Baby to Tot Guide

Your baby should receive their first eye exam between six and nine months of age. Many vision problems can be detected at this stage and the earlier a condition is caught, the higher the chance of correction. If vision problems go undetected, young children may not even realize that anything is wrong because they assume that everyone sees the same way they do. There is Alberta Health coverage towards annual eye exams for children until their 19th birthday.

Use your free Calgary Public Library card for access to programs, books, movies, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and online resources for the entire family. Students can access free online tutoring with Brainfuse, prepare for tests and final exams with Solaro, and receive personalized, librarian-endorsed book recommendations from Beanstack. Head to your nearest library location for free drop-in programs including School Support, where trained volunteers help with language arts and math assignments, and Math Quest, where students explore the library while completing numeracy challenges

Many parents want to breast or chest feed their babies, but some stop sooner than planned. Connecting with La Leche League Canada (LLLC) can make the difference to reaching your breast/chest feeding goals. LLLC Calgary offers support and information by email, over the phone, or at virtual (and in-person) monthly meetings. Check out lllc.ca/find-group-alberta or phone 403-242-0277 for more information or assistance; Facebook, facebook.com/lalecheleaguecanada; and Twitter, twitter.com/LLLCanada.

The Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network provides free resources and helpful, reliable information for individuals with a Learning Disability and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as for those who live, play, and work with them. The Network is a collaborative group which fosters action towards meeting the needs of people with LD/ADHD. This non-profit operates through Foothills Academy and is supported by the Calgary Foundation. We're here to help!

NorthernStar Mothers Milk Bank is Canada's only community-based milk bank. Operating as a charitable organization, NorthernStar accepts donations of excess milk from approved donors to be pasteurized in our laboratory. Milk is then dispensed to sick babies in hospitals and at home. We believe, and science supports, that human milk is the best option for any baby and that all babies have the right to the life-saving nutrients of pasteurised donor human milk.

Post Natal Helpers Ltd. provides part-time child care services for families with newborns, toddlers, preschoolers, and/or special-needs children. While we are in the home, the parent has the option to stay to rest or to leave. Post Natal Helpers are available in the daytime as well as evenings and weekends.

ROKband Pediatric HeadShape Clinics specialize in the education and prevention of baby head shape asymmetry. Our clinics have a specialized staff that is trained to deal with cranial issues only which means that each family that comes through our doors is on the same journey. We offer two free visits – one initial assessment and then a rescan to track, if required. We are Canada's largest HeadShape clinic boasting the world leading technology, products and training. We've recently had an independent study (published) showing ROKband has (by far) the least side effects associated with treatment. Come for your free assessment today!

Banbury Crossroads School is the oldest self-directed learning school in Calgary. We offer collaborative education from Jr. Kindergarten through Grade 12, we are very proud to offer class sizes averaging eight students per teacher. Our school is a safe, caring environment with bright, engaging teachers. We value mutual respect, communication, and understanding rights and responsibilities. We excel at meeting students’ individual needs, and we develop self-confident learners who are globally aware, resilient, and motivated. Choose to Succeed at Banbury Crossroads School!

Offering Joyful Beginnings (up to 18 months old), Parent and Tot (18 months to three years old), Jr. Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 through 9. Central to Waldorf education is a deep respect for childhood. Our enriched curriculum is designed to meet children’s specific developmental needs. Movement and time in nature is built into every student’s daily rhythm. The Waldorf learning experience is hands-on, with low-tech classrooms. The arts – music, story, drawing, painting, and drama – are interwoven through all subjects.

Preschoolers love to be active and creative – they run, jump, sing, leap, and paint at every opportunity. Our preschools are in recreation and nature facilities, where kids will spend time each day in a gym, outside, or in an art studio. Our programs, designed for children two and a half to five years old, promote learning through play, art, nature, and educational themes using a variety of resources and amenities under the guidance of our experienced instructors. Registration for our 2023/2024 school year begins in February. Visit us online at Calgary.ca/preschool to learn more.

