To learn about the national child care funding in Canada, please click here.
Kids & Company Blog
Gifts for Preschoolers: Bring it back to books with this Top 10 list
With Christmas being less than a month away, every storefront is decked in festive visuals and signs for all of the gifts you absolutely must have this year. If you did your shopping back in July, kudos to you, go -getter! If you did your research and stocked up on Black Friday sales, you are smart and savvy! But if you’re like me and will be shopping until Christmas Eve – be honest this is at least eighty percent of us (ninety if you’re a parent!) – have I got some recommendations for you!
Books are underrated; they aren’t the gift to choose if you’re looking for screams of excitement (think: puppy). Books are amazing. They are, for the most part, noise-free and won’t make creepy sounds when the batteries start to go. They won’t get stuck to your clothes/couch/bedding/carpet/pets (yes, I’m looking at you SLIME). Most importantly, they are a gift that keeps on giving. Reading with children is beneficial to everyone: you get to spend quality time with them while they are learning cognitive, fine-motor, language and pre-reading skills.
Who needs screens?


I’m not saying I’m anti-screen time. It certainly helps me have a shower every now and then. But there has already been more than enough research done to show too much screen time is detrimental to child development. Imagine a world before there were iPad's and apps. A child would interact with the pages instead of staring at a screen. Fill in gaps with imagination rather than someone else’s ideas.
Try these titles for fun and unique interactive reads:
1. Tap the tree to see it’s buds bloom on the next page in Tap The Magic Tree
2. Use your fingers to explore colour mixing concepts in Mix It Up!
3. With captivating colours and simple instructions in Press Here, children can have fun without being bombarded with a bunch of blue light before bed (talk about alliteration)
Raising the Future Generation

It’s almost 2019. We’re having conversations with our children about accepting others for who they are, recognizing that love is love, and that they are free to be who they are. All the while we are helping them to understand their emotions, self-regulate, express themselves and be kind to their peers. Here are some well-written stories in simple language that reinforce some not-simple discussions:
4. Two boy bunnies fall in love to the disapproval of the mean stinkbug stuck in his ways in A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
5. Learn about colours in a mind-opening story with Pink is for Boy
6. Dive into early emotional awareness in Even Superheroes Have Bad Days
Just for Fun!

This great batch of books includes stories that are highly rated for success with children – they have been requested by my own son at bedtime more than seven evenings in a row. You know the books I mean: the ones you’ve memorized and can read with your eyes closed as they’ve been read So. Many. Times.
7. Dragons Love Tacos is one you’ll actually enjoy reading over and over. So fun.
8. The Book with No Pictures is not a misnomer, it has no pictures. It’s the children’s job to listen and the reader’s job to say every single word that is written. A great read for children 3 to 5 who find every little nonsensical word to be the most hilarious.
9. Another parent-recommended, child-loved story unleashes your inner Tickle Monster, and even comes with a special set of gloves to enhance the story!
Modern Story Time

10. Just in case page-turning isn’t your thing, the Moonlite Storybook Projector takes the reading experience to a whole new level. Combining sounds, music, classic stories, it projects the images onto your wall in a slideshow. Once you have the projector, the app is free to download and all you need is a phone that is equipped with flash! They are continuously creating new story discs and have a variety of ones already to choose from like Goodnight Moon, Chicka-chicka Boom, Boom and more. Amazon even has a Moonlite Gift Pack on sale that comes with five stories which you can find right here.
Happy gifting and happy reading!
Brittany lives in Calgary and is the Centre Director for the Kids & Company location in Okotoks, Alberta. She’s currently striving to reach #parentinggoals with her spunky three-year-old, to which each day is a new adventure. With a decade of experience in child care and her personal parenting experience, she’s here to share all she’s learned.
