10 Reasons to Choose Quality Early Learning and Child Care

Expert knowledge Early childhood educators are experts in child development and are trained to create inspiring learning environments!
Intentionality Early childhood educators provide your child the gift of time and attention. They will stop and explore the new flowers or jump in the mud puddles with your child.
Young at heart Early childhood educators know how to have fun! They’re not afraid to be silly and laugh with your child; all while nurturing your child’s creativity and helping to build their self-confidence.
Setting limits Every child needs reasonable boundaries, such as no playing ball inside. Early childhood educators set limits and support families in doing the same.
Love of literacy Early childhood educators read and tell stories, sing songs, and do puppet shows to inspire a love of language and to build early literacy skills.
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Confidence boost Early childhood educators provide safe opportunities for your child to be independent and to become confident in their personality and decision making skills.
Inspired learning Early childhood educators ask open-ended questions to inspire creative thought and curiosity, to encourage children to explore, and to make learning fun.
Life skills Early childhood educators use their expertise to develop programs that use play as a tool for teaching math, literacy, science and essential life skills that last for life!
Making friends Early childhood educators are educated to appropriately support children to gain social skills, which are so important in making friends and developing positive relationships!
Helping hand Everyone gets stumped by parenting from time to time - juggling schedules, demands, and behaviours. When it gets tough and you need someone to talk to, reach out to your child’s early childhood educator!
Professional, Certified, Licensed.

Helping PEI families make the early years count
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Our History

