3 MONTHS to 3 YEARS
INFANTS Room - 3 to 12-14 months [1 adult to 4 children]
In the Infant Room, we know that young infants need security most of all, and thrive in their close relationships with parents and caregivers. Maria Cuellar (Infant-Toddler Certificate) is the consistent caregiver in the Infant Room, with student assistants as needed. They provide an enriching and stimulating environment for our youngest learners who range in age from three to thirteen/fourteen months. They are expert at easing that first transition from home to childcare--both for the child and the parent-–allowing at least a month for adjustment to the new environment. A great deal of the day is consumed with routine activities such as bottles, diapers, and sleep, guided by input from the family as to the individual needs of each child. Waking hours are filled with floor activities, sensory experiences, creative exploration and much more to help each infant become more aware of his/her surroundings.
When our infants become mobile, we begin to transition them into the classroom with mobile infants/toddlers as they become more curious and on the move!
TODDLERS Room - 1 and 2 year olds [1 adult to 4 children] - Children must be 1 to 2 years old by Sept. 1 at the beginning of the school year
Toddlers want to find out how everything works around them. Jill Accomando, and the part-time group and assistant teachers, allow our one- and two-year-olds to practice their growing independence as they move into toddlerhood. We know that there are numerous benefits for young children when their parents and caregivers work together during this very busy stage of growth. Daily reports about diapering, sleeping and feeding schedules are an important daily routine. As sleeping and eating schedules become more predictable and regular, the children learn to feed themselves with utensils at a table with their peers. They learn to nap on their own cot each afternoon. Play provides for sensory-motor learning, as well as the enormous growth in receptive and expressive language abilities during this stage of development. Books, toys, and art activities are designed for gross and fine motor activity while encouraging the vocabulary to describe these experiences.
Our two- to three-year-olds are beginning to feel independent and “in control.” They enjoy each day under the direction of Jill Accomando, with group and assistant teachers who are aware that developing independence in social, emotional and physical behavior is critical at this time. They offer these young learners choices whenever possible while introducing social guidelines for group participation. They focus on self-help skills such as dressing, toilet training and cleaning up. These young children are very interested in participating in small group activities and fantasy play as they develop a strong sense of self. Sharing and developing good social skills--even good table manners–is an important part of their daily experiences.
Toddlers & Twos DAILY SCHEDULE - 1 to 2 years old
- 7:30 to 9am - Arrival
- 8:30 to 9am - Care Time
- 9 to 9:30am - Snack
- 9:30 to 10am - Group Time
- 10 to 10:30am - Choice Time in Centers
- 10:30 to 11am - Outdoor Play
- 11 to 11:30am - Care Time
- 11:30am to 12:30pm - Lunch Time
- 12:30 to 2:45pm - Nap Time
- 2:45 to 3:15pm - Snack
- 3 to 3:30pm - Care Time
- 3:30 to 4:30pm - Outdoor Play
- 4:30 to 5:30pm - Choice Time in Centers
- 5:30 to 6:00pm - Goodbye
Please plan to arrive at the end of the program day in time to have exited the room by closing time at 6pm.
YOUNG PRESCHOOL
TWOs & THREEs Room - 2 and 3 year olds [1 adult to 6-8 children] - Children must be 2 to 3 years old by Sept. 1 at the beginning of the school year
This class is for children going to kindergarten in three or four years.
Our two- to three-year-olds are beginning to feel independent and “in control.” They enjoy each day under the direction of Cathy O’ Rourke, with group and assistant teachers who are aware that developing independence in social, emotional and physical behavior is critical at this time. They offer these young learners choices whenever possible while introducing social guidelines for group participation. They focus on self-help skills such as dressing, toilet training and cleaning up. These young children are very interested in participating in small group activities and fantasy play as they develop a strong sense of self. Sharing and developing good social skills -- even good table manners – is an important part of their daily experiences.