A Calgary’s Child Parents’ Choice Award winner for "Best Preschool" and "Honorable Mention" for 15 years! We offer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), Jolly Phonics, Learning Without Tears curriculum, weekly Music classes, Science experiments with Captain Science, Spanish classes, daily gym equipment and games, creative movement, and yoga. Our literacy-rich program includes an author of the month study, author readings, journaling, and a home reading program. We have a monthly virtues program, environmental awareness program, outdoor education, cultural and art presentations, and class field trips. Register for two-day preschool (for three year olds); two-, three-, or five-day Jr. Kindergarten (for four year olds); or Kindergarten.

Fueling Brains Academy (formerly Kids U) is an early learning preschool and childcare centre with 8 locations across Calgary and Saskatoon. Our unique 3-in-1 learning program allows us to build executive functions and whole brain development. We offer care for Infants (zero to 19 months), Jr. Preschool (19 months to three years), Preschool (three to five years old), and Kindergarten (five years and up).

Our preschool has been established for more than 30 years. We offer a learning through play program for three to five year olds, offering two, three, and five half-day programs. Caring, qualified teachers (two teachers per class) provide a happy, stimulating environment for children to learn and play. We offer a non-volunteer program, but parents are always welcome in our bright and cheerful classroom. We supply a healthy snack and water. The facility is equipped with a large gym, where we play games and use a variety of gym equipment for the last 15 minutes of every class. A Subsidy Program is available.

Kids@ Churchill Park is proudly in our 52nd year of offering accountable, trust-based early learning and child care to Calgary families. With eight different programs in the city, we have options for everyone including part-time care, out of school care, and Family Day Home options. Kids@ Churchill Park has been Calgary’s best-kept secret for over 50 years! Join our family and experience the difference that loving and compassionate care makes.

We are a non-profit, community-based preschool with Christian values offering an affordable and well-rounded program for children from 33 months to five years old. We believe that a balance of child-directed and purposeful play helps children grow and develop.

Lycée international de Calgary was established in 1966. The Lycée is Calgary's premier French school. Our full-day preschool program allows your child to learn French, socialize with others, and acquire the basics of learning, reading, writing, numeracy. Maximum 16 students per class. Each class includes a certified teacher and assistant. Teachers are certified by the French Ministry of Education. No prior French is needed to enroll. Before and after-school care available. Break week and summer child care available.

Check the website for specific locations in the Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest.  Offering three program types: Pre-Kindergarten (for ages three to five, an early literacy preschool program combining learning and play, with options for two or three half-days per week); Kindergarten Enhancement (half-day child care programs for Kindergarten students); and Out of School Care (for Kindergarten to Grade 6).

River Valley School is an inclusive independent school providing exceptional education and character development to children in preschool (age three) to Grade 6. Students are immersed in play, inquiry, and project-based learning that challenges them to question, explore, and create! Our adaptive model of educational delivery supports different learning styles to ensure that each individual student flourishes.

Two great locations in Chestermere & Riverview.  Shift work?  No problem.  Hours are 6 a.m. to Midnight, 7 days-a-week!  Cityscape location opening Fall 2023. Government subsidies and affordability grants accepted.

Educating preschoolers for over 33 years, The Think Sun Preschool offers an enriched learning program including art, music, play, and intro-French. The playroom is a vital part of the program and is where your child will develop social, decision-making, and independent judgement skills and have fun while learning. Your child will graduate as a confident learner prepared to read and write, ready for kindergarten. Registration is ongoing. Virtual Tours and Zoom meetings are available. Please call 403-240-4466 to arrange an appointment.

Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) is a play-based, emergent curriculum preschool designed for children ages three to five with locations in Bowness, Renfrew and Penbrooke. Our program offers your child a safe and stimulating learning experience, involving a great deal of both indoor and outdoor play. Your child will have fun learning in a variety of ways – through play and exploration, books and sensory experiences, listening and creating, all while our team focuses on building relationships and social emotional learning.

University Heights Preschool is a parent-run, affordable, community-based preschool that offers a safe and engaging play-based learning environment for preschool aged children in Montgomery and surrounding communities. Our Preschool provides a caring, inclusive, community-focused and play-based environment where children build confidence, develop friendships and discover a love of learning. Daily activities include singing, reading, crafts, circle-time, physical education and free play both within the classroom and outdoors. Visit our website for more information.

