Canadore’s Early Childhood Education program will help you gain the essential skills needed to start a rewarding and fulfilling career working with children. This is an activity-based program that emphasizes personal growth as well as the knowledge and abilities needed to nurture the development of young children.

You will learn effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills to help you become a role model for children and parents, and to facilitate the operation of an early childhood centre. The placement component of this program provides you with the opportunity to experience the role of an early childhood educator first-hand. These placements are part of the certification process with the Association for Early Childhood Education of Ontario.

As a responsible educator, you must be committed to the value and uniqueness of each child and the trust of that role. Piagetian philosophy regarding cognitive skills will be emphasized, as will Erikson’s philosophy of socio-emotional development. Modern stage theorists will be presented, outlining the developmental growth of children through stage theories based on certain ages. In an eclectic manner, you will take some of the concepts and approaches from this program as your own and graduate with a healthy holistic approach to children.

Ontario Secondary School Diploma at or above the general level or its equivalent. Grade 12 English or equivalent is required.

Mature Students:
Applicants aged 19 or over without the OSSD will be considered on the basis of their results on the College’s Mature Student Test.

Graduates of the new Ontario Secondary School Curriculum:
Ontario Secondary School Diploma with courses from the College (C), University (U), University/College (M), or Open (O) preparation levels.

Required courses:
Grade 12 Compulsory English (ENG 4C or ENG 4U).

A completed Canadore College Health Centre form including medical history, immunization record, Hepatitis B vaccination, and a two-step Tuberculosis (TB) test is required. Please see the online student registration handbook  for more information.

If you have been convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code for which you have not been pardoned, you may be ineligible for field/clinical placements. A yearly police check will be required for placements and can be obtained from the police department upon payment of a fee; all associated costs will be the responsibility of the student.