Infant | Toddler | Three’s | Four’s | PreK/Kindergarten | Summer & Vacation
Infant 6 weeks to 15 months
Your baby’s first year of life is an amazing time, filled with discovery and enormous growth. Infants learn an abundance of new skills each day, such as how to imitate sounds and facial expressions, pulling, reaching and grasping objects, smiling and laughing. These milestones are not only key events of an infant’s development, but they are also building blocks for abilities to come like crawling, walking, and talking. We build on these skills learned as an infant, by encouraging problem solving, cooperation, language, and social skills. We celebrate and embrace each developmental milestone with enthusiasm, persistence, and joy.
Children ages 6 weeks to 15 months receive loving, nurturing attention in a spacious room offering stimulation, and fun age-specific activities engaging their natural curiosity. We offer an inviting and caring atmosphere for infants and toddlers to explore their continually expanding world around them. We provide an environment filled with responsive interactions and positive reinforcement; an individualized approach that meets the developmental needs of each child. Our intent is to give your child a place where they can feel safe and happy and can begin to build confidence and a positive self image. Our goal is to stimulate and challenge your infant by constantly singing, talking, holding, and playing/interacting with them. Our caring staff members always interact at the children’s level, and every sound and movement your child makes is met with a warm response: a word, a smile, and a touch, thereby, nurturing a foundation for development and helping to enable your child to reach their full potential.
- Through encouragement we help each child in our care to build confidence and a positive self image, with constant clapping, hugging, and praise for their every accomplishment.
- Throughout each day we practice on reaching, grasping, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, climbing, throwing, catching, kicking, cooing and talking; whichever developmental stage your child happens to be in at the time.
- We provide a clean and well organized environment for your infant to develop safely.
Toddler Program 15 months to 2.9 years
As your child grows and becomes more independent, they begin to make the transition from an infant to a toddler. Children at this age are inventors, builders, problem solvers, discoverers and dreamers. They learn about the world around them as they take things apart and put them back together. We give your toddler the necessary tools they need to aid them in accomplishing their goals; thereby, helping to lay the foundation for all intellectual and emotional development to follow.
A toddler’s growth and development is boundless. Their minds and bodies are literally sponges, soaking up every word and action presented to them. They are learning how to act and react towards every emotional and environmental stimulus. They are beginning to combine ideas and words into sentences and to better understand themselves and the world around them. Because of this new found freedom, they struggle with their feelings of independence versus dependence. They want to do everything by themselves, yet they also realize they need love, attention and help to accomplish these goals. Through patience and understanding and love we walk this fine line with your toddler, providing the guidance they need along with the independence they crave.
- Toddlers learn through play by utilizing flash cards, books, numbers, shapes, colors, the alphabet, stacking blocks, puppets, age-appropriate toys, and much more.
- We provide a clean and well organized environment for your toddler to develop safely.
- Our child friendly playgrounds are equipped with lots of fun and safe age-appropriate playing equipment, which helps to build large motor skills.
- By constantly listening, talking, describing objects, actions and their meanings, we help to expand your child’s ever-growing vocabulary.
- Books are always available for the children to look at, and literacy is presented many times throughout each day, allowing toddlers to experience the magic and wonder of books.
- Through music, song and dance we foster self-expression and creative movement; while encouraging group interaction, cooperation, and sharing.
- Your child is encouraged to play and explore to promote cognitive and motor skills.
Three’s Program
As your child grows and makes the transition from toddler to preschooler we begin to incorporate structure into their day. Children of this age find security and comfort through consistency of care. We provide this for your child, with a reassuring routine and a familiar schedule. Preschoolers are very curious and inquisitive by nature; asking many questions and expecting many more answers. We not only give them the answers they need, but also ask why, when, where, and how; thereby encouraging expressive conversation, fostering an imaginative and free-thinking child.
Your preschool age child will receive loving and individualized care in a stimulating environment within a spacious room giving your child an exciting world full of opportunities to explore, learn, and grow. We offer a place where fun, learning and laughter go hand in hand with a caring atmosphere, a reassuring routine and creative activities, providing preschoolers with a sense of security and over all well being; where they can feel safe and happy and can begin to build confidence and a positive self image. Our goal is to provide a fun and safe learning environment for your child, while encouraging social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development. Our caring staff members always interact at the children’s level, listen to every word and encourage meaningful conversation with us and their peers. Each child is different, unique, and special. Therefore we strive to meet the developmental needs of each child in our care; by giving them a world filled with responsive interactions and positive reinforcement, nurturing a foundation for development and helping to enable your child to reach their full potential.
For children ages 2.9 through four, we offer a structured preschool curriculum designed by our well experienced staff members. We also incorporate into the curriculum with tons of enriching activities ranging from art and craft projects to games, songs, finger plays, storytelling, creative dramatics, exercises, science, shapes, numbers, colors, alphabet, and much more through various monthly themes. At the Ponds preschoolers start their day with Morning Circle Time, where the children join together to discuss a daily topic, the weather and the day’s exciting activities. During this time, children learn to listen, share, take turns, cooperate, express themselves, and give and receive feedback; giving them a chance to demonstrate what they are learning. We introduce one concept at a time in a logical natural sequence, so your child feels proud, not frustrated. We know that children learn best when they are actively involved. Therefore, we offer hands-on activities which are unique and knowledge building, providing a balance of important preschool skill experiences. All in an effort to help develop happy and confident children; children who smile while they sing, talk, dance, rhyme, count, play, create, and write. Your child will move on to the Pre K program well prepared and beyond, empowered to become a creative problem-solver and life-long learner.
