We believe that childcare is a partnership between your family and the child care centre. Sharing of information is a vital component of high quality childcare program. Our family information board is one way that we can keep you informed. Information such as how your child slept and ate is recorded for you and will be discussed with you at the end of the day.
Please feel free to speak with any of your child’s teachers for an update on your child’s day and their progress.
We provide a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack as well as a hot lunch daily. We also provide 2% milk and water for your child. Menus are posted on our family information boards. To help promote good dental hygiene, we will give milk and formula in cups or bottles. We do not serve juice. We serve whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, organic whenever possible, and lean meats.
We believe that diaper changes are an excellent opportunity for one on one interaction with your child. The teachers will sing, play and talk with your child while changing his/her diaper. We follow all public health guidelines for diaper changing routines. The diaper change area is disinfected after every diaper change and the teacher will wash her hands after every change. Parents are required to bring in diapers and wipes for their child. We accept and encourage the use of cloth diapers.
We believe that each child develops at his or her own pace. With this in mind we will never force a child to sit on the toilet or potty. However, at each diaper change, we will ask your child if they would like to try sitting on the potty. We also may bring a few children into the bathroom at the same time to encourage learning from each other.
Children have their own cot. We supply the cot sheets. Please ensure that your child has a blanket for their bed. We will wash the sheets here. Your blanket will be sent home every Friday for washing. Please remember to return it to the centre on Monday. Please let us know how your child normally falls asleep. i.e. with pacifier, rocked, etc. The children go down for their naps after lunch, around 12pm.
Your child will be moving to the Preschool room when he/she is about 2-2 ½. They will move when they are developmentally and emotionally ready. Some children are ready a few months earlier and some a few months later. We will never rush the move. To help make the transition as easy as possible for your child, he/she will visit the Preschool room first. In the beginning it may only be for an hour or so and your child’s teacher will visit with them. We will slowly increase the time that they spend in the room so that they may develop a trusting relationship with the teachers and also become familiar with the environment and routines. Please feel free to visit the Preschool room and meet the teachers.
- Blanket for sleeptime.
- A pacifier if needed.
- 2 full changes of clothes (replenish as needed).
- Appropriate clothing for the season. We go out in all weather (snow pants, mittens, rain suit, sun hat, boots, etc).
- Indoor shoes that can stay at the centre.
- Diapers and wipes. We accept and encourage the use of cloth diapers.