Team Toddler hang out on the couch - a favorite spot for everyone.

Curriculum

Ella's Second Home includes children with a wide variety of ages and abilities (0-4 yrs old). To accomodate everyone's needs, we maintain a low staff to child ratio (1 : 3) and segment many activities by age group. Graduation between levels is based loosely on age, but also takes into account an individual childs skills and temperament.

Our three age groups are as follows :

  1. Infants
    • Ages 0 months to approx 14 months
    • For infants under 6 months, meals and naptimes are dictated by the infants own body rhythms.
    • For infants over 6 months, we try to gently guide them towards a consistent daily schedule with two naps. However, this schedule may be different for each child, according to their needs.
    • When awake, infants are included in our daily activities (circle time, outside time, etc.).
  2. Toddlers
    • Ages approx. 14 months to 3 years
    • Graduation to this level occurs when children are walking, talking (a little) and have transitioned to one nap a day.
    • Children in this level are transitioned on to a consistent daily schedule, followed by the entire group.
  3. Pre-school
    • Ages approx. 3 years and up
    • Graduation to this level occurs when children are speaking in complete sentences, and ready for longer, more structured activities.
    • Children in this level follow approximately the toddler schedule, with small offsets created to allow for a little "big kids only" time. For example, the "big kids" have a slightly later lunchtime and a slightly later start for naptime.
    • Children in this age group are given more time for arts and crafts type projects, during free play times.

Daily Schedule

7:30am - 9:00am Arrival and Breakfast Children are dropped off by their parents and greeted by Ella. If they have not yet had breakfast, this occurs shortly after they arrive.
9:00am - 10:00am Free Play and Projects Indoor free play and arts and crafts projects. For toddlers, arts and crafts projects are performed one on one with a staff member.
10:00am - 10:20am Circle Time Everyone gathers in a circle in the big playroom for nursery rhymes, reading and learning letters and numbers. We usually finish off with some dancing.
10:20am - 10:30am Snack
10:30am - 11:30am Outdoor Play Weather permitting, everyone goes outside to play in our large backyard.
11:30am - 12:30pm Lunch Lunch occurs in shifts, with two to three children in the lunchroom at the same time. We begin with the youngest toddlers, and end with pre-schoolers.
12:00pm - 2:30pm Naptime Each child has their own bedding, in a crib or resting cot. Laundry is done by Ella.
2:30pm - 2:45pm Snack
2:45pm - 5:30pm Outdoor Play
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