Infants Curriculum
- Finger foods should become part of breakfast/lunch/snack at 12 months.
- Cups should start at 12 months
- Spoon feeding self should begin at 15 months or earlier.
- Heating bottles is always done in a crock pot (never microwave).
- Breastfeeding is always welcome
- Parents are always welcome to drop in for a visit!
- Napping – Please don’t wake sleeping babies.
- Siblings may visit during the day but should not enter the nursery during pickup and dropoff times.
Toddler Curriculum
Our toddler program is designed to teach discovery of learning. The planned curriculum allows for growth through discovery and exploration of their physical and social environments. The children develop at their own pace via many hands-on activities. We ease transition from “toddlerdom” to preschool with loving support and enthusiasm. Parent input and support is always welcome; and is a necessity during toilet training.
Preschool Curriculum
The preschool program is a whole language program based on weekly themes. In an open classroom environment, mixed ages will benefit through modeling and helping each other. The curriculum is a two-level program created to meet the individual needs of the child. As the child reaches a higher developmental level they will start to do the higher level activities. Because we desire to strengthen the child’s natural love of learning, we also make the most of the many teachable moments experienced each day. Creativity is encouraged in all areas and activities.
Examples of Developmental Skills:
Fine Motor
Using fingers to explore and manipulate
Gross Motor
Moving body parts to become mobile and explore the environment
Social
Interacting and responding to adults and other children
Self Help
Cognitive
Playing with toys, problem solving, and imitating
Toddler Curriculum (continued)
Circle Time
Is a group activity where teachers and children talk about the current theme, calendar, and weather. It is a time for learning colors, shapes and counting through finger plays, songs, and thematic books.
Learning Center
Is where a variety of activities, including a project, is offered to coordinate with our weekly theme. Activities (of which there are over 50) include lacing, play dough, puzzles, etc. at different room areas. Projects involve coloring, painting, cutting, gluing, and folding.
Potty Party
Three times a day, these children who are learning to use the toilet are invited to participate in Potty Party. Going potty is presented as a fun, “big kid” activity to entice beginners to join the club! They are praised for any and all attempts. To commend and announce the child’s success, the staff acts so super silly the child will attempt to potty just to see the staff repeat the performance. The class is shown the Potty Time video and is rewarded stamps and stickers.
Toilet Training
1. No Pull-Ups (see below).
2. Soiled clothing will be bagged and placed in a container in the bathroom for daily removal by parents. Please bring in sufficient changes of clothes at this time.
3. Toilet training packets of information are available.
4. Training will not succeed unless parent involvement and participation is guaranteed at home.
5. Training will start upon the teacher’s and parent’s mutual consent.
Pull-Up Diapers
Pull-up diapers are not allowed. According to our staff members, pull-up diapers cause problems. In some instances, toddlers are wearing pull-ups before they are developmentally ready for potty training. If a child is not ready for Potty Party here, then pull-ups are inefficient. They require more time on the changing table (undressing child, shoes, etc.) as well as adding extra expense.
Secondly, when a child can properly use pull-ups then training underpants are sufficient. Some children have a difficult transition to training pants from pull-ups, more so than diapers to training pants. Moving to the preschool room requires pants not diapers (even pull-ups). Using underpants makes the transition smoother.
Food
1. All lunches must be eaten as prepared. (no microwave is available).
2. Breakfast will be allowed until 8:00 AM only.
3. Items requiring the use of a spoon are to be left at home unless the child has the ability to use spoons.
4. All cups must have sippy lids.
5. No raisins, uncut grapes, popcorn, uncut hot-dogs, marshmallows, nuts, seeds, gum, dried fruit, cough drops, candy.
6. While eating, all children are asked to remain seated at a table.
Sleeping
1. All toddlers will receive a cot sheet to be taken home weekly.
2. Small blankets welcomed- no sleeping bags, comforters or standard-size pillows.
3. Children receive one-on-one attention at naptime when they are patted to sleep.
4. Approximate naptime- 1:00 – 3:00.
5. Children are allowed to wake up on their own.
Helpful Hints
1. A set of weather-appropriate clothing should remain in the child’s cubby at all times.
2. Toys from home are not allowed.
3. Rules are to be followed always. Especially when parents are in the classroom. Remember- parents are responsible for their children when they are present. Please do not put the staff in the awkward position of disciplining a child in front of you.
