tenant profile STUDIO 123 EARLY LEARNING CENTRE Studio 123 Ityou've ever walked the halls of 401 Richmond, you've probably noticed the echoes of children laughing, squealing, babbling, and playing. Those are the familiar sounds of Studio 123 Early Learning Centre, 401's on-site daycare, Studio 123, lo fed adjacent to the courtyard, where: the children take their reces: in 1998, largely under the re opened at 401 Richmond ‘ommendation of former ‘onant, and renowned early childhood specialist, Dr Fraser Mustard (his portrait, by John Scott and Deborah Waddington, hangs in the 3rd floor stairwell), Musta at 401 until he passed away in 2014 was a champion for Early Childhood Education (ECE). who had his offices and shed light on the importance of the first six years of life, Mustard approached 401 founder, Margie Zeidler with the idea to put a daycare in 401 Richmond, and with help from The Canadian Mothercraft Society and generous support from numerous private donars (many hem tenants of 401), Studio 123 was able to open its doors to families in the 401 community. Studio 123 Supervisor, Sandy Jackson explains that the services at Studio 123 are similar to those at any quality childcare service. Children range in age from infancy to ur years, and a team of dedicated ECE sta’ clas key caregivers for the children, The foundational work of Dr. Mustard acknowledged the changing socioeconomic. context that requires many parents to work full-time, and he identified the need for quality supplemental caregiving. The first six yea are crucial in human social and cognitive development — neurons are firing constantly, and key connections need to be formed between them in the brain. Armed with this knowledge, the staff at Studio 123 work closely with parents to help develop and nurture a range of skills in the children. A major focus, Sandy explains, is helping the children to sel regulate, both their behaviour and their emotions. They leatn skills ranging from putting on their own shoes, to solving conflicts with friends. These skills are fostered through positive interactions with nurturing caregivers, play-based learning, and strong connections with families, The Studio 129 team provides an environment where lent. children feel loved, safe, and co (One unique aspect of Studio 123, Sandy points out, is its context within 401 Richmond. Its location ensures that children benefit from a safe, supportive community together with an education enriched by the arts. Access to the various art galleries and tenant studio spaces means children are exposed from a very young age to the joys of art. Visits to Musideum (Studio 133) mean impromptu music lessons and sing-alongs, while visits to Esmeralda Enrique's Academy of Spanish Dance (B104) come with flamenco lessons! Special programming is also provided by local artists and musicians, who are invited on a regular basis to work with the children and guide their artistic growth Sandy laughs when she shares the story of Studio 128’s, very own “house band”, who often grab the tiny musical instruments kept in the play room, and perform on the tiny stage for the other children, There's also no doubt the 401 community benefits in-turn from the daycare; the daily sights and sounds of happy children melt many hearts and bring smiles to many faces. For more information on Studio 128, ple ntact Sandy Jackson at sandyjackson@studio1 23.org, Left to right: Arani Sivalinganathan, Katherine Flores, Michelle Magalhaes, Misbah Hussain, Sarah Liu, Sandra Simon, Sandy Jackson, Mary Jane Refuerzo, Sadaf Walid, Yuen Shan So