Steps to success

Second Steps Daycare in Kimberley provides a nurturing environment in which kids can develop

At Second Steps Daycare, children are given the chance to participate in play-based activities. — Lisa Crane photo

“It takes a community to raise a child,'” said Cindy-Lou Muise. “All children deserve and should be provided a safe and nurturing environment where they may discover and interpret the world around them. Quality play-based daycare facilities can provide this to the children of working families.”

Muise is an early childhood educator and has been the manager of Second Steps Daycare in Kimberley since it opened in 2007.

Second Steps Daycare, a facility for children aged 30 months to five years, is one of three child-care programs run by Summit Community Services Society, a non-profit organization that has been operating in Kimberley and Cranbrook for 35 years. Summit also runs two after-school care programs.

The daycare's philosophy centres around the importance of family; in fact, families are invited to work in partnership with the child-care workers. Second Steps' holistic approach to daycare, which is all about play-based learning, fosters all areas of development.

Muise is passionate about the importance of play-based learning. She said it allows children extended time to remain in the “flow” of their play.

The child is allowed time to actively pose problems, explore solutions and develop understanding of real-world concepts. This play may be unstructured and self directed, but it can also be structured.

“Early childhood educators have an understanding of all areas of childhood development,” said Muise. “They use this knowledge when developing programs for their centres, and when implementing it in a safe and nurturing environment.”

Daily schedules at the daycare provide a combination of activities that include free and structured play, active and outdoor play, and indoor downtime.

Muise said that children learn through play at an early age.

“It is all about choice, and then success,'” said Muise. “Trial and error, pretend play, experimentation, exploring surroundings and using interesting, realistic playthings are all important aspects of development at this age.”

Muise said that by the time kids are in school, if a child has had time to develop and to work things over until they understand, they can excel.

“The first five years are key to building self-worth and ego, and it is huge for language,” said Muise. “The programming is needs-based and nurturing for every individual.”

Muise said that at Second Steps, they try to follow a child's lead.

“We may have everything set up for exploring trees and flowers," she said, "but if the kids have seen something exciting outside and want to talk about that, then the staff will switch gears."

Muise is very proud of Second Steps and said that many of the kids come from First Steps Daycare in Kimberley, which caters to children of younger years.