Curriculum for both Toddler and Preschool Programs
We take great pride in providing all of our preschool children with a well balanced curriculum that meets each child’s individual needs. During the first few weeks of school our experienced teachers spend time assessing and getting to know the children in their class. Group dynamics, individual personalities, energy levels, maturity, and level of academic knowledge are all factors that the teachers take into account when planning for the school year ahead. We want to ensure that no child is bored or overly challenged and that they are all progressing both socially and academically at their own pace.
There are four parts to the curriculum your child will experience during their preschool program.
- Specialty Programs- French, Sportball, Music and Drama (FOR MORNING PRESCHOOL ONLY)
- Theme Based Curriculum
- Free Play and Circle Based Curriculum
- Kindergarten Readiness Curriculum


Theme Based Curriculum
Our focus is fun! Our theme based curriculum keeps children engaged and creates a love for learning while teaching a cross-curricular program. The themes may range from Space to Bugs but the main objective is to expose the children to as many of the subjects listed below within a theme in order to expand their knowledge base.
Theme Based Curriculum Components;
- Math
- Language
- Geography
- Science
- Music
- History
- Cultural studies
- Global awareness
- Community outreach
Free Play and Circle Based Curriculum
Learning Activities for Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences promotes the development of all seven avenues of intelligence in young children. This approach provides a framework to identify how children learn; to build on their strongest assets; to help them become more intelligent by exposing them to a variety of ways of learning; to better individualize for their interests and needs; and to use teaching strategies that make learning more efficient, successful, and enjoyable for all children.
During free time, the children have access to a wide variety of materials and activities. The acquisition and mastery of academic skills is embedded in all materials with each activity focusing on a different skill. Keeping in mind the theory of Multiple Intelligences the following learning activities foster the development of all seven avenues of intelligence and allow children opportunities to build on and expand their strengths.


Verbal/Linguistic
- Library or book-nook
- Story time
- Writing center
- Listening center
- Flannel board station
Logical/Mathematical
- Math activities
- Science activities
- Puzzles
- Building Blocks
- Montessori materials
- Calendar circle
Musical
- Singing circle
- Background music
Visual/Spatial
- Art center (e.g., sculpting dough, collage, painting, drawing)
- Manipulatives (e.g., 3-D manipulatives, visual puzzles)
- Building Blocks
Kinesthetic
- Gross motor circle activities
- Manipulative materials
- Imaginative-play
- Outdoor Learning Garden (Fall and Spring)
- Tactile-learning (e.g., sandpaper letters, sample textures and cloth)
Interpersonal
- Puppet theater
- Dramatic play
- Sharing/social area (carpet or table activities)
- Group discussions
Intrapersonal
- One-person centers & stations
- Life skills/self-help activities


