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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.
Toddler Center
wall murals were created by our talented teacher,
Denise McCaslin.
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Before your child "opens the door
to wonder" at our new 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
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 their 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:
Morning and afternoon snacks
Hot lunch included as part of the toddler program
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