Caterpillars
Toddler Program
1½ Years to 3 Years
1:4 Ratio
Our Caterpillars Toddler Program, operates with a ratio of 1 Childcare Specialist to 4 children. In this low ratio setting, children show tremendous growth in various developmental areas including but not limited to: independent care, communication, self-control and artistic expression. These milestones are cultivated through daily routines like self-care tasks like: washing their own hands, cleaning up and putting away their toys after play time and even feeding themselves and subsequently clearing their own plates. When the children show signs of readiness, our toilet training process begins. Linguistic growth is not only achieved via story and circle time; in this child led environment our Childcare Specialists challenge our toddlers to advocate for their needs, for instance, having a child ask, “I’d like more snacks, please”, as opposed to just giving them what they might obviously want. Our Childcare Specialists also encourage and create activities conducive to the use of our children’s imaginations through dramatic play and art sessions.
Outside, our children are able to refine their gross motor skills through the use of age-appropriate scooters, trampoline, climbing dome and play structure with swings and a slide. In this outdoor setting the children have a lot of space to play individually or with friends.
Both in the classroom and outdoors, our children learn self-control as they are taught to respect others, while also being taught to advocate for themselves (when necessary), as their words have power.
Butterflies
Preschool Program
2 ½ Years to 5 Years
2:8 Ratio (Lead Teacher with Support Aide)
Our Butterflies Preschool Program is designed to foster both social and academic growth, as we prepare our children for Kindergarten and life. Socially, one of our core beliefs is one that is best expressed by Mohamed Safa of Switzerland that, ‪“If a child can do advanced math, speak 3 languages, or receive top grades, but can't manage their emotions, anger, practice conflict resolution or handle stress toward children from different religion, belief or civilization, none of that other stuff is really going to matter.” To foster this sense of respect for oneself as well as for others, our Childcare Specialists constantly encourage our children to use their words effectively and intentionally, to advocate for themselves as well as to resolve conflict with their peers.
Academically, our children receive daily lessons and activities including but not limited to: music, language, math, science and art. Our curriculum whether it be in the class or outside, is designed to provide our children with both independent and group learning experiences. Students will be challenged to think critically, hypothesize, ask questions and formulate theories based on hands on activities. They will enhance their cognitive skills through sequential tasks/directions and the use of memory-based games and curriculum, such as letter, shape, color and number recognition. While fine motor tasks such as tracing and writing ones name will be performed, a great deal of our engaging curriculum is hands on and fosters the development of hand-eye coordination.
Outside, our children are able to refine their gross motor skills through the use of age-appropriate scooters, trampoline, climbing dome and play structure with swings and a slide. In this outdoor setting the children have a lot of space to play individually or with friends.
Additionally, these outdoor activities will expose our children to the concepts of recycling, organic gardening, structured hands-on learning, unstructured play time as well as exposure to organized sports and games.
All the while, whether in the classroom or outdoors, our children learn self-control as they are taught to respect others, while also being taught to advocate for themselves (when necessary), as their words have power.