- By constantly listening, talking, describing objects, actions and their meanings, we help to expand your child’s ever-growing vocabulary.
- Our fully fenced in spacious outdoor play areas are equipped with lots of fun and safe age-appropriate playing equipment, which helps to build large motor skills.
- Sensory experiences are offered through such activities as shaving cream or water exploration, cutting or painting an open ended craft project.
- Circle time and various monthly storybook activities provide practice in language and listening skills.
- Important scientific investigative and observation methods are introduced through simple hands-on activities such as a sink or float experimentation and planting seeds.
- Numbers, letters, shapes and colors are introduced monthly with their use integrated throughout the activities.
- We provide a clean and well organized environment for your preschooler to grow safely.
- Books are always available for the children to look at, and story-time is presented many times throughout each day, allowing preschoolers to experience the magic and wonder of books.
- Through music, song and dance we foster self-expression, and creative movement; while encouraging, group interaction, cooperation, and sharing.
Preschool Four’s Program 4 years to 4 ½ Years Old
In the Preschool Fours Program focus is on encouraging the children to become independent, critical thinkers who learn through exploration and self expression. Special attention is paid to children’s emerging competence in new and more complex play built on earlier experiences. Learning occurs as a result of activities involving trial and error, manipulation, and repetition. Cognitive, motor and physical skills are developed through active exploration and interaction with materials, adults and other children. Natural curiosity, insight and eagerness to solve problems motivate the children to participate. Interpersonal problems are addressed by more sophisticated means such as, cooperating and negotiating.
Classrooms are set up to provide children opportunities to learn and grow. Our two daily circles foster a love of reading with books and topics related to young children while building their phonemic awareness through rhyming and alliteration.
The teaching staff carefully observe children and document emerging interests. The appropriate topics are then explored through individual and small group activities which accommodate all styles of learning and developmental areas. This broad-based curriculum allows children to learn problem-solving skills and build self esteem through meaningful experiences in the classroom. Parents play an important role by sharing personal experiences and work hand in hand with the teaching staff to support the children’s learning.
Our child-directed, teacher-supported activities are standards driven and address the whole child by promoting:
- Developmentally-Appropriate Practices
- Hands-on Involvement
- Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills
- Character Development
- Vocabulary
- Social-Emotional Activities
- Literacy Skills
- Small Group Instruction
- Daily Reports Providing Individual Information
Pre K / Kindergarten
The Ponds child care center’s Fives program provides a wonderful bridge between preschool and kindergarten in a dynamic yet nurturing environment. Our gifted teachers harness the energy and curiosity of this special age and channel it in creative ways to teach literacy, math, handwriting and problem solving skills, to name a few.
We are very proud of the challenging and fun combination the highly specialized Curriculum The Pond’s Child Care Center has to offer. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten children work with original themed modules, developing phonics awareness and gain exposure to literacy by listening to books and poetry, writing in journals, creating story binders and interacting in experience stories, all designed to be appealing and educational. Each child receives an unparalleled level of individual attention, to ensure success in reading, writing, math, as well as drama, music and art, while bolstering a sense of self-confidence and accomplishment. By offering small groups and one-on-one academic attention, our center offers the best foundation
- Kindergarten Prep — letters, words, numbers, early science and math concepts.
- Imaginative Development — arts and crafts, dramatic play, storytelling.
- Social Development — interaction, cooperation, helping others.
- Physical Development — indoor and outdoor play, games, dancing.
An Engaging and Fun School-Age Program
Engaging and fun every day: That’s our school age program way!!
School-age kids age 5-9 want to feel all grown up, yet they still crave comfort and security. So instead of just daycare, our child care program is designed to support their increasing interest in sports, art, music and more, both before and after school.
School-agers club also features:
- Weekly Investigations — These investigations take place over several meetings. From learning secret codes to figuring out how many whales would fit in their school, these are fun, interesting and educational.
- Room Enhancements — Teachers rotate in new material every week to keep the environment fresh and exciting.
- Songs and Chants — School-agers are encouraged to share in these songs that incorporate rhythm, movement and humor.
- Book Kit — A number of school-age appropriate books will be explored throughout the year with discussion and activities based on them.
Teachers provide a balance of organized and self-selected activities, all in a positive, supportive atmosphere. Whether relaxing, doing homework or having fun with friends, children thrive as members of The Ponds after school club. And you’ll have peace of mind knowing your child is safe and having fun.
Summer and Vacation Programs
The Ponds Child care center makes every effort to incorporate a world of adventure and exploration, learning and fun in its Summer Camp Program. Through games, stories, music, art, water play and day visiting programs each child’s sense of self is nurtured. Weekly themes and activities engage and entertain children. Children participate in fun, hands-on activities and are encouraged to explore their own special talents and take part in new experiences. Our highly trained, loving and dedicated teachers are committed to helping children build friendships and memories to last a lifetime.
Not only will your child be spending their summer days in a creative learning environment while in our center, they will also be participating in exciting guest from outside the center to reinforce concepts taught throughout the week as they are represented in the real world!
Children enrolled will enjoy:
- Demonstrations & Shows
- Themed Activities
- Sports with energetic staff
- A Variety of presenters and entertainment
- Water play activities