The Preschool Centre has been providing quality Early Childhood Programs since 1966. As the first parent-directed, not-for-profit childcare organization in New Brunswick, we understand the importance of partnering with families to support their child’s early development.
Children who participate in quality, early learning programs are more likely to arrive at school equipped with the skills they need to help them to continue learning. With play-based learning children learn, develop, and explore through purposeful, hands-on, and often child-initiated play. This approach fosters cognitive, social, emotional, language and physical development by allowing children to engage in imaginative, active, and creative experiences.
Core Principles and Approaches
- Child-Led and Teacher-Supported: Children drive the play, while educators act as facilitators, scaffolding learning with questions, provocations, and, in some cases, guiding the play to achieve specific learning goals.
- Continuum of Play Ranges from free play (child-directed) to guided play (collaboratively designed) and, finally, to more structured, teacher-directed, open-ended or academic-focused games
- Holistic Development: Develops social, physical, language, cognitive, emotional, and creative skills.
Examples of Play-Based Learning
- Sensory Play: Sandboxes, water tables, or tactile materials for investigation.
- Imaginative/Dramatic Play: Dress-up corners or pretend kitchens, which foster language and role-playing.
- Constructive Play: Building with blocks or materials, which develops spatial skills and engineering concepts.
- Games with Rules: Structured games that promote turn-taking, social skills, and strategic thinking.
Benefits and Significance
- Active Engagement: Children are actively involved, not passive receivers of information.
- Fundamental Motivation: Children are motivated to learn because they find the activities enjoyable and personally meaningful.
- Social and Emotional Growth: Children learn to collaborate, negotiate, manage emotions, and develop self-confidence.
- Cognitive Development: Encourages curiosity, problem-solving, and the ability to connect new information with existing knowledge.
The Role of the Educator
- Trained educators create rich environments that offer diverse materials and provocations to stimulate learning. They observe, interact, and ask open-ended questions that deepen the learning experience without dominating it. In an inclusive and supportive, learning environment, children are encouraged to share and play with their peers. Through these interactions, they develop important qualities such as empathy and cooperation, which will help them succeed in school and well beyond.
To support parents’ work schedules, these new full-day, pre-Kindergarten programs will operate out of Cuffman Elementary School and Sunset Acres School, Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., beginning September 1, 2026. The skills learned in this program will make for a successful and smooth transition to Kindergarten the following year.
In both locations, the Early Learning Centre is a purpose-built classroom designed to support a variety of learning experiences in a warm and welcoming environment. The space features abundant natural light, accessible shelving, and cozy areas that encourage both independent and collaborative play. The classroom is located on the ground floor of the school and includes its own dedicated entrance and a fully fenced outdoor play space.
Nutritious morning and afternoon snacks will be provided daily. Parents are responsible for supplying a healthy lunch for their child each day.
Daily programming will include outdoor play and activities; therefore, children are expected to arrive with weather-appropriate clothing. Field trips and community-based outings will be thoughtfully planned and added to a monthly calendar of events.
As a designated program licensed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, all families are eligible for the government fee reduction. Parents are responsible for a daily fee of $18.00. Families who meet eligibility requirements may also apply for additional financial support through the Parent Subsidy Program.
If you are interested in a spot, please fill out our Child wait list information sheet (fillable) and email it to clark@thepreschoolcentre.ca (for Cuffman St.) or main@thepreschoolcentre.ca (for Sunset Acres).