Panda Bear Children's Place

Our daughter currently goes there. She is 4 and loves the daycare the staff are friendly and allow the kids to be kids while still maintaining some structure. They do lots of art and outside time. They also bring in guests for the kids as well (magician). They incorporate a little bit of SEL and yoga as a regulation tool.

We are very happy with the care our 2.5 year old son has been receiving at Panda Bear Children’s Place. Laurie, the teachers, and the other caregivers have been amazing in helping him to acclimatize to attending “school” (as we call it).

The children follow a pre-school curriculum in the morning, led by a qualified teacher. Our son comes home daily with new learnings, singing new songs, and arts and crafts. The staff also put concerted effort into providing special experiences like “Dinosaur Week”, or “PJ Day”. They spend a considerable amount of time playing outside — a mix of free play and organized games and learning — our son absolutely loves it!

We have quite high expectations for the standard/quality of care we want for our son. He had been used to having the attention and care of a nanny prior to our move to Port Moody, so this transition could have been a disaster if not for the individualized care and consideration provided by the Panda team. We give Panda our highest recommendation:)

Amazing daycare! Such a fun setup, cozy for the kids and inviting for play and learning. I'm amazed by all the things my son comes home with knowing (days of the week, learning about space, counting, etc.). It reminds me of that daycare in Toy Story 3 but without the mean toys.

Panda is an absolute treasure! The teachers are fantastic! They do their job with love and their gentle and supportive approach helps children thrive. They do different activities each day that teach children important skills for school and life. Panda offers a great balance between play and learn in a fun and caring environment. My son was always happy on school days and proudly talked about "his Panda school". He loves it and we do too.

I have had three kids attend Panda Bear Preschool program and they have all loved their time here. The teachers are great and teacher turnover rate is very low. The teachers are patient and will meet your child where your child's at, as opposed to trying to push them into participation. This is important because each child is different and the Panda Bear Preschool staff ensures a supportive and caring environment for each individual child.

The centre uses a play based system, where a variety of activities are set up and the children can explore various activities at his or her own pace. That's not to say the teachers are hands off. They are most certainly hands on and will encourage children to explore and learn, but will not pressure the kids if they didn't want to. I really like how they focus on developing the child's social skills: how to be a good friend, using our words to resolve conflict, understanding the child's own emotional landscape, etc.

The centre itself is spacious with lots of room for play. They also have an outdoor playground.

The only thing I'd wish they would improve on is their website to be honest! More up to date, current info about the field trips or an email list with reminders would be nice!