Early Learning in Muskoka

Every day, early childhood educators (ECEs) provide Ontario’s children with safe, responsive, and caring interactions that build a strong foundation for their development and well-being. 

Children who participate in high-quality learning environments experience increased verbal communication, reading, math, and science skills, as well as a host of other benefits.

Uncover the facts about the many ways ECEs benefit children, their families, and the growth of our economy.
Learn more about the importance of Early Child Hood Education in the short video clips below:

High-Quality Licensed Child Care Fact Sheet

High-quality licensed child care provides Ontario’s children with safe, responsive, and caring interactions that build a strong foundation for development and well-being.1

When children are nurtured in environments where their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical health is considered, they thrive in countless ways.

90% of adult brain development occurs between birth and age five2

High-quality licensed child care helps children develop vital skills during their first five years, which marks a critical developmental period in a child’s life.

Early childhood educators (ECEs) provide children with the foundation they need to grow into future leaders. ECEs use their extensive knowledge of learning and child development to create high-quality learning opportunities through play and exploration. Educators are trained to:

• Understand brain development and how to support healthy growth1
• Identify children's developmental stages and capabilities in social, emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and physical domains3
• Build partnerships with families to support children’s well-being3
• Plan activities that promote learning and build on children’s current abilities and interests3

Participation in high-quality learning environments, can help support children and their communities and to improve social, health, and academic outcomes.

Benefits for children

1. Improved physical and mental well-being4
2. Decrease in chronic health problems7
3. Increased self confidence4
4. Improved outcomes in literacy5, math, and science6
5. Higher rates of completing high-school8
6. Increase in conflict resolutions skills4

Benefits for communities

1. Increases the number of women in the workforce9
2. Decreases the need for social assistance9
3. Increases household income9
4. Decreases participation in criminal activity8

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What do we do in Muskoka to support high-quality licensed child care? 

• The District Municipality of Muskoka is responsible for Muskoka's licensed child care system.
• We provide licensed programs with special needs resource supports to ensure the inclusion of all children. 
• We ensure the same quality of care is available at all licensed child care facilities through our Quality Assurance (Improvement) program. 
• We offer child care fee subsidies for eligible families enrolled in licensed child care. 
• We run EarlyON centres, which offer free, high-quality drop-in programs for families and children from birth to 6 years old.
• We operate the Muskoka Home Child Care Agency.  
• We are designing a Workforce Development Strategy for the Early Years and Child Care Sector, to support the retention and recruitment of a qualified child care and early year’s workforce.

Early childhood education provides a solid foundation for a bright and successful future. Do you want to help build that foundation? 

Check out the resources below to assist you in becoming a Early Childhood Educator: 

• College of Early Childhood Educators - the College is one of the largest professional self-regulatory bodies in Ontario and is the only professional self-regulatory body for early childhood education in Canada.
• Education Grants - The education grant is available to cover the cost of tuition fees related to studying in a recognized Early Childhood Education diploma program. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis once all required documents have been received. Funding is based on the number of applications received, and available funding per semester.