Brentwood, NY
Suffolk Kids Cottage

"A good early childhood program is one that meets the child's total developmental needs (i.e., physical, intellectual, social, and emotional) at his or her own level, at his or her own pace, and in a family-like atmosphere that is clean, safe, and nurturing. The child care centers take the approach that children learn by doing through the exploration of various multi-sensory learning and interest centers with the use of carefully selected equipment and cognitively focused educational materials. Children are encouraged to develop habits of observation by learning to create questions, listen, experiment, make discoveries, express their feelings, and make decisions. Learning happens incidentally and informally. We believe that the process of learning is more important than the product. Thus, an effort is made to continually challenge the children with specific learning experiences that encourage and enhance individual interests and abilities. The centers emphasize a positive approach in providing a non-sexist, non-violent and non-authoritarian environment. We hope that each child will become independent and learn how to solve problems while expanding his or her readiness skills. By providing social experiences and emotional support, children will develop positive self-esteem, self-confidence, and independence. Staff members foster this by guiding children through activities, supporting their efforts, allowing them to take risks and learn from their mistakes, and encouraging them to achieve accomplishments on their own. The teachers are always nearby to lend support, answer questions, offer challenging statements, and make suggestions in keeping with each child's current level of achievement, interest, ability, and need. We recognize the importance of a child's positive self-image and the role it plays in fostering competence, creativity, dignity, and sense of trust."
Excerpted from the preschool's website

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"Daily Schedule Infants:
7:30-9:00 Arrivals, greetings, health check, child-centered play, music, songs, finger plays, diaper changes
9:00-9:15 Greetings to new arrivals, health check, teacher-directed activities
9:15-9:30 Wash-up and prepare for breakfast
9:30-10:00 Breakfast
10:00-10:20 Clean-up, diaper changes, listening and talking activities, (story time) or outside play
10:20-10:40 Creative activities, naps as needed
10:40-11:00 Outdoor play, weather permitting
11:00-11:20 Stories, music, finger plays
11:20-11:30 Wash-up and prepare for lunch
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:00-12:30 Clean-up, diaper changes, teacher-directed activities, and "learning about our world" activities
12:30-1:00 Naps as needed, child-centered indoor play or outdoor play
1:00-1:30 Teacher-directed activities
1:30-1:40 Wash-up and prepare for snack
1:40-2:00 Snack time
2:00-2:30 Clean-up, diaper changes, listening and talking activities
2:30-3:00 Physical or creative activities
3:00-4:00 Diaper changes, child-centered play, teacher-directed play, music, stories, finger plays
Daily Schedule Toddlers:
7:30-9:00 Arrivals, greetings, health check. Free play, self-directed activities including: table toys, blocks, easels, coloring, little kitchen, stories
9:00-9:20 Music, dance, finger plays, flannel board, puppets
9:20-9:30 Wash-up, clean-up, prepare for breakfast
9:30-9:50 Breakfast
9:50-10:10 Clean-up, diapering, potty
10:10-10:50 Choice of child-centered activities/thematic lessons including: art, music, movement, story, language activities, games, water play, cooking, food tasting activities. Lessons include: learning about colors, shapes, simple concepts, holidays, or seasons
10:50-11:00 Clean-up, wash-up, dress for outdoor play
11:00-11:30 Outdoor play (weather permitting), or indoor games or movement activities. Wash-up for lunch
11:30-11:50 Lunch
11:50-12:15 Clean-up, diapering, potty, cots set up for rest time
12:15-1:20 Nap time (for full-day children)/outdoor play (for part-time children, weather permitting) or quiet indoor play
1:20-1:30 Wash-up, clean-up, put cots away
1:30-1:50 Snack
1:50-2:10 Wash-up, diapering, potty
2:10-2:30 Afternoon child-centered activity (lesson) including: art, music and movement, story, language activities, games
2:30-3:00 Quiet activities, free play, stories, clean-up
3:00-4:00 Free play or outdoor play
Daily Schedule 3-5 Years Olds
7:30-9:00 Arrivals, greetings, health check. Free play, self-directed activities including: table toys, puzzles, easels, computers, water play, arts and crafts, board games
9:00-9:20 Circle time, including: weather, jobs, music, dance, finger plays, story
9:20-9:30 Wash-up, clean-up, preparation for breakfast
9:30-10:00 Breakfast
10:00-10:50 Choice of unit activities (lessons) including: art, music, movement, language arts, science, math, water play, cooking, food tasting activities, set up on a rotating basis. Also, choice of: dramatic play, block play, floor puzzles, small vehicles and animals, puppets, library
10:50-11:00 Clean-up, dress for outdoor play
11:00-11:30 Outdoor play (weather permitting), or indoor games or movement activities. Wash-up for lunch
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:00-12:15 Wash-up, clean-up, cots set up for rest time (full-day children)
12:15-1:20 Nap time (for full-day children)/afternoon lesson, free play, including: table toys, puzzles, easels, computers, games, arts and crafts
1:20-1:30 Wash-up, clean-up, put cots away, preparation for snack
1:30-1:50 Snack
1:50-2:10 Story time, library
2:10-2:30 Music time
2:30-4:00 Outdoor play or quiet activities, table toys, arts and crafts
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Excerpted from the preschool's website

source: