Programs
Diverse Learning Environments
The goal of the programs at Giant Steps Children’s Centre is to provide a positive early childhood or after school experience to every child, including those with special needs.
Children will have opportunities to learn, play and grow in a supportive early childhood setting. Our programs promote active social integration between children with and without disabilities across all parts of our day. Families are involved in identifying skills and goals that are of priority for the children and are encouraged to take an active role in the classroom. Routine based plans are used to provide learning opportunities and effective assessment of children’s short and long term goals. Inclusion is about children and families having a sense of community, about building relationships and about children developing to their fullest potential.
Infants
Our infant program is licensed for ten fulltime infants, ages birth to 18 months with three Early Childhood Educators.
Our infant program is in the lower level with a separate entrance and cubby area. Our indoor play space is large, comfortable and home-like. There is also a separate nap room, with a crib for each infant. There is separate outdoor play space which includes many different surfaces, such as rock walk-ways, grass, decking and sand and shaded areas.
Babies grow and change dramatically during their first year. Our program is geared toward the encouragement and development of each child at his or her own rate. Our open-door and strong parent communication policies support the development of trusting relationships between parents and teachers. Educators work closely with families to understand each infant’s unique personality along with likes and dislikes to develop the best schedule to meet each infant’s needs.
Toddlers
Giant Steps Children’ s Centre has 5 classrooms that have toddlers. The toddler ratio is 1 staff member to 6 children.
Our toddler teachers get to know these little people and their families on an intimate basis. Our program includes nurturing care as well as education. Our educators develop connections and relationships and respond to the children’s cues and interests. A typical toddler day may include, music, art, indoor and outdoor play, sign language, science, dance, pre-literacy, and word development through speaking, reading, singing, and listening. Toddlers strive for independence; our teachers create a program that supports each child’s individuality. Some of the most important learning outcomes in our toddler program are language development, socialization, self-help skills and development of fine motor and eye/hand coordination.
Full Day Preschool
A preschooler is more than just an age category or a time to prepare your child for school. During this time frame of life from age 2 ½ to 5 years your child will develop language, personality, values, and independence. “What children learn does not follow as an automatic result from what is taught, rather, it is in large part due to children’s own doing, as a consequence of their activities and our resources.” Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages of Children. At Giant Steps Children’s Centre we believe that offering children many varied experiences and opportunities allows them to explore their interests and learn as a result of being engaged in the experiences. Children will be offered activities based on their interest and invitation from the educators within their learning environment.
School Age Program
At Giant Steps Children’s Centre our school age spaces make up over half of our licensed spaces. We have always believed that this group of children deserve to have a safe, nurturing environment in which they can unwind after their day at school and on holidays and school breaks. We provide developmentally appropriate activities and opportunities for them to grow and explore what matters to them. Our school age playgrounds have been especially designed for this age group and their need to run, jump, explore, build, work at a group or by themselves, all the while providing support and guidance from educators when it is needed. In addition this group gets to explore our community a bit by walking on the rails to trails or walking to a community playground.
Family Day Care
Family Home Day Care
Giant Steps Children’s Centre has an agreement with the government of Nova Scotia to provide a Family Home Day Care Agency. Together with our consultant Giant Steps recruits and supports family home care providers by approving them under the regulations to run a Family Home Day care in the providers’ home.
In addition to supporting the providers, we provide them with professional development training, supported visits from our consultant, and an extensive toy lending library where they can borrow toys and equipment to support their day home.
The government of Nova Scotia offers subsidized spaces for families attending any licensed childcare centre or any approved family home.
Music Education Program
We do music everyday!
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We sing songs or play games that provide an opportunity to practice various gross motor skills such as jumping, walking, tip toeing, swinging, etc with/without a partner. Sometimes we use props such as parachutes, scarves, beanbags, balls……
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We participate in a sharing circle in which we pass around one or two instruments for students to play as soloists. We support each other by taking turns and patting the beat as our friends play.
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We play rhythm instruments as a group. Every child has an instrument. Sometimes we provide sounds for story songs.
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We sing action songs in which we can practice motor skills and learn the story of the song with our hands as well as our voice.
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We express!
