Middlesex EarlyON Programs

Middlesex EarlyON programs are free for caregivers and children from birth to six-years-old. Our centres are open to all families. These programs are welcoming spaces that offer:

Play-based learning opportunities that allow children to develop their social and emotional skills, reach developmental milestones and begin their journey of lifelong learning.
Opportunities for sensory play, creative art, music and movement, language and literacy, science and nature, dramatic play, active play and problem solving.
Fun and interactive activities including storytelling, songs and games.
Opportunities to connect and network with other caregivers and families.

Our EarlyON facilitators can support caregivers with:

Answers to questions about child development and parenting.
Information about services and supports available from local community agencies.
Connections to other children's programs in the community.

Contact Information: earlyon@middlesex.ca or 519-666-3227

For more information: Visit the Middlesex Family Connections EarlyON page or the Middlesex County Library EarlyON website (external link).

Play and Learn

Play & Learn is a drop-in play-based learning opportunity for children 0 to 6 years of age and their caregivers. Activities planned by EarlyON facilitators encourage interaction and inspire play and learning. Circle time (songs and stories) at the end of program. Check out the Play & Learn program promotional video (external link) for a sneak peek at what the program offers!

Registration or Drop-in: Drop-in

Program Details: Each program is 2 hours, typically offered in the morning. Programs are offered in several locations across Middlesex County throughout the year.

For more information: Visit the Middlesex Family Connections EarlyON page or the Middlesex County Library EarlyON website (external link) for more information on days, times and locations.

Ready Set Learn

Ready Set Learn is a 4-week program that provides children and their caregivers with a learning experience that will support a successful school start. Each week activities are offered that help children develop skills and behaviours important to the school transition. This program also offers free play using creative materials and toys and a circle time (songs and stories) and a healthy snack. Caregivers can engage in conversations on a variety of learning and development topics with an EarlyON Facilitator trained in Early Childhood Education.

Check out the Ready Set learn program promotional video (external link) for a sneak peek at what the program offers!

Registration or Drop-in: Registration. For Middlesex County residents only.

Program Details: Each program is 4 sessions, 2 hours each, offered over 4 consecutive weeks. This program is offered through January to April each year. This program is intended for children entering Kindergarten. Programs are offered in several locations across Middlesex County. Call or email to inquire on days, times and locations.

For more information: Call 519-666-3227 or email earlyon@middlesex.ca to inquire.

Bounce Back and Thrive

Do you have a child starting kindergarten? Do you have concerns about your child’s self-regulation skills i.e. ability to regulate reactions to strong emotions like frustration, excitement, anger and embarrassment, or the ability to calm after something exciting or upsetting, or being able to focus on a task?

Bounce Back & Thrive!ᴼᴹ (BBT) is a resiliency skills training program designed to meet the needs of parents (and those in a parenting role) of children under the age of 8. BBT helps parents gain self-regulation and thinking skills that increase their capacity to provide caring relationships and role model resilience-building skills in daily interactions with their children. Then, it shows parents how to directly introduce basic resiliency skills to children, and that helps children bounce back and thrive.

BBT is an interactive program delivered through information exchange, hands-on activities, video clips of parents and children, discussion and skills practice. BBT uses a relationship-based, cognitive-behavioral and social problem-solving approach combined with self-regulation strategies.

Registration or Drop-in: Registration. For Middlesex County residents only. If space permits, residents outside of Middlesex County can be registered.

Location: Virtual

Program Details: Each program is 10 sessions of 2 to 2.5 hours, each offered virtually in the evening over 10 consecutive weeks. This program is offered in the fall and spring each year.

For more information: Call 519-666-3227 or email earlyon@middlesex.ca to inquire.

Open Spaces Outdoor Adventures

Enjoy free play and adventures in learning in the great outdoors. Child(ren) take the lead in these nature-based programs. A circle time (songs and stories) is offered at the end of program. Best suited for children 2 to 6 years of age, but children from 0-6 ages welcome.

Check out the Open Spaces program promotional video (external link) for a sneak peek at what the program offers!

Registration or Drop-in: Registration. For Middlesex County residents only.

Program Details: Each program is 2 hours in the morning. This program is offered through May to October each year in several locations across Middlesex County.

For more information: Call 519-666-3227 or email earlyon@middlesex.ca to inquire.

Other EarlyOn Programs

A variety of other indoor, outdoor, and virtual programs are also offered throughout the year. Please refer to the Middlesex County Library online Event Calendar (external link) or call 519-666-3227 or email earlyon@middlesex.ca to inquire.

Child Developmental Screening and Support

Did you know that regular developmental screenings after 1-month of age are encouraged? Middlesex EarlyON Facilitators are available to support caregivers in completing a child development screen and identifying areas for education or need for follow-up. Caregivers can have their questions answered regarding topics such as Physical Growth, Social/Emotional Development, Motor Skills, Language Development and more.

The Looksee® Checklist can help monitor a child's developmental progress. There is a checklist for 13 key stages of development, from one month to six years of age. Middlesex EarlyON Facilitators can support families in completing, understanding results and providing information to support child development.

The Ages & Stages Questionnaires® can also help caregivers monitor their child's developmental progress. It is a more comprehensive tool that is parent completed and then scored by a trained professional. This questionnaire goes from 1 month to 66 months of age and covers 5 areas of development. Middlesex EarlyON Facilitators are trained in the use of the ASQ®. The team is also trained in the use of the Social-Emotional ASQ® questionnaire. This is a highly reliable tool focused solely on social-emotional development in young children. It is tailored to identify and exclusively screen social and emotional behaviors.

For more information: To connect with an EarlyON Facilitator, call 519-666-3227 or email earlyon@middlesex.ca.

Ready Set Learn Virtual Classroom

The Ready Set Learn virtual classroom houses instructional videos and resources to support at-home learning. The resources in this classroom aim to parallel the experience of our in-person program. Videos and activities aim to help your child develop skills and behaviours important to the school transition. The classroom also includes parent information.

For more information: To access the classroom, call 519-666-3227 or email earlyon@middlesex.ca.

Ready Set Learn Star Chart

A sample of activities that aims to support children in developing various skills for kindergarten (letter/shape/colour/number recognition, fine motor & creative, social & emotional, literacy)

Ready Set Learn Start Chart