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What we know now - The Importance of Early Child Development
The early years from conception to age 6 have the most influence of any time in the life cycle on brain development and subsequent learning, behaviours and health.1 Children who are ready to learn when they start school are more likely to complete school, find employment and make positive contributions to society.2
When we support our youngest children, society reaps the benefits over many years as those children develop into healthy, educated, confident and productive adults. Investing in children is an investment in Ontario's future. The rates of return on human capital investment are greatest in the early years of a child's life.3
1 McCain, Mustard, 1999; 2 Hertzman and Keating, 1999;
3 Carneiro & Heckman, 2003.
What's the Difference Between Child Care and Preschool?
Is it child care or day care or preschool or pre-k?! In fact, all of these terms describe early care and education programs for young children. Regardless of what they are called, these services must all be safe, affordable, developmentally appropriate, and high quality. The term 'Child Care' usually refers to early care and education provided for children from birth through school-age. There are many forms of child care (or day care), including in-home child care, licensed and unlicensed, care by relatives, and center-based child care. The term 'Preschool' or 'Pre-K' is often used to describe early care and education programs that help prepare three and four year olds to enter kindergarten ready to succeed. These programs are usually conducted in group settings and include a curriculum focused on early literacy and cognitive, social, and emotional development. 
Child Care - Why It's Important.
In today's world, most parents work outside of the home. This means that most children under age 6 spend at least part of their time in the care of someone other than their parents. Children's earliest experiences and their relationships with their caregivers have a profound impact on the way their brains develop, and can affect their ability to learn and succeed in school and later in life. Participation in early learning opportunities, be it through child care or at home with a parent, can enhance cognitive skills, language ability, vocabulary, short-term memory and attention span.
Source: http://www.parentsaction.org/learn/childcarepreschool
What is Best Start?
At its core, Best Start involves a massive expansion of quality and affordable child care and investments in every child's healthy early development - all in a convenient and easily accessible location for parents.
But it is much more than that.
Best Start is a partnership with parents and families, created in response to the clear message that Ontario's young children and their families need more integrated and accessible services, more high quality, regulated child care spaces, and more subsidies so that more families can access those spaces. It is a long-term strategy that was to be implemented over 10 years, beginning with an immediate expansion of child care spaces.
Best Start is also a comprehensive evidence-informed system of services that seamlessly support families with children from birth through their transition into Grade 1. These services run the gamut from newborn and infant screening to hearing programs to speech and language therapy that help identify and provide support to children who need extra help for healthy early development. They include quality child care, public health, and parenting programs that help parents help their children to be successful in school. And they put families in touch with other services that they might need.
Best Start Components
- A massive expansion of child care, predominantly in Ontario's publicly funded schools; creating more choice with respect to child care options.
- More child care subsidies so that more families can access quality, affordable child care spaces.
- Best Start neighborhood hubs that provide one-stop services for families with children aged 0-6 in communities across Ontario.
- Universal newborn screening and support by public health nurses and ongoing services to identify needs early and provide vital developmentalsupports sooner.
- A comprehensive 18-month wellbaby checkup.
2005-2006 Accomplishments
Best Start capital and operational start up funds supported the addition of 146 new licensed child care spaces for children aged 0-6, throughout Leeds & Grenville.
Best Start supported licensed child care space expansion at the following locations/programs:
- Child Development Centre, Brockville YMCA
- Educare Children's Centre, Johnstown
- Kampus Kids, Tincap
- Kemptville Area Family Resource Centre
- North Grenville Cooperative Preschool & Learning Centre, Kemptville
- Creative Child Care Centre, Westport
- YMCA - Commonwealth Public School, Brockville
- YMCA - Central Public School, Prescott
- Merrickville Day Nursery School, Merrickville
- YMCA - Maple View Lodge, Athens
The Best Start Network of 30 individuals representing parents, school boards, child care operators, health unit, child care system manager, and a range of children's services providers was established and has developed a 10 year vision and Implementation Plan for Best Start in the communities of Leeds & Grenville.
2006-2007 Best Start Plans
- The federal child care agreements have been terminated, effective March 31, 2007. The final year of funding will be spread over
the coming four years to support and sustain the child care spaces created in the first year of Best Start.
- The Best Start Network will continue to examine and plan for a more integrated approach to children's services delivery.
Additional Resources and Reading
Best Start Network - click this link to view minutes of meetings
New Child Care Spaces
- Child Development Centre, Brockville YMCA
- Educare Children's Centre, Johnstown
- Kampus Kids, Tincap
- Kemptville Area Family Resource Centre
- North Grenvile Cooperative Preschool & Learning Centre, Kemptville
- Creative Child Care Centre, Westport
- YMCA - Commonwealth Public School, Brockville
- YMCA - Central Public School, Prescott
- Merrickville Day Nursery School, Merrickville
- YMCA - Maple View Lodge, Athens
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