All Videos
Channel info
People & Blogs
All Videos
Music with Miss Dana #17
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! One Little Sea Star, Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm If I Had Sticks, (based on If I Had Hands), Sukey Molloy http://www.sukeymolloy.com/shop/sukey-music/ I've Got So Much To Give, Laurie Berkner https://shop.laurieberkner.com/ Wildlife Riddle Song,(selected verses) Heather Walter/Eric West http://vinlandmusic.ca/ On My Trip To The Mountains, Lynn Kleiner https://musicrhapsody.com/shop/ Rock Around the Alphabet, Carmen Bryant https://www.musicplaycanada.com/Music with Miss Dana #16
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! Roll That Green Ball, Traditional Round and Round the Merry-Go-Round, Lynn Kleiner https://musicrhapsody.com/product/kids-make-music-babies-make-music-too-book-teachers-book/ I Am Hiding, Kids Music Company https://www.kidsmusiccompany.co.nz/index.php?route=product/search&search=i%20am%20hiding Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Traditional Tapping Along, Donna Amerosia and Alan Billingsley https://www.amazon.com/Props-Pail-Activities-Music-Classroom/dp/B01CTBB3N0 Tapping Our Sticks, Kathy Reid-Naiman https://kathyreidnaiman.com/track/1674744/tapping-on-my-sticks Let's Clap Our Hands, Denise Gange https://www.musicplaycanada.com/collections/preschool/products/shake-it-upMusic with Miss Dana #15
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! Roll Your Hands Around, Janet Channon https://www.kidsmusiccompany.co.nz/index.php?_route_=feeling-the-beat-CD Itsy Bitsy Spider, Traditional Little Bunny Foo Foo, Traditional My Eyes Are Smiling, Jessica Baron Turner and Ronnie Schiff https://www.amazon.ca/Lets-Make-Music-Interactive-Musical/dp/0793540577 Apples and Bananas, Raffi Cavoukian https://www.amazon.ca/One-Light-Sun-Raffi/dp/B0000003HM An Orca Whale, Jbrary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef86Q-Wp9As&t=10sMusic with Miss Dana #14
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! Two Little Eyes, Traditional Open, Shut them, Traditional I like to Make Music, Dana Pardy and Ameilia Parks Ham and Eggs, Traditional Peanut Butter, Traditional Monkeys, Susan Marcus https://www.musicplaycanada.com/products/movement-songs-children-loveMusic with Miss Dana #13
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! Cippity Chop, John Feierabend Hickory Dickory Dock, Super Simple Songs https://supersimple.com/song/hickory-dickory-crash 5 Little Mice, Traditional A Ram Sam Sam, Traditional Keep on Tapping Along, Donna Amorosia https://www.amazon.com/Props-Pail-Activities-Music-Classroom/dp/B01CTBB3N0 Baby Bumblebee, Traditional Down by the Bay, TraditionalMusic with Miss Dana #12
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! What's the Weather, Traditional Bim Bam, John Feierabend Sally Go Round the Sun, Traditional Pop goes the Weasel, Traditional There was a Great Big Moose, Traditional 10 Little Fishies, Lynn Kleiner Cowboy Joe, John Feierabend Aiken Drum, Raffi https://www.amazon.ca/Singable-Songs-Collection-Raffi/dp/B0000003IOMusic with Miss Dana #11
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! It's a Beautiful Day, Kathy Reid-Naiman https://www.kathyreidnaiman.com/it-s-a-beautiful-day-c-est-une-belle-journee Wheels, Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm 5 Little Fishies, Traditional Sticky Bubblegum, Traditional Alligator Purse, Lee Campbell-Towell https://www.amazon.ca/Alligator-Purse-Movement-Collection-reproducible/dp/B003AFFYK8 Shake and Stop, Lynn Kleiner https://musicrhapsody.com/product/kids-make-music-babies-make-music-too-book-teachers-book/ Shake with You, Mr. Eric and Mr. Michael https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Mr_Eric_Mr_Michael_Bouncy_Blue_from_the_Learning_G?id=B4cs7kvenb7gt4nvg6m7hupgaoyMusic with Miss Dana #10
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! Wiggle your Fingers, Kids Music Company https://www.kidsmusiccompany.co.nz/index.php?_route_=youve-got-to-clap-CD&search=wriggle%20your%20fingers Someone's Wearing, Traditional These Little Hands of Mine, Traditional Scarves on Your Laps, Johnette Downing https://www.johnettedowning.com/store/the-second-line-scarf-activity-songs Gunk, Gunk, Traditional Toolbox Song, Rachel Rambach https://store.listenlearnmusic.com/?s=toolboxMusic with Miss Dana #9
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel! Listen to the Drum, Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm Popcorn Kernels, Traditional Little Arabella Miller, Traditional Slowly, Slowly, Very Slowly, Traditional Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands, Traditional I Sing a Song, Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm Tingalayo, Traditional Mr Sun, TraditionalMusic with Miss Dana #8