Preschool Curriculum (continued)
Why The Children’s Cottage?
- Experienced, creative, caring, consistent staff
- Many chances to experience everyday life outside of school
- “Please Touch” approach to play and structured activities
- Parent/family support system with parental involvement encouraged in school activities.
Class Schedule
7:00 – 8:30 Open Classroom & Free Play
8:30 – 9:15 Outside/Group Game
9:15 – 9:45 Opening Circle/Exercises
9:45 – 10:00 Learning Circle*
10:00 – 11:15 Learning Centers/Snack
11:15 – 11:45 Outside
11:45 – 12:00 Lunch Prep
12:00 – 12:30 Lunch*
12:30 – 12:45 Cleanup/Bathroom
12:45 – 2:45 Nap
2:45 – 3:00 Rise & Shine
3:00 – 3:15 Storytime*
3:15 – 4:00 Centers
4:00 – 5:00 Outside/Snack
5:00 – 5:30 Open Classroom & Free Play
* May change according to teacher’s discretion
Naptime Procedures
The children are expected to sleep or rest quietly on cots between 1:00 an 3:00 PM. One half hour before the sleepers rise, non-sleepers and early risers will be able to work independently on fine motor activities until naptime is over. Cot sheets are included in the activity fee. They are sent home at the end of the week to be laundered. Only security items and small blankets are welcomed. No sleeping bags, comforters, or standard-size pillows.
Graduation
At the conclusion of your child’s year in the upper level (the June before entering Kindergarten), children and parents are invited to join us in a formal graduation ceremony. Cap, gown, report card, diploma and a graduation party are part of the celebration
Circle Time
A daily event introducing or enriching the weekly theme and letter through teacher-lead discussions, songs, books, finger-plays and games. Popular children’s literature is used to enhance comprehension of the concept, encourage the love of reading, and inspire the imagination.
Center Time
During center time, independent preschoolers choose an area to do hands-on learning.
These include:
- Books/Listening Manipulatives
- Blocks Dramatic Play
- Imaginative Art Sensory Table
- Science/Nature Computer
- Themes Project Area Math Readiness
- “Writing” Center Lifeskills (snacks)
Centers include, but not limited to
Puppetry, painting (finger & easel), marble-works, Brio trains, sand, geoboards, story tapes, magnets, musical instruments, assorted puzzles, water play, doll house, etc.
Educational goals for center time are
- Elementary use of scissors
- Recognition of name in print
- Ability to print first name
- Self-dressing
- Rote counting to 20
- Recognition of numbers to 10
- Recognition of some shapes
- (Circle, rectangle, triangle, square)
- Color recognition (8 basic)
- General awareness of seasons
- Days of the week (rote)
- Recognition of major body parts
- Recognition of some letters
- Accept and respond to adult authority
- Respect and show concern for people and things
- Playing and sharing cooperatively with others
- Appropriate control over feelings
- Lengthening attention span
What to Bring
- Sheets
- Extra clothes
- Tylenol
- Lunch
- Cup
- Blanket
For Infants
- Pacifier (if needed)
- Age appropriate stuffed animal or favorite toy for crib -sunblock lotion (summer months)
- Extra can of ready-made formula
- Plastic bowl Daily
- 4/5 diapers
- Bibs
- Bottles of formula/milk in labeled zip-locks
- Cup
- Spoon
- Food for breakfast/lunch/snack (Weekly)
- Washcloth
- Sheets*
- Blankets (one light, one heavy)*
- Plastic bib* (Monthly)
- Hourly: one box of wipes (80) count for each child every other month
- Plan 23: one box of wipes (80) for each child per month
- Plan 35,45, and 60: twp boxes of wipes (80) for each child per month *
- All marked items must be taken home on Friday and returned on Monday
What Not to Bring
- Chokeable items:
- Raisins
- Grapes
- Popcorn
- Uncut hot dogs
- Balloons
- Marshmallows
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Dried fruit
- Gum
- Cough drops
- Uncut meat
Contact Us
Need to reach out to us? Looking to enroll your child in our classes? Please use the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
Contact Us
215 Telford Pike, Telford, PA 18969
215-723-9102
M-F: 7AM–5:30PM
childrenscottage215@gmail.com
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