In Moncton, N.B., a Salvation Army-run childcare centre provides high-quality care to children from six months to 12 years old. Small Blessings Early Childhood Development Centre offers a range of educational programs that align with the mission of The Salvation Army, blending child development practices and faith formation.

Small Blessings opened its doors in 1989 as a response to a pressing need for childcare centres in the community. Over the years, it has grown to accommodate this demand, undergoing a significant expansion in 2015 that increased their capacity from 50 to 163 children.

“Small Blessings exists to provide a wholesome, safe and happy learning environment for all children through modelling the example of Jesus,” says Jennifer Duncan, executive director. “In all our classrooms and programs, our main focus is to lead by Christ’s example.”

A Faith Focus

As a ministry of The Salvation Army, Small Blessings is rooted in a foundation of faith and this is reflected in their teaching curriculum. On Fridays, the kids participate in chapel where they learn about Jesus and sing songs. Major James Anderson, corps officer at Moncton Citadel Community Church, often steps in to facilitate services for the children.

“We show and teach them the love of Jesus, and we always make sure they know that they have a friend in Jesus. It’s one of the songs that we sing in chapel,” says Duncan.

“We say grace before all of our snacks and meals, and we always try to teach Christian lessons,” Duncan adds. For example, alongside the fun activities of Christmas and Easter, the children are taught that these holidays are about Jesus and why they are important to Christians. “We are very open about it in our programs. We welcome any child or family into the centre, but when we take parents for a tour, we tell them we are a Christian centre and explain what this means for their children.”

For Erika Thebeau, a mother of two children who attend Small Blessings, her family chose thischildcare centre because of the Christian atmosphere. “We are so thankful for a daycare thataligns with our family values and beliefs,” says Thebeau. “It is an extension to our Christian home, and we are grateful for the positive lessons that are taught.”

While the centre maintains its Christian identity, it also welcomes children and families from all walks of life, including those for whom religion is not a part of their lifestyle. “Often, it is the children who introduce it to them,” says Duncan. “I have had conversations with parents who don’t practise religion, but their children will sit at the dinner table and ask to say grace.”

According to Duncan, this opens a door for parents to take interest and participate in events such as Christmas Eve services at Moncton Citadel Community Church. The childcare centre has an important partnership with the corps, and this helps introduce families to Christ and the work that The Salvation Army does in the community.

Teaching Community

Another pillar of the curriculum at Small Blessings is an intentional focus on community and giving back. They engage children in community service activities, such as collecting food for the food bank and supporting the Army’s community and family services in Moncton.

Small Blessings looks forward to resuming many of the community activities that the children enjoyed prior to the pandemic, such as visiting Peoples Park Tower, a seniors’ complex located across the road from the daycare. During visits, the kids would colour pictures, sing songs and put on talent shows for the seniors. At Christmastime, they would deliver cards and go carolling for the residents. “We teach our kids the importance of giving back, and it’s those kinds of things that really touch people in the community,” says Duncan.

“Our eldest, who is five years old, was recently a part of a giving-back initiative where each month, the educators would find out what items were most needed by families in the community, and the children and families would help collect donations,” explains Thebeau. “The children were able to witness the overflowing baskets of offerings and felt a sense of generosity and pride for what they accomplished. Small Blessings arranged to have a representative from The Salvation Army come and see the children and collect the items, and on occasion, the children even delivered the items themselves to The Salvation Army.”

A Nurturing Environment

For Duncan, who has a degree in teaching and began working at Small Blessings 26 years ago, early childhood education is a personal passion and Small Blessings is a ministry that is close to her heart. “We have such a great impact on these children at a young age—and not just the children, the whole family,” she says.

The team of early childhood educators at Small Blessings offer expert childcare focused on physical, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual development. The curriculum allows children to progress through programs at their own pace in a safe, nurturing and supportive environment.

“It’s important to me that our educators are always engaged with the children,” says Duncan, who mentions that Small Blessings has a “no phone” policy to ensure that the focus remains on intentional interactions with the children. “The community notices. When they go on walks, our educators talk with the kids about the trees and the squirrels, and people have commented how nice it is to see that.”

Like every parent, Thebeau knew that deciding who to trust with her children was not a decision to take lightly. “Small Blessings is a welcoming environment,” she says. “The staff go above and beyond to plan fun and meaningful activities for all the children. It is easy to see they are passionate about their work, and they model what it means to follow Jesus and give back to the community.”

Thebeau also recognizes the significant focus on family at Small Blessings. According to Thebeau, the staff organize special events to include mothers, fathers and grandparents into the activities and education of the children. “We have been part of an afternoon of family painting, reading and tea parties,” she says. “They all hold special memories for us.”

As the demand for high-quality childcare continues to grow, Small Blessings has a waitlist of more than 170 children. Together with the staff, Duncan looks forward to continuing to work together with the community and other Salvation Army services in Moncton to meet needs and offer the best childcare possible to children and families.