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Our Teachers
At Play House Development Center in St Johns, Joviette Bitter brings over 20 years of expertise as a registered Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher and a nurturing “second mom” to create a loving, educational haven for young learners. With a career spanning her time as Daycare Owner of Playhouse Daycare in Maple, Ontario (2006–2021) and her current role as Head Teacher at The Goddard School in St Johns since August 2022, Joviette excels at fostering growth in children aged 2.5 to 3 and beyond. Her warm, compassionate, and organized approach—praised by parents like Danielle H. and Vanida M.—helps children quickly feel at home, while her bilingual skills and knack for comforting little ones, as noted by her husband Ingmar Bitter, make her a natural “child magnet” who inspires trust and excitement.
Joviette’s teaching shines through her thoughtfully designed, age-integrated curriculum that weaves STEM, arts, and language development into daily activities like circle time, science and sensory play, and guided arts and crafts. Drawing from her decade-plus experience in Toronto, she balances structured lessons—teaching counting, the alphabet, shapes, and motor skills—with imaginative free play using blocks, puzzles, and outdoor adventures, sparking curiosity and independence. Her holistic approach ensures emotional well-being and academic growth go hand in hand, while her signature nutritious homemade meals—like her beloved spaghetti and meatballs, a birthday wish of a former student—fuel growing bodies with wholesome, delicious food that kids adore, as Meghan F. attests.
As a cornerstone of the Play House family, Joviette builds strong, collaborative relationships with parents, offering regular updates on their child’s progress—whether it’s a new word mastered, a craft created, or a meal enjoyed. Her ability to mentor assistant teachers, maintain meticulous records, and ensure a safe, compliant environment reflects her professionalism and dedication. Parents like Yasmine M. highlight how Joviette’s caring mindset provided stability for their son amid life changes, while her knack for resolving conflicts and planning enriching activities keeps children engaged and happy. With Joviette Bitter, Play House Development Center is more than a daycare—it’s a nurturing space where every child thrives, loved and inspired to reach their full potential.
Testimonials
Joviette is my son’s preschool teacher, which I’m so grateful for. She is warm, compassionate, calm, organized, and the children all adore her! She always has something fun and enriching planned and my son looks forward to going to school each day to see her. I know he is getting the best care possible with Joviette. I highly recommend her! - Danielle
Mrs. Joviette, She is an amazing person and has a lot of especial qualities such as caring , great educator , Bilingual, welcoming and accommodating person. Mrs. Joviette was my son’s babysitter/early years educator, we met Mrs. Joviette when my son was 4 years until he was 12. She is a wonderful, responsible, professional , thoroughly organized, loving and expert for caring about children. She knows exactly how to address the best possible solutions for any issues or conflicts.
I had the chance to spend some times with her and got a lot of health and cooking tips from Mrs. Joviette to help me with my busy schedule.
If you have the opportunity to hire Mrs. Joviette . I would strongly recommend that you do so. - Vanida
Amazing Mrs Joviette with so much heart and caring mindset. It was wonderful seeing our son get excited about going to the daycare especially when we’ve experienced so many changes in our life with immigration new city new house Joviette provided him with a secure and calm environment. Joviette had the skills to engage my son and develop his language and curiosity. I would never thank you enough because you made my son so happy and fulfilled. - Yasmine
Both of my sons had the privilege of attending Joviette’s daycare, and Joviette was like a second mother to them. She is the most caring and welcoming person, and always made my children feel loved and cared for. She took an active role in enhancing the children’s education by planning fun activities for the children to engage in. On top of being an amazing educator, Joviette always cooked nutritious (and very delicious) meals that my kids LOVED! We are beyond blessed to have had Joviette care for, and teach our boys and any daycare would be lucky to have her as a part of their team. - Meghan
As Joviette’s husband, I might be a little biased in her favor, but I am also privileged to know her better than anyone else.
Joviette has a natural gift of being a child magnet and comforter. Whenever we visit someone with children they want to be with her and she loves to play and care for them. Similarly, in our own home daycare, new toddlers acclimated very fast and almost immediately accepted Joviette as their second mom. They also enjoyed the routine she setup. It did not only include storytimes, guided arts & crafts, free play and meals, but also challenged them to early on do what they can for themselves, such as picking up spilled over food items, disposing of food in the food bin, and bringing their little plate into the sink, or cleaning up toys before getting new ones. Her stories, games and activities helped them to learn to count, identify shapes, know the alphabet, and develop fine and coarse motor skills. Her homemade meals are excellent. We even had a child who after graduating from our daycare had as her birthday wish to get Mrs. Joviette’s spaghetti and meatballs. And finally, Joviette is very skilled in comforting a child that is in pain or disappointed. I am often amazed to see how quickly she can restore a child’s good mood. - Ingmar
Philosophy
At Play House Development Center (PHD) in St Johns, our philosophy draws inspiration from Montessori principles, thoughtfully balanced with guided support to nurture young learners. We believe children flourish when given the freedom to explore their world, paired with the gentle structure that helps them grow. Led by Joviette Bitter, a registered ECE teacher with over 20 years of experience, and supported by her husband—a PhD-holding substitute teacher who steps in as needed—we create a warm, home-like environment where every child feels safe, valued, and eager to discover, never left too much on their own.
Our age-integrated approach unites children of different ages, fostering a vibrant community where they learn from each other. We blend STEM, arts, and language development into a rich mix of activities—hands-on science experiments, creative crafts, music, and outdoor play—igniting curiosity and building foundational skills like counting, communication, and motor development. We encourage independence through choice and responsibility, while teaching sharing, collaboration, and empathy through guided interactions. Nutritious, homemade meals, prepared with love, fuel their days and reflect our holistic commitment to their growth.
The PHD in our name stands for Play House Development, but it also hints at our deeper mission: sparking the intellectual curiosity that can light a lifelong path of learning. With a team that includes a PhD-credentialed educator, we understand what it takes to inspire young minds. As partners with parents, we share your child’s journey—every discovery, every friendship—through regular updates. In our intimate setting, we blend exploration with guidance, cultivating confident, kind, and inquisitive children, ready for whatever future they dream of, one joyful day at a time.
About our program
At Play House Development Center in St Johns, we provide a warm and welcoming home-away-from-home where our dedicated team creates a loving atmosphere for children to thrive. Nestled in a cozy, family-friendly environment, our home daycare is designed to nurture young minds with a focus on practical learning that sets us apart. With an intimate setting, we ensure each child receives personalized attention, fostering deep relationships between teachers and little ones, enhancing every learning experience, and building a strong foundation for a bright future. A standout feature is our commitment to providing nutritious, homemade food, prepared daily to fuel growing bodies and minds with wholesome goodness.
Our age-integrated curriculum weaves STEM, arts, and language development into a daily routine that strikes a balance between structured activities and free play, sparking curiosity and encouraging independence. Drawing from over a decade of experience in Toronto, our owner has crafted a program that replicates the nurturing home environment, maximizing each child’s developmental potential. From hands-on science experiments to creative arts and crafts, storytime to outdoor adventures, and delicious, healthy meals, we create a rhythm that keeps children engaged, safe, and inspired to explore the world, ensuring academic growth and emotional well-being develop hand in hand.
We understand that entrusting your child to someone else is a big decision, which is why we emphasize open communication with parents at Play House Development Center. You’ll receive regular updates about your child’s day—whether it’s their latest STEM project, a new word they’ve mastered, their favorite game, or what they enjoyed at mealtime. We’re not just a daycare—we’re a family, committed to helping your child flourish with the added comfort of nutritious homemade food, while giving you peace of mind in a holistic environment where every moment is an opportunity to learn and grow.