Empower Simcoe is excited to begin inviting families back into the EarlyON Child and Family Center for Stay, Play and Learn! Limited sessions begin Tuesday October 6^th at our EarlyON Child and Family Centre locations in Barrie and Bradford. Many protocols have been put in place to support the safety and well-being of children, families, volunteers and our employees. Space is limited – Click here to register now.

We will continue to offer virtual registered programs and new content will continue to be posted on our YouTube channel. If you have questions please contact us at facilitator@empowersimcoe.ca

EarlyON Child and Family Centres

Formerly the Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC)

The EarlyON programs at Empower Simcoe are built on four foundations: Belonging, Well-being, Engagement and Expression, which promote the healthy development of children and provide parents and caregivers with support to ensure their child and family have the resources needed to raise healthy, thriving, resilient children.

The EarlyON Centres, formerly OEYC’s, offer families/care providers with children prenatal through 6 years, a range of core services which can assist them in their parenting or caregiving role as well as provide a safe environment where children can experience a variety of learning activities and practice new found skills. The activities provided for the children include creative experiences, science and math experiences, circle time, snack time, activities that promote literacy and experiences that promote social and emotional development. The environment is well equipped with age appropriate materials and furnishings that contribute to the overall learning experience.

Social Distancing may have physically distanced us but it has not prevented us from connecting with each other:

Would you like to have a conversation with an EarlyON Program Facilitator?

You can reach out to talk to us, by emailing us at: facilitator@empowersimcoe.ca. Let us know what you would like to chat about, and one of our fabulous Program Facilitators will get back to you to start a conversation. Perhaps you would like to discuss some strategies for sleep or mealtimes. It could be that you are wondering about new activities to offer your toddler or preschooler. Maybe you have questions about your child heading to school in the fall, or you are a new or expecting mother wondering about ‘what’s next’. Or maybe you are looking for resources in your community.

Baby Smiling at camers | Ontario Early Year Centre | Simcoe Community Services

IN-PERSON PROGRAMS

VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

Young child playing with bubbles outside | Simcoe Community Services

HOURS, LOCATIONS AND CALENDARS

HELPFUL RESOURCES

GRANDPARENTS PARENTING AGAIN

OEYC | Ontario Early Years | Simcoe Community Services

EARLY LITERACY

BABY BYTES

INDIGENOUS EarlyON

For parents and care providers, EarlyON offers developmental screening for children, information and referral to a variety of supports and services, a parenting resource library, a wide range of workshops, newsletters and a friendly atmosphere that fosters networking among parents and care providers.

A toy lending library is located at the Barrie EarlyON Centre at 129 Ferris Lane, Barrie. A variety of age appropriate toys, including a special toy selection for children with special needs is available for loan to families, care providers and child care centres.

The EarlyON Satellite Centres are informal drop-in programs for families and care givers of children ages 0 through 6 years. They are located throughout Barrie, Innisfil and the Bradford area primarily in libraries, community centres, churches and non-profit housing sites.

The EarlyON Child and Family Centres serve as a gateway for parents and caregivers to get answers to questions they may have as well as information on available programs and services for all children prenatally through 6 years of age. All programs provided at or through the EarlyON Child and Family Centres are free of charge and funded by The Ministry of Education to allow for universal access.