What are the hours of operation?  7:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Monday to Friday

Is the ELC open all year? Yes, we are open all year except for one week between Christmas and New Years. We are closed all statutory holidays, with the exception of Easter Monday and Remembrance Day.

Do I need to make an appointment to visit or is it okay to drop in? An appointment is preferred so someone will be available to give a tour and answer your questions.

Where will my baby sleep? Is a bed provided for my baby? Yes, every child is provided with their own crib or cot. The crib or cot remains the child's for the duration of the child's stay at the ELC.

Do I need to supply prepared baby food? The ELC provides both purchased baby food or pureed food from our kitchen when your child is ready. Milk formula is not provided.

Will the preschool teachers teach my child the alphabet, colour names, to count, and other academic skills she or he will need for kindergarten? Yes. Children learn the alphabet in several different ways.    But children learn the alphabet by using it. Paper, markers, crayons, pencils, scissors, glue, and paint are available to the children most of the time. Teachers scribe children's dictations. For example, one child asked a teacher to label her drawing of a house. She dictated, and the teacher wrote, "the garage for my car," and "this is my house." Teachers encourage children to learn letter names, the sounds of letters, and to understand that words are talk written down. Letters and words are learned in ways meaningful to children - they ask to write their friends' and teachers' names, and notes to parents, for example, "I love you, Dad!" Words and writing happen naturally during the course of the day.

Children learn colours by using them. "I want the purple cup today for my milk, please." Beautiful paints are always available, for painting at the easel and for other art projects. Children are encouraged to mix colours when they paint, play with playdough, fingerpaint and crayon. A teacher will ask, "What changes do you see when the red and yellow are mixed together?"

Children learn to count naturally and comfortably by having reasons to count. A teacher may ask, "I wonder how many cups we will need for the lunch table? Let's find out." Children have been interested in how many windows are on an airplane. They are counting airplane windows in a picture with the help of a teacher, they are matching that number to a printed numeral, and they are writing numerals. They are drawing their own airplanes with windows. As one child was counting, when she reached 11she said, "13, 15, 9, 12." The teacher made a note that she can count independently to eleven.

For other child care information in the Ottawa area, contact either of the following:

• Child Care Information:  gives information on child care options in Ottawa. It is a valuable service when making decisions about your child care needs.   Contact them by Phone: 613-736-1913; E-mail: afccs@sympatico.ca; Website: http://www.afchildcare.on.ca/

• Child Advice Warm Line: Contact them for sympathetic and helpful answers to questions on child rearing (e.g. toilet training, bedtime routines, eating habits). Available some evening hours. Telephone: 613-728-9282.