Meeting Your Child’s Needs
When choosing a program, it is important to consider your child’s individual needs, differences and stage of development. Children thrive in environments with consistent, positive adult interaction, age-appropriate activities and materials, and a schedule with time for active and quiet play.
Infant
Infants grow and develop through responsive interactions with their early educator as they experience the world through their senses.
This may look like:
- Cuddling and talking with the early educator.
- Feeding and nap schedule that matches the home schedule.
- Being held when they are bottle fed.
- Colorful toys that make sounds and have varied textures.
- Safe toys and materials that are not toxic and are not choking hazards.
- Opportunities for indoor and outdoor play.
- Area to crawl around and to walk/toddler safely.
Toddler
Toddlers are on-the-go and should be provided with opportunities to explore their environment through gross motor activity and a variety of play that stimulates their senses.
This may look like:
- Access to push toys, climbing, sliding, and jumping
- Building, creating, and playing pretend
- Opportunities for messy play and hands on activities
- Being read to and looking at books with early educators
Preschoolers
Preschoolers are curious and highly interactive with their surrounding world. They like to take things apart, use their imaginations, and explore the function of things through building, moving, and making.
This may look like:
- Opportunities for putting together and taking apart objects
- Encouragement of messy sensory play, pretending, socializing and physical activities.
School-Age
School-Age children have a structured schedule in school all day. They should have many choices for activities before and after school. The opportunity for play is important.
This may look like:
- Plenty of room and equipment for active open play, balanced with quiet places for reading, painting, doing homework and just being alone.
- Opportunities for socializing, messy play, art projects, hands-on activities, cooking, or putting on plays.