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Child Care

Children under the age of 12 can't be left alone at home or care for younger children, according to Canadian law.

Parents often require someone to take care of children while they go to work, attend classes or look for a job. Understanding the child-care system in Ontario will help you decide the type of care that suits your needs.

Kingston offers a range of services for children, including full-time daycare, part-time daycare, home daycare and nursery school. Some families hire a licensed child-care worker to come to their home.

Kingston is also home to child-care centres that encourage children to speak different languages, such as French and Spanish. Many elementary schools also offer before- and after-school care that allows parents to drop off their children early and pick them up later in the day. Many daycares accept children who have special physical needs or disabilities.

Newcomers enrolled in Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programs may be eligible for free on-site child care while they take language training classes.

The City of Kingston maintains an up-to-date list of home child-care programs and daycare centres that operate within the city (see For More Information links below). It is important to contact daycare centres and put your child on their waiting list as soon as possible, as daycares often have long waiting lists, especially those for infants (up to 18 months).

For More Information

Language Training
An introduction to government-funded Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programs with links to pamphlets on how to find them in your community.

Child Care
Information about child care in Ontario, how to choose the right kind of care, paying for child care, child-care fee subsidies, finding care for children with special needs.

Nursery School and Before & After School Programs
List of nursery schools, recreation programs and schools that provide before and after school programs. Links to another list of child-care centres in Kingston that offer subsidized spaces.

Childcare Programs
Information about assistance with child-care fees in Kingston, who is eligible and where to apply.

Child Care Guide
An introduction to child care in Kingston, list of child-care providers, eligibility for subsidized child care and links to other helpful resources for parents and children.

Childcare Providers
City of Kingston list of daycare programs and home child-care programs available in Kingston.

Limestone Advisory for Child Care Programs
Online newsletter for participants in Ontario Early Years Centre programs. Contains information about upcoming events, creative play activities and tips about quality child care.

Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services
General information for parents on adoption, child care, early childhood programs, financial help, school snacks and meals, special needs, youth opportunities and other topics.

Children (Ontario Immigration)
Information about pre-school and child-care programs in Ontario, introducing a child to daycare, child-care options, Early Years Centres and financial assistance for working families.

Mes services en français! Kingston (Ontario)
A listing of various social and family services for francophones in Kingston. Services include child development, early childhood centres, education and public health, counseling, homelessness domestic violence, etc. Available in French only.

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