A warm second home where little ones play, learn, and grow.
Hi, I'm Smita - a Level-3 certified childcare provider with 15+ years of caring for young children. Little Steps is my Alberta-approved licensed dayhome and preschool right here in Redstone Grove NE, NE Calgary - bright, safe, and full of curious little minds.
- ✓ Alberta-approved & licensed
- ✓ First Aid & CPR certified
- ✓ Bright main-floor space
- ✓ Healthy meals & snacks
- ✓ Affordability grant eligible
- ✓ Kindergarten wrap-around care
- ✓ We speak English, Gujarati, Hindi
15+ years
with little ones
Meet Smita
15+ years of caring for Calgary's little ones.
I'm Smita Bhavsar - mom, lifelong educator, and the heart of Little Steps. I've spent more than 15 years working with young children, and I opened this dayhome because I wanted every child who walks through my door to feel like family.
Our home in Redstone Grove NE is bright, safe, and full of the kinds of things little minds love - books and blocks, art and music, room to move, and quiet corners to rest. Most of all, it's a place where your child is truly seen.
Level-3 Certified
Alberta's highest standard of childcare certification - completed coursework in early learning and child development.
First Aid & CPR
Current First Aid and CPR certification, plus Alberta Health & Safety Basics for Child Care Providers.
Alberta-Approved
Licensed family day home with regular safety, health, and program inspections through Little Steps Academy.
Family-First Care
A small group means each child gets real attention - and you get a daily window into their day.
Our Program
Six things we do every single day.
Children ages 2 to 6 years learn best by playing, exploring, and being treated like the capable little people they are. Here's how our days are designed.
Creative Play
Art, crafts, music, and dance. Little hands love to make - and making is how they learn.
Early Learning
Letters, numbers, colours, shapes - woven through play so it feels like fun, not work.
Whole-Child Growth
Social skills, sharing, taking turns, big emotions - the soft skills that matter most.
Nourishing Meals
Home-cooked lunch and two snacks a day. Familiar tastes, fresh ingredients, no hidden surprises.
Cultural Activities
Songs, stories, and celebrations from many cultures - because the world is wider than one home.
Family Connection
Daily updates and an open-door policy. You'll always know how their day really went.
Kindergarten families
Wrap-around care for half-day kindergarten
Alberta kindergarten runs about three hours a day. Your kindergartener spends the other half of the day here, with the same routine, home-cooked lunch, and familiar face as everyone else. One honest note: we don't do the school drop-off or pick-up run, so families cover the trip to and from school.
Our Space
A bright, cared-for home - designed for little learners.
Main-floor living, tons of natural light, and thoughtfully arranged zones for play, learning, eating, and rest. Come see it for yourself - we'd love to give you a tour.
Want to see more? Book a no-pressure tour - call 403-918-8627.
A Day With Us
Predictable rhythms make for happy little people.
Children thrive on routine - they like knowing what comes next. Here's a typical day at Little Steps. Real days bend with the weather and the kids' energy.
- 01
7:00 - 8:30
Warm Arrivals
Quiet hello, breakfast time for early arrivals, free choice play.
- 02
8:30 - 9:00
Morning Snack
Fresh fruit and something to nibble before circle time.
- 03
9:00 - 9:30
Circle Time
Calendar, weather, songs, story, sharing - building the day together.
- 04
9:30 - 10:30
Learning Time
Letters, numbers, colours, shapes - hands-on activities that match the week's theme.
- 05
10:30 - 11:45
Outdoor Play or Gym Time
Big body movement, fresh air when the Calgary weather allows.
- 06
11:45 - 12:30
Lunch
Home-cooked, nutritious, and eaten together at the table.
- 07
12:30 - 2:30
Rest & Quiet Time
Nap mats out, lights low, soft music for the ones who need it most.
- 08
2:30 - 3:00
Afternoon Snack
Another healthy refuel before the second half of the day.
- 09
3:00 - 4:30
Creative Play
Art, crafts, music, dance, cultural activities - child-led discovery.
- 10
4:30 - 5:30
Wind Down & Pickup
Free play, tidy-up, and a warm 'see you tomorrow' for each family.
Simple, Affordable Rates
Quality childcare your family can actually afford.
Alberta moved to a flat $15/day fee for licensed child care. Because we're a licensed, funded program, your family simply pays the low monthly rate below - the same for everyone, with no income test.
Full-Time
$326 /month
5 days a week, Monday through Friday
- ✓ All meals & snacks included
- ✓ Full program & supplies
- ✓ Affordability grant applied
- ✓ No registration fees
Part-Time
$230 /month
Up to 3 days a week, flexible schedule
- ✓ All meals & snacks included
- ✓ Full program access
- ✓ Affordability grant applied
- ✓ No registration fees
What Parents Say
Families who already trust Little Steps.
