My home is a safe, smoke free, loving environment with a good sized back yard. I offer balanced nutritious meals and snacks, exploration, outdoor play (weather permitting), indoor free play, nature walks and walks to the park ,art, cooking, group time (basic sign language, and some basic Spanish, colors, shapes, 123’s, ABC’s and their sounds, calendar, weather, songs, stories, music and movement, etc.). I also do a PRESCHOOL PROGRAM from September to June for ages 2 1/2 to 5 years and modify the curriculum for the younger children. We learn math, reading, writing, social studies, science, art, music, and movement through hands on play that teaches the concepts your children need to know by Kindergarten. I foster developmentally appropriate independence through potty training (no extra cost), teaching them to put on their own clothes, shoes, jackets, brush their teeth (before nap time), pour their own drinks, feed themselves, and "clean", etc.
Infants (0-18 months for licensing infants are 0-2 years old): Infants are held, taken on walks indoors and out, have floor time, and tummy time. I also sing to, read to, play with, teach colors and shapes, give sensory experiences, play music, do gentle exercises, and help infants explore their world. I begin to give them opertunities to explore art media at about 10 months (sometimes younger) starting with finger paint and crayons. I also teach infants basic sign language (ex. all done, more, drink, etc.) They usually start using these signs between 8 and 10 months (sometimes earlier). They make their own sleep and eating schedules. Outside they will be in my arms, on a blanket in the shade, or in a bouncer (when they are developmentally ready). Once they are crawling they are free to explore inside and outside. I do not keep a child in a pack and play for any reason except for sleeping. I always hold and interact with an infant while they are drinking a bottle. When they are on solid food I allow them to feed themselves if they want to. Feeding time is stress free and social for all children. At about 12 months (or when they begin to take naps at the same time as the older children) I begin to transition them from the pack and play to a sleep mat, but allow for naps in the pack in play at any time up to 2 years old.
Toddlers (18 months-3 years) : Pre-potty trainging begins between 18 and 19 months where I invite them to sit on the potty when I change their diapers. From 18 months on I look for what Maria Montessori calls a sensitive period for potty training (I discuss this more in depth with parents soon before we start pre potty training). When they begin going on the potty consistently it is time to talk about potty training. For most children this is right around their 2nd birthday. I teach colors, letters and their sounds, shapes, give lots of art crafts experiences, work on large and fine motor skills, teach concepts (ex. up and down, in and out, etc.), pre math skills, counting to 10, sensory experiences, music, dramatic play, flannel boards, finger plays, cooking experiences, science experiments, some spanish, and so much more.
Preschoolers (3 - 4 years): We continue to work on the above skills, they begin to work on simple graphing, nonstandard mesurement and other pre math concepts; recognizing numbers 1-10; learn about different cultures and their customs; some history (like who is Abraham Lincoln), introduce the life cycle of frogs, butterfly, etc.; begin to encourage pre writing and letter writing ( I never push them to do this), use Starfall.com and MECS for begining phonics (only if parents approve computer use); and so much more.
Pre Kindergarteners (4-5 years): Again we work on the above skills; work on addition and subtraction with maipulatives; work on writing letters and numbers (encouraged and never pushed); learn numbers 11-20 if they are ready; begin to teach reading with phonics (if they want to and are ready); use Starfall.com and MECS for phonics (only if parents approve computer use); work on getting ready for Kindergarten; and so much more. I always encourage and never push the children. Pre kinders ,like any age, learn at their own pace.
School Age Children (Kindergarten and up): I take school aged children (Kindergarten to 2nd grade) during the summer, their days off, holidays, and vacations that I am open. At this time I do not transport children to or from school. During the summer we do the "Summer Bridge Activities" workbook. It is designed to keep children practicing what they have already learned and gets them ready for the next grade. It is full of math, reading, writing, and science worksheets and activities. It is a 6 week program that takes 15 to 20 minutes per day. We also play games, do art and crafts, take walks to the park and open space, music, water play, and more summer fun activities and themes.
All Children no matter their age or ability learn through play, having fun, and doing. Learning is not rushed or pushed. No child learns the same way. I strive to follow the child and treat and teach each child as an individual. Most children will not be doing acual math or reading before kindergarten. I do not discourage a child's desire to learn beyond their "age level" (this goes along with following the child). Every child in my care is special, loved, and part of our family.
I use some of Maria Montessori's ideas in my child care, but I am not set up like a Montessori school. I focus on the whole child and what works for our home. I have learned that there is not one perfect way to teach and so I do not limit myself to Montessori or any other philosophy. I love to reasearch and learn and that is reflected in my way of teaching the children.
Summer: During the summer we have water play and starting in June through August the children get into their swim suits and get really wet in the little wading pool, water table, and sprinklers. Our group times are also shorter during the summer so we can have more time outside exploring and having fun. We will have more time at the park, special lunches in the back yard or at the park, longer nature walks, and the water table will be out daily (depending on the weather). Lot's of fun summer activities inside and outside.
Toddler and Preschool Daily Schedule (September through May):
7am children begin to arrive; 7:30am - 8am breakfast; 8am-8:30am free play (potty time and check diapers); 8:15am - 8:30 am group time; 8:30am- 9:00am pre-school activities; 9:00am snack (potty time and check diapers); 9:30am-10:00am more pre-school activities; 10:00am (potty reminder and check diapers); 10:15am-10:45am outside; 11:00- 11:30am Lunch; 11:30am to 12 noon free play; 12 noon (sometimes a little later) story time; 12:30pm-1:00pm nap or rest time; 1pm-3pm continue nap or quiet activities; 2:30pm or when they wake up snack (potty time and diapers when they wake up); 3pm-3:30pm free play; 3:30pm-4pm outside (during warm weather we may stay out until 4:45pm). When we come in we will go potty and change diapers and do free play or watch a movie or show. 5pm closing (any children after 5pm will do what the family is doing (watching children's programs, coloring, playing, etc.) at 5:30pm any children that are still in my care will get a snack.
The daily schedule is flexible according to the children's activity level, mood, interests, and weather. Summer and warm days we spend a lot of time outside and our schedules are very flexible.