Preparing for Kindergarten
The goal in our preschool classrooms is to promote the healthy growth of each child as they continue to grow as a preschooler and begin to prepare for kindergarten. These are some examples of the skills that are incorporated into the preschool curriculum in order to prepare each child for their kindergarten years;
- Following classroom routines
- Learning to be part of a group
- Printing own name
- Cutting and gluing skills
- Fine motor skills
- Counting and number recognition
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Executive function and self-regulation skills
- Social Skills
- Character Education
- Balanced literacy Program including;
- Exposure to quality children’s literature
- Opportunity to explore literacy skills
- Oral language
- Letter recognition and sound association
- Phonemic Awareness
- Phonics Instruction
- Comprehension
Children that have experienced our programs have without a doubt grown in confidence, self-esteem, self advocacy and the ability to successfully handle conflict resolution. We look forward to providing every child with best school experience and to seeing them grow and blossom during their time with us.
Application Form
Access our applications and to learn more about our application and registration process.
Meet Our Preschool Program Teachers
Meet Angie and Val our 3-Morning Preschool teachers or Carol and Sharon our 5-Morning Preschool teachers, to learn more about their teaching experience and philosophy.
Our Other Programs
We are pleased to also offer Toddler, Pre-J.K., Kindergarten, including Specialty programs, such as French, Music, Sportball and Drama. You also have the option to increase your child’s time with us by enrolling in our Extended Programs.
What The Parents Say
Our older child started in the preschool class at Children’s Garden and is about to graduate from Kindergarten. What an incredibly rich experience it has been. Every teacher has nurtured his curiosity and built his confidence through a fun and rigorous academic curriculum. The admin team lead by Pauline consistently goes above and beyond to enrich the student experience. The commonality amongst the families who are committed to a positive and comprehensive learning environment has provided the seeds for great young friendships.
The small class sizes are the perfect transition into a formal classroom environment, ensuring that each child feels safe as they take their first steps towards independence. The class size also guarantees that each child will receive personalized attention in these critical foundational early years. Whether it’s the level of French proficiency that our child has gleaned from the afternoon immersion program, the regular incorporation of the most current educational tools and approaches, or the unbearably cute plays/concerts that the students put on, I continue to be pleasantly surprised and impressed.
We are so happy that we will still be at CGNS for a few more years as our younger child transitions to the 3-Morning toddler class. It is truly a special place and it is a privilege to have our children walk through these doors every morning.
Dixie Ho
I found out about CGNS from an ad in a community newspaper. After visiting the school and meeting with some of the staff I decided to enroll my daughter in the 3 afternoon a week Senior Kindergarten program. I had a “gut feeling” it would be a positive environment for her. Now that she has attended the school I know that I made the right decision. I am impressed by all of the staff members and the diversity of the program. In only 3 afternoons a week my daughter is exposed to the S.K curriculum, French, Sportball, Drama, and Music. It has been a wonderful complement to her morning public school. All staff members are very friendly and caring. I feel that I made the right decision in choosing CGNS and would highly recommend this school to others.
Janet Russel
We are thrilled with the confidence and skills our daughter has gained from the Children’s Garden Kindergarten Enrichment program. The small class size has been a great advantage to her development, both socially and academically. Her teacher has been wonderful in adapting the curriculum to her specific needs and, most importantly, she is happy there and looks forward to each day that she is at Children’s Garden Nursery School.
Tracey N. Patel
Children’s Garden Nursery School is a delightful place to send your pre-schooler. It is well-organized with fantastic facilities and friendly teachers who really help the children learn the skills they will need to enter kindergarten. The teachers help the children learn how to socialize, how to be independent and how to play in a group setting. My son loved the music and French classes, the Hallowe’en party, Christmas concert and visit to Riverdale Farm, and the many fun events the school organized. His mother loved the birthday poster the teachers made, and the songs he came home singing!
Marina Jimenez, Globe and Mail writer
Our daughter has thrived at Children’s Garden Nursery School. It is a caring, supportive and stimulating environment that allows children to develop at their own pace. Each and every individual involved in the school is a committed educator who takes the time to meet the needs of each child by actively engaging them individually and collectively in a wide variety of activities. Perhaps the best indication of the success of this school is just how much our daughter loves to learn and the excitement you can see and hear in her when she talks about “her school”! We have nothing but praise for Children’s Garden.
Sharon Switzer-McIntyre and Andrew McIntyre
Before starting at Children’s Garden, we shopped around several preschools in the area, interviewed them, did site visits and even sat in on a class. All of them seem to offer pretty much the same thing in terms of curriculum, but there seemed to be a common element missing amongst all of them that left us feeling unsettled….until a friend recommended Children’s Garden Nursery School. After talking with Pauline and touring the space, we hadn’t even made it out of the parking lot before turning to each other and saying “This is the one.” We did not know at the time how right we were.
Children’s Garden is a truly special place. Having been part of the school for four years now, I think there are a few things that set it apart from any other preschool. First, the incredible sense of community and belonging. The staff have created an incredibly caring, nurturing environment for not just the kids but for the families too. Your child isn’t the only one who belongs to Children’s Garden – you do too. Second, they have an incredible way of bringing out the best in each child and helping them to truly shine as individuals. It is amazing to watch all of the children grow in confidence and self-esteem as each of their unique talents are brought to the forefront. Third, the exceptionally strong relationship between the Parent Committee and the Administration and teachers. Everyone works together to provide the best opportunities and make continual improvements for the benefit of our kids. The Administration and the teachers go far above and beyond in all things big and small for the kids through special events, class outings, holidays, performances. It is truly more than we ever expected. I asked my son if there was anything he didn’t like about Children’s Garden. He thought about it for a moment and said, “Only that I can’t go to school there forever.”
Leah and Brad Watson
Children’s garden has transformed our son James from being frustrated with school to loving school and accomplishing things like reading, writing and confidence in a short 6 months. He is always excited to go and loves his teachers.
Natasha and Paul Glionna
John looks forward to school every day. I credit this to the school’s wonderful atmosphere and excellent teachers and administration who create a stimulating, caring, high-quality learning environment for each individual child.
Cheryl Carson-Van Loan
I enrolled my 2 and a half year old in CGNS based on recommendations I got from friends and having been impressed by my visit and tour of the school. I was told about the complete program and friends spoke highly of the nurturing and caring environment. What I wasn’t prepared for though was how “complete” the program was, in spite of it being only for half a day! CGNS to me is a hidden gem in this maze of over marketed children’s nurseries! The children have a complete academic program with literacy and numeracy from the start irrespective of age, they do French every day, Sportball, have a planned Music session twice a week and Drama twice a week.
My son thrived in his JK year and at the end of it was reading confidently at level 2! During the year they had 4 presentations that included two plays with Music and a French play, with each child being given speaking roles. More remarkable was the confidence he has now, whether it is in going up on stage, or presenting to an audience. I would highly recommend Children’s Garden to parents who want an enriched program for their children.
Gayathri and Rahul Kadyan
Branksome Hall has a valued relationship with Children’s Garden Nursery School. We look forward to working with families and finding a good fit for CGNS students in our welcoming environment, which features a liberal arts curriculum and many opportunities for co-curricular activities. Students who have come out of Children’s Garden Nursery School into Branksome make a smooth transition into our learning environment.