Patrizia Del Vasto has long had a dream of bringing education to those in need, and with the help of her daughter, Melisa, she’s proud to say a modern version of that dream is about to become reality.
The mother-daughter duo are set to be joined by local dignitaries as they host the grand opening of Mini Masterminds Child Care Centre at 2876 County Road 27 in Bond Head, from 12-2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, which will include snacks, refreshments, staff introductions, a tour of the historic building, plus gift bags for the kids.
“I want to give these moms a sense of being able to go to work and not fear if their child is being unattended or unloved,” Patrizia said, emphasizing she has always worked to ensure all children feel welcome no matter their shape, size or colour.
Those hoping to get a spot for children aged 18 months to six years will want to show up for the open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, when registration for the 46 spots available is planned to be done on a first-come-first-served basis.
Patrizia said they have already been “very blessed” by the number of people calling to ask about enrolment.
In addition to lessons about math, science, reading and music, Mini Masterminds follows a philosophy of Reggio Emilia, which focuses on student-centred, self-guided learning through exploration both inside and outside the classroom.
To that end, materials and toys are designed with multiple uses for children to discover, according to Melisa, who emphasized the importance of understanding children’s interests on which learning activities can be based.
“We like to gear ourselves to social emotional learning through play,” Patrizia said.
The pair emphasized how kids can learn to better manage their emotions by interacting with others and become more engaged in learning when employing all of their senses, whether they build up and tear down blocks or dig in the dirt.
Melisa learned about the Italian approach while training to become an early childhood educator (ECE), and quickly recognized the parallels to her mother’s own teaching style, as Patrizia has about 30 years of experience running her own home daycare.
“All my life I had so many friends around me and I was inspired by the love and the care she had for the children,” Melisa said.
She shared fond memories of everyone exploring the property which was “almost like a forest” where they could search for bugs or play in the mud.
At Mini Masterminds, the grassy outdoor yard filled with play structures and surrounded by trees offers a natural setting and is also just down the street from Bud Brown Park for even more outdoor opportunities.
Originally, the pair hadn't expected to set up shop in Bond Head, but happened to travel through town when Patrizia was struck with a sense of deja vu for when her own hometown of Nobleton was much smaller, and quickly became attached to one particular Victorian home which reminded her of the school house from the television series Little House on the Prairie.
The pair’s records show the building dates back to 1854 and they tried to retain as much of the historic charm as they could throughout the two-year process of converting it into a classroom of their own.
Patrizia even found an old pair of children’s shoes hidden in one of the walls, inspiring her to ensure the building remains a space for kids.
“This is a home,” Melisa said comparing the character of the building to more commercial builds. “The children automatically have a sense of belonging here.”
It’s not just the kids, though, as the pair plan activity days when parents would be welcome to join children in the classroom.
For more information visit minimastermindschildcare.com or call 416-949-5585.
