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June 9, 2025
News
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Little Beginnings Urban Oasis (LBUO) Childcare is upping its game by offering much more than just “fun and games” with its new and extensive Sensory Project.
Located at TIES’s (The Immigrant Education Society) Whitehorn location, LBUO recently celebrated one year in operation. Over this past year, it’s been committed to welcoming all children and celebrating their uniqueness and diversity.
LBUO believes its Sensory Project (projected to be the largest in Calgary) will greatly expand on that, offering a plethora of learning tools in every classroom at the centre!
“We installed the tools, the sensory equipment, in each and every room based on their (the child’s) age,” Centre Manager, Raghda Abouelfetouh says.
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“We know each child is unique. Each child has their own culture background. We believe that one size cannot fit all. That is why we offer this sensory environment.”
The Sensory Project aims to entertain and educate. It’s also designed to meet the child “where they’re at”.
“We are very well aware of our children, age, stage of development,” Abouelfetouh points out.
“We are not expecting infants, toddlers, or preschoolers to let you know and verbalize, ‘Oh, I’m dysregulated, I need to calm down.’”
“They have lots of power and energy, but they don't really have the words.”
The “infinity tunnel” is just one tool that can help that. It’s a tunnel equipped with lights that move faster and get louder the faster and louder the child talks or makes sounds.
“It encourages the toddler to be loud – yes!” she says. “We want the child to be vocal. We want them to express their sounds. This is a way we’re going to work on their literacy, their cognitive and other skills.”
The “blackboard with different coloured pegs” introduces children to patterns and helps them with numeracy and basic math skills.
The “busy board” has multiple fabrics, textures, sounds and activities to stimulate multiple senses.
“It’s unfair to give the same information, with the same tools, with the same medium to different people. It doesn’t make sense.”
Sensory tools are also a great benefit to newcomer children, those who immigrated to Canada and are both new to the culture and the language.
“Can you imagine, if you're not speaking English or English is maybe your second or third language?” she asks. “We notice, after our observation, that children feel naturally motivated to be vocal in English.”
LBUO parents say they’ve already seen a difference.
"It helped her develop her motor skills,” Pragatima Pun, mom to Garima says. “She gets really excited to enter the room and doesn't want to leave."
"They love the colors especially! When the teachers turn off the lights, they get excited,” Naeema Mousa, mom to Rana & Amer gushes. “Rana calls it rainbow."
"Everything is very nice & good. Yorica is very interested & it helped her improve socially. It keeps her busy," parent Eyob Negasi adds.
Sensory materials have become more common in schools and daycares largely because “sensory development” is more crucial than ever.
These sensory tools are no longer just for kids with special needs or with neurodivergent conditions. The materials have now evolved to being essential for helping every child explore, learn and develop essential skills.
Abouelfetouh says exposing all children to sensory play is vital, adding many children in Alberta are not eligible for any kind of “official” learning assessment before the age of three.
“More than 90% of the brain of the human actually develops before three years,” she points out.
“So, can you imagine how many opportunities we are losing? How much we are holding the children development back? Can you imagine wasting three years?”
The majority of the funding for the Sensory Project was made possible thanks to a Government of Alberta Affordability Grant.
An investment in the future, Abouelfetouh is confident will pay off.
“When we’re working with children – these are the new generation.”
Additional Resources:
Little Beginnings: Big Happenings at TIES Childcare Centre
Media RSVP, Interviews & Inquiries:
Tomasia DaSilva
Media and Relationship Strategist
Email: tomasiadasilva@immigrant-education.ca
Phone: 403-291-0002
Get involved with TIES on our social media platforms.
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