Starting Kindergarten
Children may start kindergarten in September of the year they turn five years old. If you feel your child is not ready, you may defer their enrollment for up to one year. If your child is entering kindergarten, there are many ways that you can support their transition.
The years before Kindergarten:
BC's Strong Start program is designed for younger children (aged birth to five years) and their parents. It provides a rich learning environment centered around language, physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Qualified early childhood educators lead learning activities where children find opportunities to make friends and interact with others of similar ages.
In the Strong Start program, parents participate with their young child in play-based early learning activities, including stories, music and art.
At no cost to families, this early learning drop-in program helps prepare children for success in Kindergarten. The Strong Start program in Port Moody is located in Seaview Community School.
Play-based learning:
Children’s play experiences have a profound impact on all areas of their growth, learning, and development. Play Today: A Guide for Families describes ideas and examples of quality play experiences that can be offered to preschool and school-age children by their families and caregivers. This guide puts a focus on play-based learning for children from age three to eight (approximately Grade 3), and includes examples of a range of play experiences that benefit children’s learning.