Posted on: Friday November 30th, 2018
Posted by: Brittany Fancey
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
Cochrane
Red Deer
Calgary
Calgary
Okotoks
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Sylvan Lake
Edmonton
Sherwood Park
Edmonton
Calgary
Kamloops
Langley
Langley
New Westminster
North Vancouver
Richmond
Vancouver
Victoria
Victoria
Port Moody
Surrey
Surrey
Surrey
North Vancouver
Nanaimo
Surrey
Coquitlam
Burnaby
Port Coquitlam
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Schaumburg
Chicago
Winnipeg
Abington
Canton
Quincy
West Quincy
Braintree
Braintree
Walpole
Walpole
Brighton
Brookline
Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain
Cambridge
Needham
Newton Highlands
Newton
Cambridge
Boston
St. Peters
Lake St. Louis
Troy
O'Fallon
Howell Township
Freehold Township
Manalapan Township
Bedford
Dartmouth
Halifax
Bedford
Hammonds Plains
Lower Sackville
Eastern Passage
Aurora
Burlington
Burlington
Etobicoke
Etobicoke
Hamilton
London
Milton
Mississauga
Niagara Falls
Ottawa
Richmond Hill - Corporate office (No child care services)
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Waterloo
Kanata
Oakville
Oakville
Toronto
Whitby
Toronto
Mississauga
Ottawa
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Brampton
Stoney Creek
Toronto
Nepean
Burlington
Burlington
Oakville
Waterdown
Oakville
Pittston
Wilkes-Barre
Exeter
Old Forge
Wilkes-Barre
Dover
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Hummelstown
Palmyra
York
York
Abington
Aurora
Bedford (Dellridge Lane)
Larry Uteck (Southgate Dr)
Pine Village South End, by Kids & Company
Braintree 1
Braintree 2
Brampton
Pine Village Brighton, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Brookline, by Kids & Company
Burlington Children’s Centre
Burloak
Appleby
Beacon Hill
Brightstart Burnaby, by Kids & Company
Bow Trail
Eau Claire
Livingston
Midlake
Millrise
Royal Oak
Smart Tech
Britannia Crossing
Marda Loop
Evanston
Beltline
Aviation Crossing
Gulf Canada Square
Royal Oak Out of School Care
Pine Village Kendall Square, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Porter Square, by Kids & Company
Canton
Jackson
Lincoln Park
Harrison
West Loop
South Loop
Fulton
Cochrane
Brightstart Coquitlam, by Kids & Company
Dartmouth
Dover
Eastern Passage
Ellerslie
Edmonton Ice District
Baturyn
Diamond
Friendly Frog
Meadowlark Park
St. Charles
St. Dominic
Sunshine Factory
Tender Heart
Tamarack
Jagare Ridge
Horse Hill
Fraser
Islington
Etobicoke (Bloor & Islington)
ABC Kiddie Kampus Exeter, by Kids & Company
Apple Hill Academy Freehold by Kids & Company
Halifax
Hamilton
Hammonds Plains
Route 39
Schaffner
Swatara
Apple Hill Academy Howell by Kids & Company
Hummelstown
Pine Village JP Revere, by Kids & Company
Pine Village JP South Street, by Kids & Company
Kamloops
Eagleson (South Kanata)
Tyke Town Lake St. Louis, by Kids & Company
Kids World
Langley (200th St.)
London Richmond
Sackville
Apple Hill Academy Manalapan by Kids & Company
Milton
Robert Speck Parkway
Mississauga Gateway Centre
Nanaimo
Pine Village Needham, by Kids & Company
Ottawa Barrhaven
New Westminster
Pine Village West Newton, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Newton Highlands, by Kids & Company
Niagara Queen
North Vancouver
North Van Esplanade
O’Fallon South
Oakville Cornwall
Oakville Dundas
Joshua Creek
Oakville West (3471 Wyecroft Rd)
Okotoks
ABC Kiddie Kampus Old Forge, by Kids & Company
Ottawa Albert
Ottawa Westboro
Palmyra
ABC Kiddie Kampus Pittston, by Kids & Company
Brightstart Port Coquitlam, by Kids & Company
Port Moody
Marina Bay
Red Deer
Richmond
Head Office
Schaumburg
Sherwood Park
St. Albert North
St. Albert Grandin
Tyke Town St. Peters, by Kids & Company
Stoney Creek
Morgan Crossing
Surrey Professional Centre
King George
Brightstart Cloverdale, by Kids & Company
Sylvan Lake
Bloor Christie
Bloor (Bloor St. East)
Consumers
Finch
Front
Wellington
Scotia Plaza
Stock Yards
St. Andrew’s Church
Liberty Village
Rosedale
Queen West
Tyke Town Troy, by Kids & Company
Vancouver West
Langford
Victoria
Walpole South
Walpole North
Waterdown
Tech Town
West Quincy
Whitby
ABC Kiddie Kampus East Mountain, by Kids & Company
ABC Kiddie Kampus King’s College, by Kids & Company