Help your child discover the joy of learning in our well-rounded preschool programs. Your child will enjoy story time, art, drama, music activities and lots of time exploring and getting active at the Y. Some programs include a YMCA swim lesson. Our play-based curriculum introduces children to physical activity, literacy, mathematics, and science. Your child will gain physical literacy and friendships while becoming school-ready! Register for a winter, spring or fall session.

YW Childcare is a safe and flexible daycare located in a new state-of-the-art centre in Inglewood. Our licensed and accredited facility offers full-time, part-time, and drop-in spaces for children up to 5 years old. We believe in quality childcare that encourages your child’s individual development, emphasising creative play and child-centred activities. Register today at ywcalgary.ca/childcare

For over 42 years, StoryBook Theatre has been entertaining families from all over Calgary with our award-winning professional, quality shows.

Trico Centre for Family Wellness wants your family to be #tricotough and active! Come swim with us in our wave pool with waterslide, water features, hot tub, and steam rooms. Huge, clean fitness centre, bright pool, hockey arenas. We offer activities for all ages!

Create, connect and explore at Vivo; north-central Calgary’s place to skate, swim, learn, dance and play! Join us for family fun with a wide variety of unique and innovative programs and activities. Get active, get healthy, and do it together! Visit vivo.ca to discover something new today!

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is the perfect venue for your child’s next birthday bash! What better way to celebrate their big day than with their closest friends and favorite animals too? Best of all, you just need to book and show up! All of our birthday packages have been created to save you both time and money.

Our passionate, expert instructors will help your child learn a sport, get better at it, and develop a lifelong love for being active. Ages three and up.

We're excited to welcome you back! YMCA Calgary has seven health and wellness facilities, six child development centres with licensed child care, two outdoor camp sites, and over 60 community program sites serving all quadrants of the city. These spaces and programs allow YMCA Calgary to deliver programs, services, and opportunities to help the Calgary community connect with others, build lifelong skills, and keep active and healthy.

Established in 1991, Alberta Ballet School is recognized as one of Canada’s leading professional dance schools. As the official training school for Alberta Ballet, we provide a harmonious balance of academic and artistic training to young dancers aspiring to have a professional dance career. Artistic and academic faculty work in unison to ensure student success while fostering a positive, healthy, and inclusive environment.

Do you have an animal lover at your house? Want some darling birthday photos? Invite some very special guests to your party! We can bring our baby animals for a visit or even our UNICORN for rides! Convenient bookings online at our website.

Dinosaur walks, virtual reptile shows, reptile show-and-tell birthday parties, and more! Reptile Parties are structured to appeal to different age groups and sizes. Kids meet up close with cold-blooded animals, such as friendly bearded dragons, amazing frilled dragons, colorful geckos, incredible snakes, and even tarantulas and scorpions! They may even come face-to-face with Faith, the eight-foot plus suriname red tailed boa constrictor!

Calgary Young People’s Theatre is proud to present drama Classes for youth ages four to 17! Join us as we explore exciting theatrical techniques and skills through various dramatic exercises and games. Our classes provide a unique opportunity for kids to build confidence and teamwork skills, all while having fun!

With hundreds of affordable, active, and creative programs, you will find something for everyone in your family. We offer a safe, non-competitive environment where children and adults can explore new activities, make friends, and develop new skills and interests in a safe environment. Choose from swimming, fitness and wellness, visual arts, skating and hockey, sports, outdoor programs, day camps, and more! Proud to be the recipient of "Best Programs for School-Aged Children" 2023 Parents’ Choice Awards!

Flip Factory offers classes in gymnastics, trampoline, circus, parkour and ninja warrior training. We welcome toddlers through to adults and beginners to professionals. We also do birthday parties, sleep-overs, school field trips, cross training for skiers, snowboarders & dancers, summer camps and drop-in for tots. We’re centrally located and easy to reach from Deerfoot Trail and 32nd Ave. Connector NE. There’s something for everyone in your family at Flip!

Flying Squirrel is true fun for the whole family where the rules of gravity no longer apply! Form your own extreme dodgeball team, slam dunk like a pro, practice your best aerial acrobatics, and much more! We are Canada’s premier destination for Birthday Parties! Our parties include setup, cleanup, and everything in between, with two locations in Calgary!

