Circle Time
Circle time is a crucial part of our morning. It's a way to come together as a school family. We greet each other and sing our Good Morning song. We then move into the calendar, counting and discussing the important days of the month. We sing the Days of the Week and Months of the Year songs, as well as talk about the current season.
Academics
We are proud to be partnering with an educational consultant to further our academic learning. Effective Child Care Services has always worked on early childhood pre-academic skills. We are now incorporating an age appropriate curriculum and learning centers into our daily schedule to fully engage children in their individual learning needs.
Music and Movement
Music is a vital part of early childhood development. Even the youngest of children can relate to and appreciate music. Not only do movement activities provide an excellent source of physical activity, but it can also be used to help children communicate their thoughts and needs. When movement is paired with singing, children are offered multiple modes of learning. During the day, our children are provided with various music and movement activities, including Zumba and Yoga.
Table Top Toys
Table top toys include a variety of puzzles, pattern blocks, beading and lacing activities, Play-Doh, and collections of objects, such as plastic eggs and buttons. Students can sort, classify, and investigate patterns with the various objects, which build their math and problem solving skills. This is also a fantastic way for them to build their fine motor skills, which involves small muscles in the hands.
Building Center
The building center is an important part of toddler development. It's an open-ended play center that lets your child create whatever they wish using a variety of materials such as blocks and Legos. The beauty of this center is that there is no right or wrong way to build. Some children may start with an idea and try to make it come to life, while others just begin putting pieces together and create something brand new.
Arts and Crafts
Allowing children multiple opportunities to work with various art materials offers children the chance to experiment with color, shape, texture, and design. When paired with academics, art provides them with a kinesthetic outlet to not only learn new material but practice previously learned skills as well. It's also a great fine motor activity! As children engage in art activities, they develop an awareness to a variety of sensory experiences. Art is also a wonderful way for children to express themselves. Through their art, children express how they feel, think, and view the world. Art is an outlet that allows children to convey what they may not be able to say with words.
Outdoor Fun
Children need a chance burn their energy. It is a very important part of their development. We have a very large outdoor space, filled with a variety of equipment that provides children a chance to run, jump, climb, balance, swing, slide, and ride. Our outdoor space has play houses, ride-on-cars, a swing set, airplane seesaw, and climbing dome. During the warmer months, it also has a bounce house, splash pad, water tables, and sandboxes.
Meals
Meal times are a great way for children to learn how to eat in a group, how to practice manners, and to helps them to try new foods! They also learn some responsibility and gain a sense of purpose by helping to clean up after. Breakfast, lunch, and two snacks (one morning and one afternoon) are provided daily.
Nap Time
Nap time is a time to rest the mind and body. Although we encourage nap time, we do not enforce it. We understand that all children fall asleep differently and welcome blankets, pacifiers, or other sleeping materials that bring comfort to your child and will help them to relax. During nap time we play soft, relaxing music to help children drift off to sleep. In cases when children do not want to sleep, a quiet activity such as reading books is provided.