Preschool is a new and exciting adventure for many families and children, but it's also a big step for kiddos to stay in the care of strangers without Mom or Dad! We want to support this transition for you as much as possible, so please CONTACT US with any questions you have. Here are some of the most common questions about preschool:
about preschool
What do children do at preschool?
Learning activities are carefully chosen and planned to help students build age-appropriate developmental skills. Children will participate in different activities each day, but can generally expect:
Circle time with a story, and a music or movement activity
Snack and washroom break
Table time to build fine motor skills by printing, colouring, or cutting
Centre time to explore play-based learning and art activities
What will my child learn at preschool?
We believe in educating the whole child, so our learning reflects social, emotional, cognitive, creative, and physical skill building that is age-appropriate for preschool students. We follow the principles of Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care Framework while planning play-based learning activities for our students. Our three-year-old students will get lots of practise engaging with other children and building independence skills in a classroom environment. They will also be exposed to early literacy, numeracy, and fine motor concepts. Our four-year-old students will continue to build social skills and independence skills, and will have a more thorough exploration of early literacy, numeracy, and fine motor concepts to be ready for Kindergarten.
How old does my child need to be?
Little Lightbulbs Learning Centre offers preschool classes for children aged three to five years old. Please visit our PROGRAMS page for more information about which class your child should attend.
Who teaches preschool classes?
Little Lightbulbs Learning Centre is staffed by certified Early Childhood Educators. Please see our TEACHERS page for more information about our teaching staff.
registration and fees
How can I register my child for preschool?
Please CONTACT US for a registration package. Once you return the completed registration contract and pay the $80 + GST registration fee, your child will be registered for preschool!
What are the fees for preschool?
All students will pay an $80 registration fee, as well as monthly fees based on the class they register for. Our 3-year-old classes are $105 per month and 4 & 5-year-old classes are $195 per month. If your family qualifies for the Childcare Subsidy, you could pay even less! Please see our PROGRAMS page for more information.
How can I get government funding for preschool?
Little Lightbulbs is pleased to participate in the federal-provincial Affordability Grant and Childcare Subsidy. The Affordability Grant offers every family a $75 reduction in monthly fees that has already been applied to our preschool rates. If your family qualifies for the Alberta Childcare Subsidy, you could pay even less! Visit alberta.ca/child-care-subsidy.aspx to apply!
Day-to-Day
What does my child need to bring to preschool?
We will supply all school supplies and art supplies that your child needs at preschool. It will be up to you to supply:
a backpack for your child to carry their belongings
indoor shoes that will be kept at preschool
a change of clothes that will be kept in your child's backpack
a water bottle and nutritious snack to be brought to school daily
What will my child eat at preschool?
Children should bring a nutritious snack and a water bottle from home for our daily snack time. Please note we are a nut-free facility.
What if my child is not toilet-trained?
Unfortunately we are unable to accept children who are still toilet-training, since we do not have the appropriate facilities for changing and bathing students. Please CONTACT US if you need resources to help with toilet-training at home so your child can be ready for preschool.
Can I volunteer at preschool?
Yes, please! We are very appreciative of time or materials that you are willing to donate to us. We have volunteer roles to be filled both inside and outside of the classroom. Please CONTACT US if you're interested in volunteering at Little Lightbulbs Learning Centre.
Does my child get holidays in the year?
For most of the year we follow the same calendar as the local school divisions so that holidays are consistent if you have older children in your family. That means we have Fall Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break, as well as professional development days and statutory holidays through the year. You'll receive a copy of our calendar along with your registration package, as well as monthly calendars that include more specific class events.
How will I know how my child is doing?
Building relationships with preschool families is important to us! We will share urgent information with you in person at pick up time or by phone as soon as we can. General information, like our classroom activities, will be posted to our communication app or emailed to families. Please reach out to us at any time if you have questions about your child's progress!
"Children's brains are built, moment by moment, as they interact with their environments. In the first few years of life, more than one million neural connections are formed each second - A pace never repeated again!" -UNICEF