What is the second language used?
The teachers only speak in Spanish unless explaining something complicated or solving a problem. The children understand by body language, following other children, and retaining words that are often repeated. Story time is in English.
How many kids does your childcare hold?
We take care of up to 12 children per day, so that each teacher can give individualized attention to up to 4 children.
What are the ages do you care for?
6 weeks - 12 years old.
Do you accept children with allergies, disabilities or disorders?
Of course! We will do our best to accommodate them with loving patience to make sure they are comfortable. Please instruct us specifically in writing of how we should care for your little one- and with good communication between us and yourself, you can rest assured.
Are they separated by age?
The children tend to gravitate toward the kids who are closest to their age, and the same ages usually end up playing together. However, we love when the older children guide the younger ones, and the younger children imitate the older ones' good examples. For teacher-led activities, we do divide the younger and older kids so that the lesson plan can be modified to benefit them best.
What is their routine?
As the children arrive one by one, they have free play indoors, where they can find toys and stimulating activities like reading, puzzles and coloring. Here they are encouraged to share and clean up after they finish with a toy. At 9:30am, everyone helps clean up and we sit for opening circle where we sing an interactive name song (in Spanish), talk about the daily theme, and read a book together. Then they all make their way to potty before having snack outside (weather permitting). Everyone has their own labeled cups. They sit at the tables outside, and we hand them their cups and snacks as they say Gracias or Por Favor if they want seconds. After they put their own cups and bowls away nearby, they go play in the fresh air running as fast they can. Soon, it is time for lunch- but first they go potty and wash their hands. We all sing a Spanish song which talks about gratitude for our food before we begin eating. After playing some more outside, they go potty and brush our teeth before naptime! We divide the children in two rooms, a teacher in each room helps them fall asleep by rubbing or patting their back or belly. When they wake up, they all go potty one more time before playing outside for the rest of the day. This is the time where we will do a creative teacher-led activity.
What are the teacher-led activities?
At Planting Dreams, we do things like arts and crafts, watercolor, painting, drawing, coloring, cutting, gluing, and more! We also have special guests 2-3 times per week who teach physical education, drawing, yoga, and music. Every week is a different theme, and each day is different. The lesson plan is e-mailed to you parents before the week begins.
How do you deal with children who miss their mommies?
This is common in our daycare at this age, and it can be heartbreaking for parents. But sure enough, after the parent walks away, the child becomes quickly distracted with friends and toys. Upon arrival, if your child is having a hard time, we will try to be gentle and use playfulness to carry him inside.
How is tuition handled for holidays or if my child is sick?
Full tuition is paid in both scenarios. Your child may attend if he or she has a cold. In this case, we will use tissues often, encourage to cover their mouth when they cough, and wash hands often. If the child has a fever, he or she cannot attend. If a child has a fever at the daycare, he or she will be asked to be picked up promptly and may return 24 hours after the fever has passed. If a child vomits at the daycare, the parent will be called promptly to retrieve your little one, and can return 24 hours later.
What is the sick policy?
Your child may attend if he or she has a cold. In this case, we will use tissues often, encourage to cover their mouth when they cough, and wash hands often. If the child has a fever, he or she cannot attend. If a child has a fever at the daycare, he or she will be asked to be picked up promptly and may return 24 hours after the fever has passed. If a child vomits at the daycare, the parent will be called promptly to retrieve your little one, and can return 24 hours later.
How do you respond to children hitting, scratching, pushing, pinching, etc.?
Firstly, we try to prevent this from happening by reviewing our group rules first thing in the morning, which state that if we are sad, angry, or have a problem, we 1) Use our words or 2) Tell the teacher. If a child does end up hitting, we ask the child who hit why he or she did that and what he or she should have done instead. Then we ask them to apologize to the child who was hit.
How do you discourage arguments between the children?
We like to observe the children while they play to catch things before they become a problem. The biggest cause for arguments in our daycare at this age is not sharing. During our morning rules we remember that sharing is caring and that we must take turns! In fact, if a child is having a hard time sharing, we give them 1 more minute before it's time to switch.
What do the children do during free play?
The children like to play with cars, bouncy balls, slides, swings, water, sand, rocks, houses, monkey bars, hoola hoops, bubbles, figurines, puzzles, legos, kitchenware, coloring, trains, dress-up, books, and so much more.
How do you handle injuries?
Both teachers are certified in First Aid, CPR, Universal Precautions, and Medical Administration. For emergencies, we will call 911 and then call you right away.
What kinds of food do they eat at your childcare?
We have a snack in the morning, lunch, and then a second snack. The snacks are usually crackers, string cheese, bagels or fruit. The lunch is usually rice and lentils, beans or tofu, macaroni and cheese, wraps or quesadillas, and more healthy meals. The menu is e-mailed to parents before the week begins.
How do you handle children who are not potty- trained yet?
Firstly, we ask that you bring us 1 or 2 change of clothes in a plastic bag that we will use if an accident does happen. Secondly, we can often ask the child if they need to go to the bathroom. When we are outside, we have a little potty that they can use if they do not have enough time to make it inside the house. Lastly, if we both think he or she is ready, we will sit them on the toilet so they can try to go potty in order to build that habit. We will then change the diaper if need be! Some of our kids only use underwear during naptime, and then they change back to underwear.
