Heartland Agency and Educational Services

Heartland had a visit from a leprechaun today, who left some chocolate gold coins for the littles to find! 🍀🪙

Green was the theme today - the children participated in some green activities - and staff did, too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from us at Heartland!

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Always wanted to make your own pizza? The littles here at Heartland can show you how! 🍕

Our children gathered in their classrooms and in Miss Geeta’s kitchen to make themselves some yummy pizzas for Heartland’s Pizza Day! The children are able to participate in making their own lunch, and eating the tasty rewards, too!

For March's staff spotlight, we are debuting Veronica! ✨

Veronica is an educational assistant in the kindergarten classroom at our Signal Hill location. She also works with the before and after school care program!

Veronica joined Heartland last year after completing her bachelors degree in social work at the University of Calgary. She was drawn towards Heartland due to its strong focus on providing necessary and often lacking supports for children with disabilities entering the school system.

This past year working for Heartland has reinforced Veronica's passion for working with children, and providing them with trauma-informed supports to help them bolster their social and emotional development. Every day, she sees the benefit of the Evenstart program and finds it truly heartwarming to see the successes of the children each day. Veronica loves working with children, as she finds that they are always their authentic selves, and they provide such a wholesome and fun-loving environment. She is constantly learning the value of kindness, respect and patience from our children.

When Veronica isn't working, she loves to spend time with her partner, her family and her Chihuahua. You might find her going for a nice hike, engaging in retail therapy, singing obnoxiously to her favourite tunes, or snuggled up on her couch reading a social issues drama.

Next time you find yourself in our Signal Hill location, be sure to say hi to Veronica! ❤🍏

One of the best ways we can help our littles is through fine motor skills activities! There are plenty of easy ways to strengthen these muscles and develop coordination using everyday materials and a bit of creative fun. For example:

- Play dough! Rolling, squeezing, and building are just some examples of ways to build strength. You can also add other materials to it, such as buttons, rice, pasta, or candies 🍬

- Spaghetti or pipe cleaners in a colander: This is a perfect activity for little ones who are beginning to grasp ‘cause and effect’. Removing or adding the pipe cleaners will help strengthen little finger muscles. ➰

- Arts and crafts - What child doesn’t love to create? Art projects are a great way for your child to practice coordination, while making awesome souvenirs in the process! 🖌️

Do you have any methods you love to use at home?

Will you be our Valentine? 💘

Here are some V-day crafts our little hands made!

It’s National Play Therapy Week (February 6 -12, 2022)! Let’s play! 🧸

Play therapy is a type of therapy used for children. As adults, we are able to verbalize our thoughts and feelings. Since children may not yet have the language skills to express themselves, they express themselves through play. Play allows children to use toys to say what they cannot, and express feelings they aren’t able to verbalize.

Through play, children can learn new coping mechanisms and how to redirect inappropriate behaviors. Therapeutic play can help strengthen children’s social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive development. It helps children learn how to express their thoughts and feelings in constructive ways, manage their behaviour, and take responsibility. Play therapy also helps build children’s self-esteem ang trusting relationships with others.

Here at Heartland, each location has a registered psychologist to support our children through both individual and group play therapy. Resources are available to help your child on their journey of learning and healing.

For more information, please send us a message, or call us at 403-541-0277. 🪁

If you’re looking for child care, we have space! 🍏 ❤️

Our Centre 4800 location is currently accepting little ones into its care. Centre 4800 is conveniently located off Deerfoot and McKnight. Space is available for part-time, full-time or drop in! With our wonderful staff, and meals and snacks provided, what more could you want?

Contact us for more information!

Today is ! This day, all across the continent, people like you are choosing to . 👏

The EvenStart Foundation is a non-profit organization that assists children ages 3-5 with backgrounds of trauma, abuse, neglect, behavioral and developmental issues. With the Heartland Agency and Educational Services, we are working hard this year to provide our most in-need families with an opportunity to have a memorable holiday season this year.

We accept donations of grocery gift cards, basic household needs, and personal items. All cash, cheque and hamper expenditure sales slips are eligible for income tax receipts.

If you are feeling the spirit of Giving Tuesday, please donate or reach out to us to find out how you can ! 🎁

Wanting to give back this Christmas? Look no further than the Evenstart Foundation! 🎄

We still have many families in need of a Christmas hamper this year. All cash/cheque donations and hamper expenditure sales slips over $20 are eligible for an income tax receipt.

Join our cause - adopt a family today! 🎁

Brighten someone’s Christmas this year – adopt a family through our Hamper Program! 🎇🕯

Every year, the EvenStart Foundation works hard to provide Christmas hampers for deserving families who are most in need. This year, the need is greater than ever.

Find out how you can get involved at: https://evenstartfoundation.org/xmas/

Today is National Child Day, and this year’s theme is ! Every child has the right not only to be alive, but to have access to what they need to develop to the fullest extent possible.

This , let’s show our support for all 8 million kids in Canada by working together to raise awareness of children’s rights and celebrate Canada’s youth.

Visit their website/social medua to learn how you can get involved on National Child Day. Here are some simple, but important, ways you can support :

• Use this year’s National Child Day Activity Guide to play fun games and activities together with the kids!

• Show your true colours and wear blue in support of National Child Day. Be sure to tag and use the hashtags and !

Children are the future - let’s work together to ensure our they feel seen and heard!