Thompson Early Learning

A very special visitor day at preschool! 🦆💛

One of our preschool families brought in ducklings from their annual chick hatching project, giving the children a wonderful opportunity for hands-on learning. The class observed the ducklings up close, learned about what they eat, and noticed how they interact with one another. There were so many thoughtful questions, gentle observations, and moments of wonder throughout the day.

Experiences like these help children build curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the natural world. Thank you to this wonderful family for sharing such a memorable learning experience with us!

📚✨ What Does “Reading” Look Like in Preschool? ✨📚

It’s not about reading every word on the page.

It’s about… .little hands learning how to hold and to open a book..turning pages gently..noticing details in the pictures..recognizing text direction.

It’s also about….making connections to what children see and experience. .fostering social-emotional development..asking questions..creating stories from their imagination. .exploring where a book can take them.

At this age, reading is about fostering curiosity, creativity, confidence and a love for storytelling.

Because every child’s reading journey – AND story - is just beginning. 💛📖

We’re so proud to share that our program was selected to exhibit at the Children’s Art Exhibition at the Richmond Public Library (Brighouse Branch) for Child Care Month! 🎨

This year’s theme, “I Feel Brave When…,” invited children to explore what bravery means to them. Together, we learned that being brave doesn’t mean never feeling scared—it means facing those feelings, sometimes with a deep breath and a little courage.

Through stories, group discussions and reflection, each child shared their own “brave moment,” which became part of our collaborative artwork:
Brave Faces & Brave Voices

This piece centres children’s voices, identities, and emotional expression through both visual art and dialogue. Each child created a self-portrait using black permanent marker on watercolour paper, using bold, expressive lines to represent themselves with confidence. They then layered watercolour over their drawings, choosing colours intuitively or intentionally to reflect their emotions, personalities, and interpretations of bravery. Their words are captured in caption bubbles, allowing each artwork to communicate both visual and verbal expressions of courage.

Displayed together, the artwork forms a quilt-like installation that symbolizes community, belonging, and collective strength. Each square reflects a unique perspective, while the full piece tells a shared story of developing courage in early childhood—highlighting both individuality and connection.

This project was filled with creativity, courage, and so many proud little moments. 💛

We hope you get a chance to see it in person!

Happy Child Care Month!