"We cannot recommend this day home enough! Leaving our child here gives us total peace of mind every single day. The provider is incredibly loving, patient, and creates a safe, clean, and organized environment. Our little one gets so excited to go every morning. We have noticed incredible growth in their social skills and speech development since starting. They absolutely love the daily arts, crafts, storytime, and outdoor play in the backyard. Communication is always clear, transparent, and wonderful."
"Little Steps with Smita has been a wonderful experience for our family. Smita clearly puts a lot of thought into her program, from the daily routine to the healthy home-cooked meals, and it shows in how comfortable and happy our child is there. We also have friends whose kids have been going to her from when she worked at a different place. Now that she has her own day home, we highly recommend her."
"Smita is caring, patient, and genuinely invested in children's well-being. The home is always clean, organized, and welcoming. Smita plans engaging and fun activities for the kids, while creating a safe and nurturing environment where they can learn and grow. Her dedication and genuine care really make this day home wonderful."
"We are so grateful for the exceptional care our child has received from day one at Little Steps. The environment has been warm, safe, and welcoming. Smita is kind, patient and genuinely invested in each child's well-being and development. My son and daughter both enjoy going to the dayhome."
"Very good day care with home-like care from Smita. Highly recommend it for our little ones."
Reviews are copied from our Google listing, lightly trimmed for length. Read them all on Google.
Common Questions
What parents most often ask.
What ages do you accept?
We care for children ages 2 to 6 years - the perfect window for preschool-style learning and getting school-ready.
Are you licensed?
Yes. Little Steps is an Alberta-Approved Licensed Family Day Home, licensed through Little Steps Academy. We have regular safety, health, and program inspections.
What does a typical day look like?
Mornings start with warm hellos and free play, then we move through circle time, learning activities, outdoor or gym time, lunch, quiet rest, snacks, and creative play in the afternoon. Predictable rhythm, lots of room to be little.
Do you provide meals?
Yes - nutritious home-cooked lunch plus a morning and afternoon snack. All included in the monthly rate.
Do you accept the Alberta Child Care Affordability Grant?
Yes. As a licensed dayhome we participate in the grant. The rates we publish are already the parent's share after the grant is applied. Some families qualify for additional subsidies - call us and we'll help you check.
Is there a registration fee or waitlist deposit?
No registration fees of any kind. Currently enrolling - call or email to arrange a meet-and-greet.
My child is starting kindergarten. Can you care for them the rest of the day?
Yes. Alberta kindergarten is a half-day program, and kindergarteners fit right into our day for the other half - same routine, home-cooked lunch, rest, and outdoor time. We don't do the school drop-off or pick-up run, so families cover the trip to and from school. Tell us your child's class schedule and we'll be honest about whether it lines up.
What languages do you speak?
Smita speaks English, Gujarati, Hindi. Our program runs in English, and little ones who are still learning it are very welcome.
What if my child gets sick?
We follow Alberta Health Services guidelines for illness exclusion to keep every child safe. We'll let you know right away if your child needs to be picked up, and we ask families to keep little ones home when they're contagious.
Can I come visit before enrolling?
Please do! We strongly encourage a meet-and-greet so you and your child can see the space, meet Smita, and ask any questions. Call 403-918-8627 to book a time.
Which neighborhoods do you serve?
We're located in Redstone Grove NE, NE Calgary. We welcome families from Redstone, Skyview Ranch, Cityscape, Cornerstone, Saddle Ridge, Martindale, Taradale and the surrounding NE communities.
See how close we are to your community →Notes from Smita
Helpful reading for Calgary families.
Kindergarten is only half a day. What do you do with the other half?
Alberta kindergarten runs half days, and it isn't funded beyond that. What NE Calgary parents of 5-year-olds actually do with the rest of the day, and how wrap-around care at a licensed dayhome works.
Read note →SummerWhen the sky turns hazy: how we handle smoky days
Wildfire smoke is part of a Calgary summer now. How I check the air quality each morning at our NE Calgary dayhome, when we stay inside, and what an indoor day actually looks like for ages 2 to 6.
Read note →New FamiliesTears at drop-off are normal: our gentle plan for the first week
Starting a new dayhome and worried about separation anxiety? How we settle new little ones in at Little Steps NE Calgary, what really happens after you leave, and what helps in that first week.
Read note →Let's Meet
Ready to find your child a second home?
The best way to know if Little Steps is right for your family is to come see it. Call, text, WhatsApp, or email Smita to book a no-pressure meet-and-greet - bring your child along, ask anything.