EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT CENTER
@ Gaston College
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Daily Program All classrooms provide an environment that is warm and affectionate and meets individual needs of children and families. Children are observed on an ongoing basis to determine developmental progress and to provide an individualized program. The children are transitioned to the next age group dependant on age and developmental readiness. Weather permitting all children will enjoy outdoor time. Parents are required to bring an extra change of clothing suited for the season and any other personal items small enough to fit in the child's cubby to make the child feel at home. If a child comes to the center, the child must be able to fully participate in all activities. Our policy states that if the children are well enough to come to school, they are well enough to go outside. It is impossible for the child to remain indoors while the rest of the children go outside.
We believe that discipline is a way of achieving an expected behavior. Classrooms are set up to encourage appropriate behaviors from all children. Praise, positive reinforcement, and redirection will be used to reinforce acceptable behavior. Children are given the opportunity to make choices for their own behavior. We intend to use natural and logical consequences to work with children as a result of their choices. Corporal punishment at no time will be used. Discipline in no way will be related to food, rest, or toileting. Parent conferences will be scheduled, as needed, to work together as a team on the child's behavior. As a last resort, "time out" will be used.
Since infants and toddlers learn through use of their eyes, ears, fingers, sense of taste, and smell, a wide variety of sensorial experiences will be provided. An infant feeding schedule needs to be provided for each child 15 months or under and updated regularly. Parents are required to bring in bottles (labeled with child's name and dated each day), food, diapers, and wipes. Parents should also bring crib sheets, blankets and bibs. When a child begins eating table foods, parents should check the posted menu daily.
The two year old class provides an environment that is structured into activity centers that gives the two year old an opportunity to explore. Group times are set up to stimulate the child's language skills and to learn basic concepts of life. Self-help skills are encouraged in all children and appropriately modeled by all teachers.
Children learn through being involved in the activity areas in the classroom and through small group and one on one activities with the teachers. The child's social skills are developing as he/she interacts with his/her peers. A strong emphasis is put on the importance of the child as an individual and his/her level of development and growth. The preschool rooms provide a curriculum where the children are engaged in activities and the adults are readily available to offer assistance and support. Primarily, the teachers encourage all of the children to be leaders in play and conversation.
Transportation and Field Trips There will be no regular provision for the transportation of children. The director and staff will have transportation available for emergency situations.Transportation for field trips may be provided by Gaston College vans and chartered vehicles. The majority of the field trips will be arranged in advance. Parents must sign a blanket field trip permission form for each child attending the center. A one-time permission form will also be signed for each specific field trip.
Each child is given an opportunity to rest each day. The state mandates that this be included in the daily routine for each child. Children can rest, but do not have to sleep if they choose not to. Mats are provided and parents are to launder the sheets and return them at the beginning of each week. Children who choose not to nap are given developmentally appropriate activities while on their mat.
It is our aim that each child enrolled in the center receive well-balanced meals and snacks. Children with any food allergies must have these limitations documented by a physician. These food restrictions will be posted in your child's classroom and in the kitchen. Should food other than on the posted menu be required, parents are required to provide it. Due to state and licensing regulations, we can't hold food for more than 30 minutes. Below is the schedule for snacks and meals at the center:
Parents are invited to eat lunch with the children with advance notice at a price of $1.00 for breakfast and $2.00 for lunch. We ask that parents not send food into the center with the child unless approved by an administrator.
Teachers will work with parents on toilet training when the child seems to be physically and emotionally mature enough to begin the process. Please talk with the teachers concerning the readiness of your child to be toilet trained. The child will need extra underwear and changes of clothing during this process. Teachers will talk with the parents to determine if the child is ready to start toilet training, and ask the parents to bring in underwear to begin the process. Teachers will take the child to the bathroom on regular intervals and also check in between to see if the child needs to go. Teachers should keep a record of the child's progress to share with the parents.
Children should wear washable, comfortable clothing to the center. It is not possible to keep children "clean" during the day. The children get dirty every day by playing in the sand, rolling in the grass, painting, cooking, eating, and taking walks. Dressing for mess allows your child comfort and freedom to participate in all play and learning experiences. We suggest that if you have scheduled activities after you pick your child up that requires different clothing, that you come a few minutes early to change your child's clothing.It is very important that you keep a change of clothing at the center for your child. All children have accidents and it eliminates us from having to contact you for reasons that are non-emergency. Due to sanitation laws, the center cannot be responsible for washing soiled clothing. Soiled clothing will be placed in plastic bags and sent home with the child at the end of the day. All clothing must be labeled.
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