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel!! Come get your Shakers, Music Monkey Jungle https://www.musicmonkeyjungle.com/who-we-are.html Five Elephants in the Bathtub, Traditional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqisEJScw-A Garbage Truck, Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com Shoo Fly, Traditional Lady Bugs, Lynn Kleiner https://musicrhapsody.com/product/in-all-kinds-of-weather-kids-make-music-teachers-book/ Songs of the Sea, Lynn Kleiner https://musicrhapsody.com/product/songs-of-the-sea/Music with Miss Dana #7
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel!! Owl Song - Music, traditional Lyrics, Jane Brown https://musicrhapsody.com/product/kids-make-music-babies-make-music-too-book-teachers-book/ Pony song - Dana Pardy One, Two - Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm Fruit Salad - Dana Pardy and Ameilia Parks I Like to Make Music - Dana Pardy and Ameilia Parks Down on Grandpa's Farm - TraditionalMusic with Miss Dana #6
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube Channel!! Cows are in the Castle - Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm Four Pretty Butterflies - Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm Riding on a Pony - Dana Pardy Jig Jog Jee - Traditional Take my Little Car for a Ride - Denise Gagne https://www.musicplaycanada.com/search?q=we+love+to+move Each of Us is a Flower - Charlotte Diamond https://charlottediamond.com/shop/english-cds/10-carrot-diamond-cd/Music with Miss Dana #5
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel!! O Canada, music: Calixa Lavallee lyrics: Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier In my Band, music: Appalachian Folk Tune lyrics: Dana Pardy Bells up High, Trad. Jingle Bells, James Pierpont I Know a Chicken, Laurie Berkner https://laurieberkner.com/song-lyrics/i-know-a-chicken-2 Twinkle Twinkle, music: French Melody lyrics: Jane Taylor Starlight Star Bright, Traditional Listen to the Water, Bob Schneider https://open.spotify.com/track/3cSAmw3TlsYyXw28NlhBVVMusic with Miss Dana #4
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Welcome to Miss Dana's Youtube channel!! Mama's Gonna Rock You, Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm On My Toe There is a Flea, Traditional The Wheels on the Bus, Traditional Peel the Potato, Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm The Smile on the Crocodile, Traditional Silly Sam, Lynn Kleiner https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/LynnKleiner5 Matilda the Gorilla, Lynn Kleiner https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/LynnKleiner5Music with Miss Dana #3
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Welcome to Miss Dana's new channel!! Apple Juice, trad. text Susan Nippen from Wee Sing in the Car http://weesing.com/Books-Music/Wee-Sing-in-the-Car One Little Dragonfly written by Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm Let Everyone Clap trad. Mountaintop Monster written by Denise Gagne from Fun Songs for Kids https://www.long-mcquade.com/50085/Print_Music/Classroom/Themes_Variations/Fun_Songs_For_Kids_-_Gagne_-_Book_CD.htm There Were Ten in the Bed, text trad. illustrator Susan Chapman Calitri https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2980625-there-were-ten-in-the-bedMusic with Miss Dana #2
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Welcome to Miss Dana's new Channel!! Please leave any suggestions for your favourite songs in the description below!! Two Little Friends (nursery rhyme) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg1xxSY8OOw Alligator, Alligator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOKrVjctX-U Rhythm Band written by Johnette Downing https://www.johnettedowning.com/ Little Clapping Mouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0cMfHJtJ84 Larry the Lobster written by Lynn Kleiner https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/LynnKleiner4 If I Were a Cat written by Sukey Molloy https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16X_MzmnlSB9xQ1mBwgop1sk5mzenFVkwMusic with Miss Dana #1
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Welcome to Miss Dana's new channel!! You can find all the songs and artists we used today down below! I Have A little Drum written by Wendy Jensen from the album Feeling the Beat I Love Water and Dinosaurs in Cars written by Nancy Stewart https://nancymusic.com/SongMonth.htm https://singwithourkids.com/song-library.htm Little Red Car written by Bob Schneider The book we read today was Music is for Everyone text by Jill Barber and art by Sydney Smith, Nimbus publishing https://nimbus.ca/store/music-is-for-everyone.htmlPeople & Blogs