Discover Active Start’s early learning programs blending Montessori and Reggio Emilia childcare to build confidence, creativity, and lifelong learning skills.
Let’s be honest— those first five years of childhood fly by. One minute they’re learning to sit up, the next you’re backing their backpack for kindergarten. It’s a whirlwind, but it’s also when the magic happens. Your child’s brain is wiring itself faster right now than it ever will again.
That’s why we don’t just see ourselves as a daycare. At Active Start Child Care, we’re here to make sure those early years count. We want to help raise kids who are curious, kind, and ready to take on the world.
To do this, we blend two philosophies in our early learning programs: Montessori childcare and Reggio Emilia childcare. These two approaches to your child’s education give them the structure they need to feel safe and the freedom they need to fly. It’s a combination that truly works.
Sure, we do letters and numbers, but early learning programs at Active Start Child Care are about the whole child. We focus on:
When kids feel safe and loved, they learn. It’s that simple.
You may have heard of Montessori childcare. This approach focuses mainly on letting children do things for themselves.
In our classrooms, you won’t see teachers standing at the front lecturing. You’ll see them down on the floor, guiding children. We set up the room so kids can reach everything themselves. They choose an activity—such as sorting colours or tracing letters—and they stick with it until they master it.
It teaches them focus, responsibility, and, most importantly, it helps them feel incredibly proud of themselves.
This is where the creativity kicks in. Reggio Emilia childcare sees every child as full of potential and ideas.
If kids are fascinated by the snow falling outside, we don’t say, “Sit down, it’s reading time.” We say, “Let’s go catch snowflakes and see what they look like.” In this approach, teachers follow the children’s lead. We do big art projects, we explore nature, and we treat the classroom itself like a teacher—filling it with light and interesting things to touch and explore.
Reggio Emilia is about collaboration and seeing where children’s imaginations take them.
It’s not just about offering variety; it’s about balance. By integrating Montessori’s structured, individual focus with Reggio Emilia’s collaborative, project-based approach, we create a learning environment that honours the whole child.
Together, these two approaches ensure that your child develops the critical thinking skills to solve problems independently and the social skills to thrive in a community. On any given morning, your child might start by quietly mastering a practical life skill and finish the day by collaborating on a large-scale art project with their peers. It’s a holistic approach that builds confidence and curiosity.
We can write about it all day, but you really have to see it. Come take a tour and check out our Discovery Zones, our indoor gyms, and the overall excitement in the air as children learn and grow.
We have locations in Calgary, Edmonton, and Airdrie. Connect with us today to learn more about our philosophies and get your children started on the right foot.
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