Program Goals
INFANTS (6 weeks -18 months)
* Care for infants in a warm, affectionate way, and to let each child know that he or she is a special person. This includes the physical affection and cuddling that is so important at this stage of development.
* Meet each child's physical need completely.
* Implement and adhere to strict sanitation procedures.
* Provide opportunities for exploring, learning, and social interaction through a wide variety of daily activities.
* Prepare activities to stimulate the senses; recognizing that infants learn through the use of their 5 senses.
* Create a stimulating environment that provides opportunities for small group and one-on-one interaction between children and teachers.
* Provide opportunities for the use of large and small motor skills both indoors and outdoors.
TODDLERS (19 months - 36 months)
* Provide a loving, caring environment where affection is freely given.
* Instill in each child a feeling of autonomy and a positive self-concept.
* Provide a joyful, enthusiastic and spontaneous approach with the children.
* To meet each child's physical needs completely.
* Establish the foundations for respect of equipment and others belongings.
* Provide for language development that is so important at this stage.
* Make available a large variety and quantity of materials on the shelves and in the classroom, at level of the children (manipulatives, dramatic play, pull toys, water table, blocks, books).
* To provide ample opportunity for use of gross motor skills.
* Provide a variety of activities that begin to introduce the curriculum areas of art,science, cooking, social studies, dramatic play, manipulative activities, language, large motor, music and movement.
* Be supportive of parents, encouraging involvement and open and honest communication, while using tact and discretion.
* Develop staff potential through proper supervision by making expectations clear, following through to see that expectations are met, and utilizing staff input and their abilities.
* To develop self-help skills in order to create a feeling of independence and confidence in each child (this can be done through toilet training, dressing and undressing themselves, and letting them help in the kitchen or set up activities throughout the classroom.
* Provide care in smaller sub-groups in order to give each child more personal attention, to prevent under and over stimulation, to allow more freedom of choices, and to maintain a more relaxed atmosphere.
* To encourage social development through cooperative play.
* Facilitate a positive and healthy transition into a preschool program.
PRESCHOOL AND PRE-K CLASSROOMS (3-6 years)
* Provide a warm, affectionate, and genuine atmosphere that lets each child know that he or she is a special person.
* Promote emotional growth.
* Build self-confidence and a sense of self-worth by allowing choices within limits to build on successful experiences.
* Provide an accepting environment for each child to learn, work, and play in.
* To encourage curiosity and a sense of wonder with emphasis on self-motivation.
* To promote social growth.
* To develop a sense for caring for, and sensitivity towards others.
* Recognize group needs vs. individual differences.
* Promote intellectual growth.
* Develop a sense of curiosity.
* Provide an atmosphere where children discover and explore.
* Provide independence through teaching how and where to find solutions to basic problems.
* Provide a wide variety of activities within a routine where cooperative play is encouraged and the following curriculum areas are implemented:
math,science, cooking, music and movement, large muscle, practical life, dramatic play, fine motor activities, and language arts.
Through these activities children will learn to
be able to trust their own feelings about what they learn, see, hear, and do, and
* Promote physical motor development.
* For children to use their bodies in a variety of active ways by participating in fine and large motor activities both indoors and outdoors.
* Establish respect for equipment and materials.
* Establish and implement an observation system.
* Provide a relaxed, loving, and clam atmosphere where self-concept is enhanced, independence and choices are encouraged, and self-discipline is gained in an environment where the child knows the limits and expectations.
* To develop in each child an appreciation for beauty and nature.
* To make available a large variety and quantity of materials, on shelves and in the classrooms, at the levels of the children.
* Facilitate a healthy and positive transition into kindergarten and the primary grades using screening and early intervention techniques as necessary.
ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS
* Establish an awareness among staff that always provides for a safe environment for all.
* Provide consistency between childcare and home care practices that will be most beneficial to the infant and will offer the parents an opportunity to influence the level of care their child receives.
* Establish an observation system in which records on children's development are kept and to provide annual progress reports to families.
* Be supportive of families, encouraging parent involvement and open, honest communication.