Winnipeg
West York
Queen Street
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
Cochrane
Red Deer
Calgary
Calgary
Okotoks
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Sylvan Lake
Edmonton
Sherwood Park
Edmonton
Calgary
Kamloops
Langley
Langley
New Westminster
North Vancouver
Richmond
Vancouver
Victoria
Victoria
Port Moody
Surrey
Surrey
Surrey
North Vancouver
Nanaimo
Surrey
Coquitlam
Burnaby
Port Coquitlam
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Schaumburg
Chicago
Winnipeg
Abington
Canton
Quincy
West Quincy
Braintree
Braintree
Walpole
Walpole
Brighton
Brookline
Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain
Cambridge
Needham
Newton Highlands
Newton
Cambridge
Boston
St. Peters
Lake St. Louis
Troy
O'Fallon
Howell Township
Freehold Township
Manalapan Township
Bedford
Dartmouth
Halifax
Bedford
Hammonds Plains
Lower Sackville
Eastern Passage
Aurora
Burlington
Burlington
Etobicoke
Etobicoke
Hamilton
London
Milton
Mississauga
Niagara Falls
Ottawa
Richmond Hill - Corporate office (No child care services)
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Waterloo
Kanata
Oakville
Oakville
Toronto
Whitby
Toronto
Mississauga
Ottawa
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Brampton
Stoney Creek
Toronto
Nepean
Burlington
Burlington
Oakville
Waterdown
Oakville
Pittston
Wilkes-Barre
Exeter
Old Forge
Wilkes-Barre
Dover
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Hummelstown
Palmyra
York
York
Abington
Aurora
Bedford (Dellridge Lane)
Larry Uteck (Southgate Dr)
Pine Village South End, by Kids & Company
Braintree 1
Braintree 2
Brampton
Pine Village Brighton, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Brookline, by Kids & Company
Burlington Children’s Centre
Burloak
Appleby
Beacon Hill
Brightstart Burnaby, by Kids & Company
Bow Trail
Eau Claire
Livingston
Midlake
Millrise
Royal Oak
Smart Tech
Britannia Crossing
Marda Loop
Evanston
Beltline
Aviation Crossing
Gulf Canada Square
Royal Oak Out of School Care
Pine Village Kendall Square, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Porter Square, by Kids & Company
Canton
Jackson
Lincoln Park
Harrison
West Loop
South Loop
Fulton
Cochrane
Brightstart Coquitlam, by Kids & Company
Dartmouth
Dover
Eastern Passage
Ellerslie
Edmonton Ice District
Baturyn
Diamond
Friendly Frog
Meadowlark Park
St. Charles
St. Dominic
Sunshine Factory
Tender Heart
Tamarack
Jagare Ridge
Horse Hill
Fraser
Islington
Etobicoke (Bloor & Islington)
ABC Kiddie Kampus Exeter, by Kids & Company
Apple Hill Academy Freehold by Kids & Company
Halifax
Hamilton
Hammonds Plains
Route 39
Schaffner
Swatara
Apple Hill Academy Howell by Kids & Company
Hummelstown
Pine Village JP Revere, by Kids & Company
Pine Village JP South Street, by Kids & Company
Kamloops
Eagleson (South Kanata)
Tyke Town Lake St. Louis, by Kids & Company
Kids World
Langley (200th St.)
London Richmond
Sackville
Apple Hill Academy Manalapan by Kids & Company
Milton
Robert Speck Parkway
Mississauga Gateway Centre
Nanaimo
Pine Village Needham, by Kids & Company
Ottawa Barrhaven
New Westminster
Pine Village West Newton, by Kids & Company
Pine Village Newton Highlands, by Kids & Company
Niagara Queen
North Vancouver
North Van Esplanade
O’Fallon South
Oakville Cornwall
Oakville Dundas
Joshua Creek
Oakville West (3471 Wyecroft Rd)
Okotoks
ABC Kiddie Kampus Old Forge, by Kids & Company
Ottawa Albert
Ottawa Westboro
Palmyra
ABC Kiddie Kampus Pittston, by Kids & Company
Brightstart Port Coquitlam, by Kids & Company
Port Moody
Marina Bay
Red Deer
Richmond
Head Office
Schaumburg
Sherwood Park
St. Albert North
St. Albert Grandin
Tyke Town St. Peters, by Kids & Company
Stoney Creek
Morgan Crossing
Surrey Professional Centre
King George
Brightstart Cloverdale, by Kids & Company
Sylvan Lake
Bloor Christie
Bloor (Bloor St. East)
Consumers
Finch
Front
Wellington
Scotia Plaza
Stock Yards
St. Andrew’s Church
Liberty Village
Rosedale
Queen West
Tyke Town Troy, by Kids & Company
Vancouver West
Langford
Victoria
Walpole South
Walpole North
Waterdown
Tech Town
West Quincy
Whitby
ABC Kiddie Kampus East Mountain, by Kids & Company
ABC Kiddie Kampus King’s College, by Kids & Company
Winnipeg
West York
Queen Street