2s and 3s Room DAILY SCHEDULE - 2 and 3 year olds
- 7:30 to 9:00am - Arrival
- 9:00 to 9:30am - Snack
- 9:30 to 10:00am - Group Time
- 10:00 to 11:00am - Center Time
- 11:00 to 11:30am - Outdoor Play
- 11:30 to 12:30am - Lunch Time
- 12:30 to 2:45pm - Nap Time
- 2:45 to 3:15pm - Snack
- 3:15 to 4:15pm - Outdoor Play
- 4:15 to 4:30pm - Group Time
- 4:30 to 5:30pm - Center Time
- 5:30 to 6:00pm - Goodbye
Please plan to arrive at the end of the program day in time to have exited the room by closing time at 6pm.
PRE-K PRESCHOOL
PRE-K PRESCHOOL – THREEs & FOURs Room - 3 to 5 year olds [1 adult to 11-12 children] - Children must be 3 to 4 years old by Sept. 1 at the beginning of the school year
This class is for children going to kindergarten in one or two years.
The older preschool room is the place for children who are one or two years away from kindergarten and toilet trained, ready to make the transition from toddlerhood to the preschool years. Wendy Rizzolo provides opportunities for the children in her class to demonstrate their newly developed self-help skills. The play of three-year-olds continues to be parallel (next to a peer) or with one or two children. Under Wendy’s supervision, Group and Assistant Teachers–-as well as Student Teachers from Kean University--guide these children as they learn to share and take turns, modeling for and supporting them as they practice problem-solving and conflict resolution. She looks for improved coordination of large muscles through gross motor activities like running, galloping, riding a tricycle or catching a ball. To gain greater control of their hands, they use crayons, markers, scissors, play dough, blocks and puzzles. They develop fine motor skills as they learn to draw, color, and cut. Language develops at a rapid pace during this stage of development, ranging from 2000 to 4000 words. Three-year-olds are encouraged to speak in simple sentences as they interact and describe experiences, and to sing, recite rhymes and fingerplays, enjoy books and stories throughout each day. As their attention span increases, longer activities are planned. Children in the preschool learn at their own pace, in their own way, through developmentally appropriate practices in a creative and structured environment. Recognizing that preschool children are very curious and excited about learning, teachers offer the youngsters many hands-on experiences and a wide variety of manipulative materials.
The transition to pre-kindergarten is made easier as children continue all the familiar and consistent routines, such as snack, naptime and circle time. Wendy Rizzolo brings many years of experience in various preschool settings to her work with preschool children. She creates an environment for these children to address their strengths:
- their ability to use more language and to attend for longer periods of time
- their social awareness of each other and their ability to interact in longer, more complex ways
- their love of new ideas and experiences through exploration
She believes that children’s play is the most important part of their day. In “Group Time” where they learn everyday math and literacy skills, they also practice listening to the teacher and to each other, and to share cooperative games and music. At “Center Time” they can choose a center such as art, blocks, dramatic play, science discovery, sensory table, games and toys, and literacy for uninterrupted play facilitated by their teacher and her assistants. As these children will be going to kindergarten for the next year, independence in social and self-help skills is taught and encouraged.
Preschoolers DAILY SCHEDULE - 3 to 4 years old
- 7:30 to 9am - Arrival
- 9 to 9:30am - Snack
- 9:30 to 10am - Group Time
- 10 to 11am - Center Time
- 11 to 11:30am - Outdoor Play
- 11:30am to 12:30pm - Lunch Time
- 12:30 to 2:45pm - Nap Time
- 2:45 to 3:15pm - Snack
- 3:15 to 4:15pm - Outdoor Play
- 4:15 to 4:30pm - Group Time
- 4:30 to 5:30pm - Center Time
- 5:30 to 6pm - Goodbye
Please plan to arrive at the end of the program day in time to have exited the room by closing time at 6pm.
“Creativity is intelligence at play.” ~ Albert Einstein