If you’re a parent in Edmonton searching for a daycare that does more than babysit — a program that actually shapes how your child thinks, learns, and solves problems — you’ve probably come across the term NTC Learning. At Northtown Grand Daycare in Edmonton, NTC isn’t a buzzword on our brochure. It’s the foundation of how we care for and educate every child who walks through our doors.
This article explains what NTC Learning is, why it matters during the earliest years of brain development, and how Edmonton families are using it to give their children a measurable head start.
What Is NTC Learning?
NTC Learning is an internationally recognized, neuroscience-based educational framework designed for children from birth to 12 years of age. It was developed by Dr. Ranko Rajović, a medical doctor and member of the Mensa International Committee for the Gifted, who received the 2016 Mensa International Intellectual Benefit to Society Award for his work.
Rather than rushing children into early academics, NTC Learning translates the latest brain research into play-based activities that build the neural foundations a child needs for school, work, and life. The program is currently implemented in 17 European countries, accredited by national education ministries in seven of them, and validated through Erasmus+ programs and peer-reviewed research.
At Northtown Grand Daycare, we’ve brought this proven system to Edmonton because we believe every child here deserves the same advantage parents in Vienna, Stockholm, or Zurich already give theirs.
Why Early Brain Development Matters (The Science Parents Need to Know)
Inside every young child’s brain, billions of neurons are competing for dominance. The connections that get used grow stronger; the ones that don’t are pruned away. Most of this wiring happens before age 10 — and the most critical window closes even earlier, between birth and age 7.
This is why the daycare you choose in Edmonton isn’t a small decision. The environment, activities, and adult interactions your child experiences during these years literally shape the architecture of their brain.
NTC Learning is built around this scientific reality. The program targets the exact developmental windows when stimulation produces the biggest, most lasting cognitive gains — and it does it through play, not pressure.
The Three Phases of NTC Learning at Northtown Grand Daycare
Our Edmonton program follows the three NTC phases exactly as Dr. Rajović designed them, adapted for the age groups we serve.
Phase 1 Building Strong Neural Connections
The first phase strengthens the physical foundation of the brain through movement-rich, sensorimotor activities, including:
- Kinesiological exercises that cross the body’s midline
- Dynamic eye accommodation drills (essential for reading readiness)
- Balance, rotation, and coordination work
- Running, jumping, and outdoor barefoot play
- Fine motor skill development
Modern children spend hours sitting still and looking at screens. NTC reverses this by getting kids moving in the specific ways the brain needs to develop properly.
Phase 2 — Stimulating Higher Thought Processes
Once the neural foundation is in place, we layer in cognitive activities that develop:
- Abstraction — seeing the idea behind the object
- Visualization — building strong mental imagery
- Classification and seriation — sorting and ordering by attribute
- Associative thinking — linking ideas across categories
These are the building blocks of logical reasoning, mathematics, and language and they are best taught through games, not worksheets.
Phase 3 Developing Functional Thinking
In the third phase, children learn to actually use what they know. We introduce mysterious stories, puzzling riddles, and enigmatic questions that require children to:
- Combine information from different domains (convergent thinking)
- Generate original solutions and ideas (divergent thinking)
- Reason through problems with no single right answer
This is the kind of thinking that defines successful adults in any field and it can be deliberately cultivated from age three onward.
What NTC Learning Looks Like Day-to-Day in Our Edmonton Daycare
Walk into Northtown Grand Daycare on any morning and you won’t see rows of children at desks. You’ll see:
- Toddlers spinning, rolling, and climbing on purpose-built equipment
- Preschoolers playing traditional games like marbles, elastics, and hide-and-seek
- Children sorting, matching, and classifying real-world objects
- Small groups solving age-appropriate riddles and “mystery” stories
- Plenty of outdoor time and nature exposure, weather permitting
- Minimal to no screen time — Dr. Rajović is explicit that screens are a poor substitute for real play
We also use NTC’s gradual reward systems, which teach children to sustain attention and effort over time rather than expecting instant gratification a skill that has measurable effects on school readiness.
The Benefits Edmonton Parents Notice
Families who enroll at Northtown Grand Daycare consistently report changes in their children within the first few months:
- Stronger concentration and longer attention spans
- Better memory and faster recall
- Sharper problem-solving and logical thinking
- Improved emotional regulation
- Greater confidence in trying new things
- A genuine love of learning that carries into kindergarten and beyond
These aren’t just anecdotes. NTC outcomes are backed by peer-reviewed studies and nearly a decade of European implementation data.
How NTC Fits with Alberta’s Early Learning Framework
Some Edmonton parents ask whether NTC Learning conflicts with Canadian early childhood standards. The answer is the opposite: NTC enhances Alberta’s curriculum.
The provincial framework emphasizes play-based inquiry, holistic development, inclusion, and developmentally appropriate practice and every one of those values is central to NTC Learning. What NTC adds is a neuroscience-informed methodology that turns those principles into specific, measurable activities.
In other words: you get everything Alberta requires, plus a research-backed structure that very few daycares in Edmonton actually offer.
Why Edmonton Parents Choose Northtown Grand Daycare
Choosing a daycare in Edmonton is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your child’s first decade. Here’s what sets us apart:
- ✅ Trained NTC Learning practitioners on staff
- ✅ A neuroscience-based curriculum for ages 0–12
- ✅ Strong emphasis on outdoor play and nature
- ✅ Screen-free, movement-rich daily routine
- ✅ Aligned with Alberta’s early learning framework
- ✅ A warm, inclusive, family-feel environment in Edmonton’s north end
We’re not the right fit for every family and that’s okay. But if you want a daycare that takes brain development seriously and can explain exactly why we do what we do, we’d love to meet you.
Book a Tour of Northtown Grand Daycare
The best way to understand NTC Learning is to see it in action. Book a tour of Northtown Grand Daycare in Edmonton and watch how our educators turn ordinary moments into extraordinary brain-building opportunities.
📍 Serving families across Edmonton and surrounding communities 📞 +1 780 863-0677🌐
Give your child the science-backed early start they deserve right here in Edmonton.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is NTC Learning designed for? NTC Learning is designed for children from birth to age 12, with the most critical developmental window being birth to age 7.
Is NTC Learning available at other Edmonton daycares? NTC Learning is rare in Canada. Northtown Grand Daycare is the only centre in Edmonton offering a structured NTC-based program.
Will my child still learn letters and numbers? Yes, but through brain-friendly play, not flashcards. Children who develop strong cognitive foundations through NTC typically pick up academic skills faster when they enter school.
How is NTC different from a regular play-based daycare? Regular play-based programs let children play freely. NTC structures play around specific neuroscience principles, targeting the exact skills the developing brain needs at each age.
