Kids & Company Nanaimo is one of our most unique centres with just two classrooms and a capacity of 16 children. Each classroom contains educational materials, age-appropriate toys, and child-sized equipment to help our children learn and grow. This centre functions as a unique partnership between Kids & Company and Edgewood Treatment Centre! We are proud to offer emergent programming and care to the surrounding community, as well as employees and patients of Edgewood Treatment Centre. Our centre gives prospective Early Childhood Education students an opportunity to learn about trauma-informed practice, emotional intelligence and the importance of inclusion for high-risk, vulnerable or underprivileged families.
The Nanaimo centre is unique because of its beautiful surroundings! We have access to a huge property that allows us to explore nature on site. We go on trail walks every other day, where we have seen frogs, mice, bunnies and even more. This opens up a unique opportunity for children to become immersed in the environment, which has been shown to have many emotional benefits.
Regarding Open House: Please note our Nanaimo Centre is only available for tours on weekdays, by appointment only. To book a tour, complete the inquiry form below!
Street Parking along Boxwood Road, in front of the tall hedges!
Meet the Director
Hello, my name is Natalie Cherrie and I am the Centre Director at Kids & Company Nanaimo. I graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology from UBC, and ECEA from UBC, and am currently working on my ECE with Pacific Rim. I have been working at Kids & Company since May 2021 and in the child care field for over 6 years. What I love most about Kids & Company Nanaimo is that we have a small team so it’s easy to build really strong bonds with each other and the children. While my time with Kids & Company has been short, I’ve felt incredibly supported by the community. Given that our centre is associated with a treatment centre, our program has an emphasis on promoting mental health and wellness for our children and their families. My background in psychology allows me to understand the importance of emotional wellbeing and allows me to help implement healthy emotional practices from a very young age.
Kids & Company’s Infant program welcomes newborns up to roughly 18 months. Infants learn about the world around them through their senses, so exploration is critical to their development. Nurturing educators support the children while they take in their surroundings, encouraging them to experience everything the classroom offers; be it creative art, exploring with blocks, listening to songs or engaging in story-time. Our infant program encourages children to follow their own established routines, while becoming comfortable and secure in a new group setting.
Kids & Company’s Toddler program is for children between the ages of roughly 18 months and 2.5 years. Toddlers are mobile and eager to explore their environment. As they strive for independence, our educators use an Emergent curriculum approach to learning that supports each child’s individuality. Some of the most important learning outcomes of our toddler program are language development, socialization, self-help skills, and the development of fine and gross motor skills.
Kids & Company’s Preschool program is designed for children between the ages of roughly 2.5 - 5 years. Our educators interact, observe and interpret the interests of our children to encourage discoveries. Our Preschool program provides a foundation for developing greater independence and problem-solving skills; the program integrates new concepts into our children’s world view, promotes sharing and mutual respect, and prepares them for Kindergarten.
