Inside Atelier Kids – a studio-like, safe space for children to experiment and learn
A home is a warm, welcoming place where you can just be yourself. ‘Home’ is the inspiration behind our new location in the heart of High Park. We kept some of the charm of this early 20th Century home, while still injecting our Reggio-inspired touch into every corner. Natural materials complement a modern aesthetic.
In the Reggio Emilia philosophy, the environment is considered the 3rd teacher. What does this mean for your child? Everything about our school is deliberate. Natural and custom created wooden toys, lack of clutter and light-filled rooms create a relaxed environment where children feel at ease in putting their own unique stamp on their surroundings.
Besides being aesthetically pleasing, our centre boasts the modern conveniences and security to help make the centre safe and comfortable for your child and your family. Our exterior walkways are heated, which prevent ice and snow build-up, and allow your child an easier time to navigate up the ramp. We also have a stroller storage area to safely leave your stroller and walk to the subway. Our centre is constructed of steel and to the highest building standards,
ensuring a safe place for your little ones. We have monitored security systems and cameras, with restricted access using fobs to ensure that only those that belong on the centre gain access. Inside, we have a heated floor to provide comfort for your child. The decision was also made to install a back-up generator, when the electrical system fails, providing an additional layer of security for your child and convenience for you.
To create a calm environment, sound insulation systems will be installed. To promote independent hygiene habits, and trying to reduce paper waste, we have installed electric hand-dryers for the children. Installing a dumbwaiter to move toys and food up and down the floors of the building allow our educators more time to spend with your child and prevent accidents. We engage a cleaning service every evening to do a thorough deep clean, again to prevent disease transmission.
The centres of Reggio Emilia served as a starting point for us. Engaging the help of a designer and contractor have allowed us to create the ideal learning environment that is both safe and beautiful, for the unique needs of our community. Our welcoming reception area invites you to stay and linger over a cup of coffee or tea and to watch your child as they interact with their friends and educators. We invite you to visit us and to see how we differ from the rest.
Our daycare playground is a miniature park and High Park is a short walk away
Will my child get an opportunity to play outside?
Absolutely! So much is based on the natural world and providing opportunities, for our earliest citizens to engage and respect the environment, seems like a great place to start. Our Bienenstock-designed playground was created to get kids outside to explore fallen logs, sandboxes, planting gardens, tree stumps with lots of room to roam freely. Our proximity to High Park and other community parks in Toronto creates boundless opportunities to experience the outdoors through every season.
Playground Photos Courtesy of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds