There has been plenty of hand-wringing in recent years about the “overscheduled child.” With after-school hours increasingly dominated by piano lessons, soccer practice, and countless other planned activities, many of us have a nagging sense that kids are missing out on something important if they have no time for unstructured play.
Schools in affluent areas more likely to offer after-hours child care, study finds
A survey by People for Education has found major gaps in the delivery of before- and after-school programs for young students — despite this being a key part of the province’s full-day kindergarten plan. Toronto Star June 23, 2014
June 23, 2014
The Value of Unstructured Play Time for Kids
German psychologists find people who were allowed to play freely as children have greater social success as adults.
June 16, 2014
Child Care Modernization Act, Bill 143
The government of Ontario announced the release of new legislation that addresses the modernization of child care.
An Act to enact the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2013, to repeal the Day Nurseries Act, to amend the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 and the Education Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
May 29, 2014
More than just a child care waitlist registry
valued family support, assessment service should stay with Andrew Fleck
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 27, 2014) - Despite a $4 million provincial funding infusion for Ottawa child care services, parents and child care staff throughout the city are flummoxed as to why the City of Ottawa is ending community provision of a valued assessment and referral service that fielded over 11,500 calls from parents in 2013.
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May 28, 2014
Early childhood education and child care in the 2014 Ontario election
The Ontario election is scheduled for June 12th, 2014. CRRU has selected materials from the political parties, NGOs and news media to explain how ECEC is positioned in this election campaign. We will continue to update this page as new developments occur. Materials are listed from the most recent to the least recent.
May 27, 2014
Ontario needs a good child-care strategy: Editorial
In a provincial election that is understandably focused on jobs and the economy, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath deserves credit for shining a spotlight on a vital service that helps society thrive: a safe and sustainable child care system. Such a system doesn't exist in Ontario now.
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May 27, 2014
Parents need child care to work, party leaders told
May 27, 2014
Party leaders asked to commit to a 6-point plan for early learning and child care
May 14, 2014
The Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario, Canadian Union of Public Employees (Ontario), Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, Childcare Resource and Research Unit and Advocates for Progressive Child Care Policy are calling on the leaders of Ontario's three main political parties to respond to concerns about the state of early childhood education and child care by committing, if elected, to six key elements toward a strategy that will begin to fix early childhood education and child care in Ontario.
Open Letter to the leaders of Ontario's three main political parties
May 27, 2014
Who'll make the grade on child care?
Parents, activists to issue "report card" for party leaders before June 12 vote
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 20, 2014) - Years of starts, shifts and cuts, add up to inadequate public funding and ineffectual provincial policy by successive governments. It's time for this situation to end, say a group of parents, early childhood educators and activists who, this election are challenging party leaders to "make the grade on child care".
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May 21, 2014
Ontario election: Horwath vows $100M to support childcare centres
Toronto Star, May 11, 2014
Horwath chose Mother’s Day to announce at a campaign stop near Hamilton Harbour that saving subsidized child care spaces is a priority for her third-place party.
May 13, 2014
NDP Child care pledge welcome but not enough, advocate says
Ontario's child care sector would "welcome" the $100-million investment that New Democrats are promising, but a prominent advocate says it's not enough money to address all outstanding issues.
May 13, 2014
AECEO Responds to Wage Increase Announcement
Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario Media Release
For immediate release
TORONTO, April 22, 2014
AECEO RESPONDS TO WAGE INCREASE ANNOUNCEMENT
"We are heartened to learn the Ontario Government has moved to address the issue of low wages for ECE professionals and other front line child care staff. Research shows that the quality of early childhood education and care programs is associated with the wages of the workforce; in other words, if early childhood educators are well-compensated the quality of an ECEC program will be higher." says Dr. Rachel Langford, President of the AECEO.
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May 09, 2014