Exemplary Practices 2008

Early Childhood Development in the 21st Century

When the PMA Winners for Excellence in Early Childhood Education were brought to Ottawa in May 2008, it wasn't only to be feted and receive their well-deserved awards, they were brought to work, to share information and complete hands-on tasks.

First, all recipients were asked to make a short presentation on an area of early childhood education that is special to them. The remaining feature articles are based on those presentations. Next, they participated in a visioning exercise in which they were asked to create the Early Childhood Centre for the 21st century.

Prior to their arrival, the recipients were asked, "How would you instill a love of learning in the 21st century?" Once in Ottawa they were part of a team to execute this visioning exercise and act on their ideas. What resulted was a realization of the synthesis of ideas expressed during the two-day workshop.

To start, each of the imagined ECE centres was given a name that was evocative of nature such as Garden Village and Forest Circle. Although there was no collusion among them, each of the schematic drawings and models was based on a circular model. The symbolism of the circle has a spiritual meaning and is also important to the Native community representing unity and life. The availability of natural light was deemed essential and this meant that the designs incorporated a lot of glass, large windows and sliding doors. The envisioned centres all made the outdoors easily if not instantly accessible.

The interiors featured a large 'piazza' where families and other groups would gather leading outside to a large play space. The interior space also featured a family support room for literacy purposes where parents could read quietly to their children, a health room and a spacious kitchen in the centre of the building with a large table for the adults and children. One kitchen also featured a stone pizza oven. On the second floor of these new establishments, visitors would find a bright and airy art studio, a spacious staff lounge and an efficient but executive-sized office where the administration manages the centre's operational needs. Spaces were set aside for music and drama and meeting areas.

A common outdoor theme was the fruit and vegetable patch where children would grow, nurture and harvest organic products and cook them in the kitchen. Outside were woodlands, bike trails and a shallow pond plus a more conventional play space with playground equipment.

Much of the thinking focused on community. One design, in particular, envisioned a series of pods connected to the ECE centre much like an extended village. These pods included an elementary and high school, a fruit and vegetable market (supplied in part by the garden outside), a bakery, a woodwork shop and an Elder centre.

The commonalities in the proposed designs included the use of natural materials where possible, exposure to natural light, easy access to the outdoors and a warm, welcoming environment that accommodated a wide range of needs and interests. Central to all of this, however, was designing a space that nurtured the creativity of children in their care.