Kids & Company Blog: From the Experts

Fun Names for Yummy Food!

I think it is safe to say that every parent has struggled at least once with picky eating.  Vegetables and “healthy foods” are often not what our kids gobble down and beg for more of.  So why is it that most kids don’t think twice about taking seconds of candy and fun snacks but won’t… [read more]


Kent Kaufield on Paternity Leave

Kent and Jennifer Kaufield enjoy a beach day with their three children years ago. _____ Eighteen years ago, having a male business executive step back from his full-time position to raise a little one was rare. Parental leave in Canada was six months long, and it was most commonly used by a mother. Eighteen years… [read more]


Identifying and Managing Allergies in Children

Allergies can pose challenges while eating, exploring new environments and even going outside. Most of the time for adults, controlling allergies can be easy. However, this may not be the case for younger children as they are still growing, developing, and being exposed to new things that might not already be identified as a risk… [read more]


Raising a Child with Autism: Interview with a Parent

April is Autism Awareness Month! This initiative is a nationwide effort to promote autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination for all, and assure that each person with ASD is provided the opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life. Those of you who have read my previous blogs will remember my younger brother Jason has… [read more]


Learning Through Play

My name is Sarah and I’ve been working with children in their early years for the past 13 years.  I worked overseas as a teacher in England and China then continued my career in the childcare sector here in Toronto.  While working at Kids & Company, I’ve worked as a Preschool ECE, Assistant Director, Centre… [read more]


Understanding how children at different ages learn

My name is Sarah Pumphrey and I’ve been working with children in their early years for the past 13 years.  I worked overseas as a teacher in England and China then continued my career in the childcare sector here in Toronto.  While working at Kids & Company, I’ve worked as a Preschool ECE, Assistant Director,… [read more]


Kindergarten: preparing for September

As we move through the new year, there any many families with a little one getting ready to go into kindergarten for the first time in September. At this stage parents are thinking through logistics, registration and possibly childcare and daycare options to work around their kindergarten program. But there is another side to kindergarten… [read more]


Tried and True Parenting Hacks to Make 2019 a Little Bit Easier!

It’s a new year! Why not start it off with some hacks to help with a smoother morning routine? Or maybe you have your morning down to a perfect science and need some hacks for day to day parenting? We reached out to our staff and parents and here are some of the tried and… [read more]


What is ’emergent curriculum’ all about?

As the parent of three children, and someone who works alongside some of the brightest Early Childhood Educators in the country, I’ve come to understand and deeply appreciate the Emergent Curriculum philosophy practiced at Kids & Company. Sometimes referred to as cue-based or child-centred learning, the approach is relatively simple in theory, but can be… [read more]


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… [read more]