Your preschooler will gallop, skip, spin and jump all with a huge smile on their face in WeeBop™!

Glenmore's preschool gymnastics program is designed to be fun and engaging for those kids aged 2 to 3 years. For our two year olds, we offer a Parent and Tot program. At age three, the young gymnasts can start in the semi-parented Preschool program.

This is the perfect birthday party for kids of all ages!  Your guests can spend the entire day roaming, climbing, sliding, jumping, zip-lining, and much more in 11 over the top fun exhibits!

Take a step back in time at Heritage Park. Ride the authentic steam train, enjoy the antique midway, set sail on Calgary’s only paddle wheeler and more! With over 180 exhibits situated on 127 acres of pristine land in the heart of Calgary, Heritage Park is the perfect place to create your own historic memories.

When you attend a Celebrations Junior Show, you get all the excitement of live theatre and a delicious 3-course lunch, but in a kid-friendly environment.

Kodály Music Explorers program for children ages three to seven offers a fun-filled approach to your child’s music development. Using the child’s own instrument, the voice, children learn songs, rhymes, and musical games to acquire knowledge, skills, and a love of music. You will be thrilled at how quickly your child can progress and parents have tons of fun, too!

Long & McQuade Music lessons for every age, level, and style. At Long & McQuade, we believe every person is capable of acquiring the skills and knowledge required to make playing a musical instrument a rewarding activity. We have a wide variety of carefully-chosen professional instructors offering year-round music lessons. Private and semi-private lessons, and several group programs such as "Rock Skool" and preschool classes available.

Come see for yourself how Master Rim’s TaeKwonDo can help you and your child enhance self-esteem and physical conditioning in a safe, fun, and disciplined environment! Canadian National Team Head Coach, Master Rim, and award-winning instructors will help your child to enhance real-life skills.

With the expert guidance of our team, your child will enjoy hands-on activities in all areas of our spacious facility: gym, pool, park, and classroom. Some of the activities your child will experience include swimming, track and long jump sand pit, Ninja Chamber, as well as an introduction to sports like basketball, badminton, floor hockey, and soccer.

From pattycake to Mozart, we have something for every little human in your life. Newborn and up.

Celebrate your child’s birthday at our exciting indoor climbing centre. This unique party experience will actively challenge your group in a safe, fun, and encouraging atmosphere. For an extended party, the option of adding swimming in our pool is also available at no extra charge during open swim times. For full details and to fill out our online booking request form, visit our website.

Engage in early brain development with the violin, ukulele, piano, drums and vocal training. Use a variety of instruments to explore the alphabet and numbers.

Make your child’s birthday party extra special. Richard can present a 30- to 45-minute show with comedy, audience participation, and jaw-dropping magic. Suitable for ages three and up, Richard will tailor his show to the age of your birthday child.

Rocky Mountain Diving Club (RMDC) offers recreational Learn-to-Dive and pre-competitive programs for ages four and up. 

With 350,000 square feet of space and over 15,000 weekly users, the Spray Lake Sawmills Centre is a tremendous facility for all members of the community and surrounding area. SLS Centre includes three NHL Size Ice Surfaces, Jayman BUILT Aquatic Centre, and many spray features that will give your children hours of entertainment!

Since 1994, Amaranth has provided the best in healthy groceries and supplements. We have everything you need from allergen-friendly choices to hard-to-find bulk herbs and spices. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our friendly staff. Thanks for supporting us, Calgary!

At Beaners Fun Cuts, our experienced stylists give the whole family great hair in a fun-filled atmosphere. Maybe it’s the themed chairs, movie screens or lollipops but we love kids, and they love us. We also offer clipper art, ear piercing, up-dos, braiding, baby’s first haircut with a certificate, and professional hair care products. Book online at one of three Calgary locations. Experience our haircuts!

Planning a birthday party could mean a lot of running around - especially if it means a lot of kids running around. That’s one of the reasons why we offer everything you need under one roof. At the Real Canadian Superstore, you can pick up the cake, the cake platter, the party platter, the party decorations, the party favors, and maybe even a party outfit for yourself because at these prices, it doesn’t need to be your birthday to treat yourself! Not just a store. Superstore.