Small Wonders Program
 Welcome to our "Small Wonders" program,
offered to you and your child by Pinecrest Schools. We are
pleased to be chosen as your child's caregiver for these early
years.
Before your child "opens the door to wonder" at
our facility, allow us to tell you about the characteristics of
our toddler center and program.
All young children deserve healthy environments in
which they can grow and thrive. Our toddler center:
Is homelike
. . . because young children spend most of their waking hours in them. Like
a home, our center is a place where children can:
 Relax
and be themselves
Feel
safe and secure
Be
with the same caregivers every day
Work
and play using different kinds of furnishings and varied lighting
Is child-sized
. . . because this creates greater opportunities for success. Imagine
being in the Land of the Giants, a place where everything is too big, too high,
or out of reach. Children need environments that are scaled to their size. Our
center has:
Child-sized
furniture
Ceilings
low enough for proper acoustics
Floors
that are safe, clean and comfortable
Windows
at children's eye level
Doors,
sinks, toilets and water fountains that are "child
friendly"
Is a palette for children's self-expression
. . . because this promotes pride, accomplishments and recognition. Pleasant
and personal surroundings affect perception, creativity and learning. Our
center is characterized by:
Neutral
tones for backgrounds and ceilings, with pleasing colors
for accents
Space
for children's art, located at the children's eye level
Space
for objects that children bring to share or have special
meaning
Has indoor
and outdoor spaces for physical activities
. . . because this provides an emotional outlet and promotes self-esteem
and good health. Toddlers don't just move to get from place to place
- they run, jump, hop, skip, roll and climb. They move for the sheer
joy of it,
and for the discoveries that movement brings. Our center has places,
both indoors and outdoors which allow for:
Running
Climbing
Swinging
Riding
Balancing
and bouncing
Is structured
yet flexible
. . . because predictability and ownership
create a sense of security. Organizing
space and time in our center is important, but this order needs to be comprehensible
to the children as well as to the adults. Structure is based on program
goals, rather than imposed for tidiness. Structure is flexible to allow
for exceptions, individuality - and the delight of surprise. Our
program offers different spaces in the center which:
Can
be recognized by children - perhaps by different colors
or coverings on the floor
Are
for quiet and active play
Can
be rearranged by children for the ir own activities
Has a professionally
trained and caring staff
. . . because we care about each
child entrusted to our center. A caregiver
spends a considerable amount of time tending to each toddler's needs. Our
staff is:
Trained
to provide this care in a loving and caring manner
Instructed
to encourage toddlers to feed themselves while directly
supervising them
Ready
to assist with toilet training, when the child shows
signs of readiness
Offers a healthy
and appealing menu
. . . because we support
a healthy lifestyle. Our
center offers:
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