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1974
  • First meeting of the ECDA.
  • The ECDA presented Government with a proposal for mandatory staff certification
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1978
  • The ECDA embarked in a province-wide public education campaign to inform parents as to the benefits of quality child care and early childhood education.
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1979
  • The ECDA was asked by government to send representatives to sit on a committee to develop guidelines for the new regulations of the Child Care Facilities Act.
  • The ECDA organized the first of many fun fairs in an attempt to increase parental awareness and appreciation of the nature of Early Childhood Programs.
  • The ECDA developed the ECDA Equipment Library, which contains resource materials, tabletop toys and equipment, multicultural, science and developmental assessments kits.
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1987
  • Government agreed and made provision in the revised Child Care Facilities Act that specifically names the ECDA as being represented in two of the positions on the Early Learning and Child Care Board. 1
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1988
  • The ECDA and the Department of Health and Social Services co-sponsored the first annual Kindergarten Conference for the province.
  • The ECDA organized the first annual Early Childhood Education Week.
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1993
  • The ECDA helped sponsor and support the Community Development Project through the Brighter Futures Initiative.
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1994
  • The ECDA became an affiliate member of the Canadian Child Care Federation giving our provincial membership a stronger support in the Early Childhood field.
  • The ECDA, along with the Health and Community Services Agency, conducted a Special Needs Pilot Project to help get a better picture of the special needs of Island children.
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1997
  • The ECDA worked with the Department of Health and Social Services to develop a new kindergarten curriculum
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1998
  • The ECDA implemented a pilot program with the Department of Health and Social Services to test the new kindergarten curriculum.
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1999
  • Worked with the Provincial Government to develop a Tobacco Control Strategy for PEI.
  • Sent a representative to the National Children’s Agenda Regional Round Table in Newfoundland.
  • Appointed a member to chair the Healthy Child Development Advisory Committee, a community government committee tasked to develop a five year strategy for pre-natal to eight year old children on PEI.
  • Successful in having its proposal chosen, making PEI one of five pilot sites for Social Development Canada's (formerly HRDC) Understanding the Early Years Project.
  • New committee titled “Worthy Wages and Working Condition” formed to look at issues across PEI and potential solutions.
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2000
  • “Worthy Wages and Working Conditions” committee in partnership with the Early Learning and Child Care Board, under the support of LMDA, received funding to do an Island wide study of the Early Child Care sector.
  • The ECDA, in partnership with East Prince Health and the provincial Health and Social Services, received funding for the 2nd phase of the “Fair Play Project” which focused on children's empathy skills. The 2nd phase of the project was focused on all Island licensed child care centres.
  • The ECDA held regular meetings with Provincial Ministers.
  • Understanding the Early Years results were released along with the First Report Card on Children.
  • PEI hosted the “Braiding Our Resources” Conference.
  • The ECDA, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services, began a two year Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale Pilot Project.
  • The ECDA submitted to the Provincial Government an investment proposal, “Unlocking the Early Childhood Sector”.
  • Draft wage scales created by “Worthy Wages and Working Conditions” committee.
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2002
  • The ECDA began a “Building Child Focused Communities” Project.
  • The ECDA had a study of the Early Childhood Education Sector conducted and shared in the “For Our Educators” report.
  • The ECDA hired a Community Coordinator to work with the Association and the Understanding the Early Years project.
  • The ECDA began the “Keeping the Promises” campaign directed toward Provincial and Federal governments in conjunction with the Canadian Child Care Federation.
  • A Community Resource Centre was developed at the ECDA office
  • The ECDA launched their own website
  • “Play Fair Kids” is launched Island wide for all licensed early childhood programs. The project focuses on emotional and empathy development in young children.
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2003
  • Released Phase 1 of PEI Salary Scales and job descriptions for Early Childhood Educators bearing credentials in Early Childhood Care and Education.
  • Launched "Keys to the Future" Campaign across PEI with Supervisors of Licensed programs.
  • As a follow up from For Our Educators.Holland College and HRDC to implement an Accelerated Training Model for caregivers working in licensed programs, not bearing credentials in early Childhood Care and Education. released in 2002, initiated discussions and collaborated with departments of Health and Social Services, Education.
  • Supported 15 Students and Supervisors involved with the accelerated ECE training through the Early Childhood Development Resource Centre.
  • Continue to work in partnership with community and Governments to ensure training opportunities are accessible and affordable for all ECE's across PEI.
  • Partnered with PEI's Premier Council on Healthy Child Development, and Government of PEI to offer The Early Years, Making a world of Difference Conference with the support of HRDC and National Crime Prevention.
  • Several ECE's received training in the PIP's Mentoring Model, and have begun to share this model with ECE's across PEI's early childhood sector.
  • Under the guidance of Child Care Connections, Nova Scotia, with funding from HRDC, developed an environmental scan of the issues surrounding Recruitment and Retention of Trained ECE's across PEI.
  • An Executive Director was hired for the Association.
  • Measuring and Improving Kids Environments (M.I.K.E) has moved from a project to a program under the ECDA in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services.
  • ECDA and UEY project, partnered with Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development to co-host the Island's 1st annual Learning Event.
  • "Fair Play Kids" project released children story books and a CD to compliment the stories, focusing on developing empathy skills in young children.
  • UEY champions, combined their knowledge and skill with UEY findings, began to inspire discussions and actions at the local level about support for children's development.
  • UEY reached out to networks involved with the province's Healthy Child Development Strategy to discuss UEY learnings in the context of their specific areas of interest-family literacy, children's mental health, and so on.
  • UEY collaborated with the Department of Health and Social Services on a data sharing initiative designed to make PEI the best place to conduct child-centered research. This initiative will enable researchers to combine numerous data sets to form more complete pictures of how children are doing.
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2004
  • Supported Island Programs to participate in Island wide PD opportunity.
  • Co-hosted Living a Legacy conference with the Canadian Child Care Federation.
  • Understanding the Early Years Project continues to give community members and decision makers a means of understanding how Island communities are doing in supporting healthy child development.
  • The ECDA continues to advocate for quality programs, quality early childhood educators, and a financially stable infrasture.
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2005
  • Hosted Braiding Our Resources Conference
  • Launched new and improved ECDA website
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2006
  • First ever "Leaning Centre Challenge"- #1st place 'Sunshine Daycare'.
  • First Annual "Early Childhood Awards Banquet".
  • Supported the sector to ensure early learning and child care gained provincial election campaign attention and focus.
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2007
  • Hosted Braiding Our Resources conference "Caring For The Whole Child"
  • Second Annual Learning Centre Challenge #1st place 'Leaps and Bounds'
  • ECDA, Department of Social Services and Seniors and Department of Education combined the Mentor program and the M.I.K.E program into "Bridges" to continue to work efficently and effectively with the ELCC sector.
  • ECDA working in partnership with the Children's Secretariet and Department of Social Services and Seniors to deliver the Data Network Project.
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2008
  • Supported the sector to deliver Island wide message on the value and importance of community based kindergarten across PEI.
  • Provided the sector support to create a positive focus on the importance of the early years.
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2009 - Present
  • Coming Soon! Check back for more info