; and/or Jordan’s Principle.