Enriching Children's Lives - Todays Family : Todays Family

Founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1982, we’re committed to providing support to families from diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds in Hamilton, Halton and Haldimand-Norfolk.

With the vision provided by our forward-thinking Board of Directors and the leadership of the management team, our dedicated and hard-working staff has continued to make Today’s Family a leader in early learning and child care.

Today’s Family provides the in-depth support that today’s families need. Scientific studies prove that the most important years for the developing brain are the early years – before kindergarten. The better the development, the better the outcomes in learning, behaviour and growth. Today’s Family programs are professionally designed to support healthy development. Our goal is to give children the best possible start for school – and for life. Our early learning programs offer plenty of fun – and having fun is key to learning.

Today’s Family is linked with other community programs in your neighbourhood. We work closely with schools, libraries, public health services, recreation centres and other support services in individual neighbourhoods. Our vision – an integrated system where community programs work together to ensure families have the support they need, including licensed home early learning and child care.

Every child comes to Today’s Family filled with possibilities. Their interests, inclination, feelings and perceptions grow and change on a daily basis. This is part of being a unique individual and a crucial part of growing up. We respect that, and we do our very best to foster and encourage this individuality within every child.

In the early years, children’s interests change freely. One day, a child may see a butterfly outside the window and begin to ask questions, “How do they fly? What do they eat?” the next, they may begin to make a tower of blocks and wonder why a larger block can’t sit securely on top of a smaller one. Our care providers see these changes and create learning moments with each child that are based on these naturally occurring curiosities.

Our curriculum is called The Emergent Curriculum for exactly these reasons – the curriculum emerges as our staff interact with the children, and the children with each other. It reveals itself every day and so we strive to remain flexible, and to continue to encourage a style of learning that is not forced, regimented or disciplined but is open, creative, supportive and natural.

Our people love to help and know how to help. It’s a long, long way from early childhood to age 12, with remarkable changes (and challenges) every year, every month… every day! All our staff are passionately committed to the healthy, full-spectrum development of children. We’d be delighted to outline in detail how our programs can help you and your child. You can drop by any of our locations or contact us for more information.

Our Commitment to Belonging

Today’s Family is committed to all those who gather, play, and work within Today’s Family. Together, we work to achieve what’s best for children and families. This is our commitment to you, each other, and to the future.

We believe in the importance of places to learn and play for all who gather at Today’s Family. A place where no child, family, or member of our community experiences inequity.

We are proud to share and elevate the gifts of diversity that exist within our community. We are accountable to ensuring that diversity is embraced at Today’s Family in thoughtful and inclusive ways.

We know that every child and family has a special story to tell. We hold ourselves accountable to the listening and learning needed to allow space for everyone to have the opportunity to share their own story.

We acknowledge we will always have more learning, more discussion and more work to do for everyone to belong.

OUR VISION

That every child experience the joy of learning through play.

Nurturing children and youth, strengthening families and creating communities, we envision that all children have the opportunity to experience the joy of learning. All children should have the right to play. Play is how learning happens.

OUR MISSION

Working together to enrich today’s families, we want what’s best for children.

It’s about belonging. Our programs cultivate authentic, caring relationships and connections to create a sense of belonging among and between children, adults and the world around them.

It’s about well-being. We believe that every child is developing a sense of self, health and well-being. Our programs nurture children’s healthy development and support their growing sense of self.

It’s about expression. Every child is a capable communicator who expresses themselves in many ways. We foster communication and expression in all forms.

It’s about engagement. We value engagement in all forms. Our programs provide environments and experiences to engage children in active, creative and meaningful exploration, play and inquiry.

OUR VALUES
CARING We care. It is the essence of who we are. We care for the children who take part in our programs, for their families, for our staff and providers, and for our environment.
COLLABORATION We collaborate. On our own we can teach, help and care for the children in our midst. Together, with other organizations, we can help to make change and chart new directions for all children.
ACCOUNTABILITY We are accountable. Our primary accountability is to the children and families we serve. It is our job to make sure they are nurtured and respected.
INNOVATION We innovate. We are creative and try new things. We embrace change and do things differently.
INCLUSION Today’s Family is committed to promoting diversity, advancing equity and fostering a culture of inclusion.

OUR VALUES

CARING

We care. It is the essence of who we are. We care for the children who take part in our programs, for their families, for our staff and providers, and for our environment.

COLLABORATION

We collaborate. On our own we can teach, help and care for the children in our midst. Together, with other organizations, we can help to make change and chart new directions for all children.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We are accountable. Our primary accountability is to the children and families we serve. It is our job to make sure they are nurtured and respected.

INNOVATION

We innovate. We are creative and try new things. We embrace change and do things differently.

INCLUSION

Today’s Family is committed to promoting diversity, advancing equity and fostering a culture of inclusion.

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Enriching Children’s Lives

ENHANCING FAMILY LIFE