The teachers only speak in Spanish unless explaining something complicated or solving a problem. The children understand by body language, following other children, and retaining words that are often repeated. Story time is in English.
How many kids does your childcare hold?
We take care of up to 12 children per day, so that each teacher can give individualized attention to up to 4 children.
What are the ages do you care for?
6 weeks - 12 years old.
Do you accept children with allergies, disabilities or disorders?
Of course! We will do our best to accommodate them with loving patience to make sure they are comfortable. Please instruct us specifically in writing of how we should care for your little one- and with good communication between us and yourself, you can rest assured.
Are they separated by age?
The children tend to gravitate toward the kids who are closest to their age, and the same ages usually end up playing together. However, we love when the older children guide the younger ones, and the younger children imitate the older ones' good examples. For teacher-led activities, we do divide the younger and older kids so that the lesson plan can be modified to benefit them best.
What is their routine?
As the children arrive one by one, they have free play indoors, where they can find toys and stimulating activities like reading, puzzles and coloring. Here they are encouraged to share and clean up after they finish with a toy. At 9:30am, everyone helps clean up and we sit for opening circle where we sing an interactive name song (in Spanish), talk about the daily theme, and read a book together. Then they all make their way to potty before having snack outside (weather permitting). Everyone has their own labeled cups. They sit at the tables outside, and we hand them their cups and snacks as they say Gracias or Por Favor if they want seconds. After they put their own cups and bowls away nearby, they go play in the fresh air running as fast they can. Soon, it is time for lunch- but first they go potty and wash their hands. We all sing a Spanish song which talks about gratitude for our food before we begin eating. After playing some more outside, they go potty and brush our teeth before naptime! We divide the children in two rooms, a teacher in each room helps them fall asleep by rubbing or patting their back or belly. When they wake up, they all go potty one more time before playing outside for the rest of the day. This is the time where we will do a creative teacher-led activity.
What are the teacher-led activities?
At Planting Dreams, we do things like arts and crafts, watercolor, painting, drawing, coloring, cutting, gluing, and more! We also have special guests 2-3 times per week who teach physical education, drawing, yoga, and music. Every week is a different theme, and each day is different. The lesson plan is e-mailed to you parents before the week begins.
How do you deal with children who miss their mommies?
This is common in our daycare at this age, and it can be heartbreaking for parents. But sure enough, after the parent walks away, the child becomes quickly distracted with friends and toys. Upon arrival, if your child is having a hard time, we will try to be gentle and use playfulness to carry him inside.
How is tuition handled for holidays or if my child is sick?
Full tuition is paid in both scenarios. Your child may attend if he or she has a cold. In this case, we will use tissues often, encourage to cover their mouth when they cough, and wash hands often. If the child has a fever, he or she cannot attend. If a child has a fever at the daycare, he or she will be asked to be picked up promptly and may return 24 hours after the fever has passed. If a child vomits at the daycare, the parent will be called promptly to retrieve your little one, and can return 24 hours later.
What is the sick policy?
Your child may attend if he or she has a cold. In this case, we will use tissues often, encourage to cover their mouth when they cough, and wash hands often. If the child has a fever, he or she cannot attend. If a child has a fever at the daycare, he or she will be asked to be picked up promptly and may return 24 hours after the fever has passed. If a child vomits at the daycare, the parent will be called promptly to retrieve your little one, and can return 24 hours later.
How do you respond to children hitting, scratching, pushing, pinching, etc.?
Firstly, we try to prevent this from happening by reviewing our group rules first thing in the morning, which state that if we are sad, angry, or have a problem, we 1) Use our words or 2) Tell the teacher. If a child does end up hitting, we ask the child who hit why he or she did that and what he or she should have done instead. Then we ask them to apologize to the child who was hit.
How do you discourage arguments between the children?
We like to observe the children while they play to catch things before they become a problem. The biggest cause for arguments in our daycare at this age is not sharing. During our morning rules we remember that sharing is caring and that we must take turns! In fact, if a child is having a hard time sharing, we give them 1 more minute before it's time to switch.
What do the children do during free play?
The children like to play with cars, bouncy balls, slides, swings, water, sand, rocks, houses, monkey bars, hoola hoops, bubbles, figurines, puzzles, legos, kitchenware, coloring, trains, dress-up, books, and so much more.
How do you handle injuries?
Both teachers are certified in First Aid, CPR, Universal Precautions, and Medical Administration. For emergencies, we will call 911 and then call you right away.
What kinds of food do they eat at your childcare?
We have a snack in the morning, lunch, and then a second snack. The snacks are usually crackers, string cheese, bagels or fruit. The lunch is usually rice and lentils, beans or tofu, macaroni and cheese, wraps or quesadillas, and more healthy meals. The menu is e-mailed to parents before the week begins.
How do you handle children who are not potty- trained yet?
Firstly, we ask that you bring us 1 or 2 change of clothes in a plastic bag that we will use if an accident does happen. Secondly, we can often ask the child if they need to go to the bathroom. When we are outside, we have a little potty that they can use if they do not have enough time to make it inside the house. Lastly, if we both think he or she is ready, we will sit them on the toilet so they can try to go potty in order to build that habit. We will then change the diaper if need be! Some of our kids only use underwear during naptime, and then they change back to underwear.