Okotoks Daycare, a childcare centre designed to nurture, inspire, and prepare children for the future, has just opened its doors in January 2025. What sets the centre apart from the very many new and old child care centres in town are the following
- Motto : Bringing Branded Quality with the Comfort of Home. The team at Okotoks Daycare strive to maintain a very home-like environment at the centre while bringing to the children and parents a quality that is many times associated with the bigger and more expensive brands
- Curriculum : Okotoks Daycare offers a unique approach to child development by blending proven methodologies like Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Emergent, to ensure every child thrives in a safe, engaging environment. The focus for the tiny tots is on developing cognitive, sensory and motor skills through touch, feel, sight and smell. For the preschoolers and kindergarteners, Okotoks Daycare follows a structured curriculum while integrating methods from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and other evidence-backed methods of education. This fusion of learning philosophies helps create an environment where children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills—tools they’ll carry into the future.
- Experienced Staff : Okotoks Daycare is proud to have an experienced team of educators who come with years of experience in the childcare industry, caring for all ages of children from infants to kindergarteners. They have gone to great lengths to choose staff members and who go to great lengths to ensure that a child’s transition and time at the centre is happy and memorable. Tammy Cotton the director of the centre, alone, comes with 15+ years experience educating, caring and developing children in Diamond Valley.
- Nutritious meals : Meal preparation at the Okotoks Daycare is a production in itself. From carefully curating a menu every week that is nutritious and follows the Canadian food guide to making it visually appealing, Tammy Cotton, the director takes great pride in a preparing food that caters to a child’s 4 sense – Sight, Smell, Taste and Touch. Many of the items such as Banana bread, mini egg muffins, granola bars, is made inhouse to ensure the centre’s control over ingredients and place of preparation.
- Well Lit Spaces : The centre prides itself in its brand new space that offers kids with well lit and large open spaces, whether it is indoors or outdoors. Parents and children, alike, enjoy walking through the facility and catching sight of toys that are sometimes favourites at home. The wide array and selection of age appropriate toys and books set this centre apart as they are procured locally as well as from all over the world.
According to Vidya Venkatraman, the owner of Okotoks Daycare, “As a mother whose kids have gone through the daycare system, I felt it was unfair for parents to have to make choices while looking for child care – Is a small home based care more appropriate or do we need something that provides more of a social aspect for the kids? Is Montessori the right fit for my child or is it Reggio Emilia? Being a parent, no matter which time it is, is an overwhelming experience and having to decide for your kids before you have got to know them better yourselves, is a pressurizing task. When I decided to open a daycare, I wanted to address some of the concerns with how things stood today. This is what gave birth to Okotoks Daycare; A centre that doesn’t make you choose. Our ratio of teachers to students is more that what is norm as we want to make sure that each child feels attended to. Every working parent’s focus when choosing a childcare is that your child will be safe, however, every parent’s secret hope is that your child will be loved. That love, over and above the fundamentals of a safe environment enriched with play, learning and nutritious food, is what we strive to provide at the Okotoks Daycare”
Each stage of a child’s early years is catered to with specific programs designed to meet their developmental needs.
- Infants (6 months to 15 months): Dedicated caregivers ensure your baby feels safe and nurtured while introducing activities like sign language, outdoor exploration, and creative play to encourage sensory and motor development.
- Toddlers (15 months to 3 years): This program helps your curious toddler explore new skills and build relationships through interactive learning, daily reading, and art activities.
- Preschoolers (3 to 6 years): With an emphasis on STEM learning, literacy, and independent thinking, the preschool program prepares your child for the exciting transition to kindergarten. Confidence-building activities and creative exploration are at the heart of this program.
The daycare also emphasizes one-on-one engagement, ensuring every child receives personalized attention while they learn and grow.
From the thoughtfully designed indoor spaces to outdoor discovery areas, Okotoks Daycare ensures your little learner feels right at home. The facility meets and exceeds all safety standards, so you can have peace of mind knowing your child is in good hands.
With limited spaces available, now is the time to act. Whether you’re seeking full-time or part-time, Okotoks Daycare has a flexible program to fit your family’s needs. Visit the website to register your child and join the growing community of families who are excited to give their children the best start in life. You can schedule a tour, ask questions, and learn more about how Okotoks Daycare can become a part of your life.
Okotoks Daycare strives to create a foundation where children flourish emotionally, socially, and intellectually. From their first steps to their first words, your child’s milestones will be met with nurturing support and enriching opportunities. Click here to learn more.
