A Beary Happy Heart Home Daycare

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Summary

Contact Info

A Beary Happy Heart Home Daycare
1802 Lawrence Street
Bentonville , AR  72712-6849
www.abearyhappyhearthomedaycare.com

Tel: (479) 273-2120

Director: Marla
abearyhappyhearthomedaycare@hotmail.com

General Approach to Learning

Play-based
Check Mark Play-based with some structure
Predominantly teacher-led instruction
Montessori
Waldorf
Co-op
Reggio-Emilia

Application Information

Applications accepted While child is in utero, upon birth, after a face-to-face meeting at the school
Deadline for applications Rolling

Key Statistics

Student/teacher ratio 1:5
Age cutoff for enrollment 1 months
Extended day No
School year Year round program

Parent Ratings

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. Five Stars
Development of social skills and work habits Three and Half Stars
Home-school connection Four And Half Stars
Parent community Four Stars
Discipline Three and Half Stars
Facilities Four Stars
Health Five Stars
Safety Five Stars
Handling of separation Five Stars

Survey Information

Number of parents surveyed:  1

Director survey: Yes

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Basic Stats

Student/teacher ratio 1:5
Established 2008

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school


Dropoff Procedure

- Parents walk their child into the classroom

- 6:30 AM is the earliest time a parent can drop off a child

Late Pickup Policy: Childcare services are provided weekdays between the hours of 6:30AM and 5:30PM. Please be respectful of this fact. I also ask that you remember that I too have a family and wish to have family time with my family members as well. Because of the fact, I want to have my own time off with my family I charge a HUGE extra fee of $1.00 per every 1 minute for each child that is dropped off earlier or picked up later than my hours of operation.

Features of the Preschool

Provide a third year Yes
• yes
Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program No
Affiliated with a religious institution Yes
Teach religious concepts Yes
• All faiths are welcome but we are a Christian home daycare and will only teach christian concepts.
Some experience serving children with special needs No

Accreditation, Membership & Awards

Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children No

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.0) Four Stars
Building, bathrooms, hallway Four Stars
Classroom equipment and furniture Four Stars
Outside play equipment Four Stars

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached)
Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)
Music room Check
Art room Check
Library Check
We are a home daycare so our classroom is life. Within our home we have art, music, a small library along with having lots of learning activities in a stress free and caring home. Check
Playground Check

Director's Comments

Question to director: Do you have any additional thoughts on what parents should consider when looking at your school? Is there any advice that you would like to provide to prospective parents?
Hello, my name is Marla and I run “A Beary Happy Heart Home Daycare”, which is located in Bentonville, AR. I decided to open up my doors to families in need of good quality daycare, because there is such a lack of true caring for the families that are relying on daycare for their children. Being a mom, I realize how important it is to have quality childcare that enables you to leave your child each day, and have the peace of mind knowing that they are being well cared for. My focus with my daycare program is to care for a very small group of children, ages 6 weeks to Kindergarten. This enables me to provide more one on one attention for each child in my care. I also prefer smaller groups because we still are able to keep illnesses and head lice to a minimum. Most people agree a smaller group is better for the child too. I have had several doctors recommend home daycare to their patients for this very reason and because some daycares run anywhere from 50-200 + a day. It is no wander to me why children in typical daycare seam to always stay ill. I try to incorporate as many learning opportunities as possible in my daycare program. We do this through play, arts and crafts projects, reading books, music time, going for walks, and other fun activities. As soon as your child shows the ability to start using a crayon they will then begin being encouraged to start learning. By your child’s 2nd birthday we will then move more into learning their letters, numbers, colors ect At the of 3 your child will move further along with learning more finger dexterity such how to use a pencil and scissors. Your child will also learn many important life skills in a small social group that they will take with them through the rest of their lives. This home daycare is a smoke-free environment.

Parents' Comments
Parent #1
My children are not preschool age but she does have lots of items for that age group.

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

Mission Statement:
It is my goal to provide the best quality care for your child in a safe, loving and enriching family home environment.



Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

Description of Program:
I provide care for children in a Christian family style loving environment. In my care, your child will experience music, books, educational (non-violent) television programs/videos/DVD’s, exercise and open communication. You will be provided with daily reports to communicate schedules, routines, any incidences, or other important information.

As stated before we are a private Christian family home daycare. We will be praying at each meal, singing and talking about God and his son Jesus Christ. We will read many stories and view many videos that help to reinforce our Christian beliefs.

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

General Approach to Learning

Play-based
Play-based with some structure
Predominantly teacher-led instruction
Montessori
Waldorf
Co-op
Reggio-Emilia

Director's Comments

I believe children give you clues as to when they are ready to start learning. I monitor each child and follow the child as to what he/she is ready for and then we preceed with learning. I do not feel forcing a child to learn any thing is an acceptable way of teaching. When a child is truly ready they will then love learning and wan to learn more.

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (3.8) Three and Half Stars
This school has increased my child's:
Ability to listen and follow directions Four Stars
Ability to sit still for longer periods of time
Four Stars
Ability to be a part of a group of children Four Stars
Self-sufficiency and independence Three Stars
Awareness of others’ feelings Four Stars
Cooperation with other children Four Stars

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

Free Play Free Play Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure
Language YES
Oral language - Free play with some structure - - n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs - - Predominantly teacher-led instruction - n/a
Storybook reading - - Predominantly teacher-led instruction - n/a
Emerging literacy skills - Free play with some structure - - n/a
Cognitive Development n/a
Math and number sense - Free play with some structure - - YES
Time & space - Free play with some structure - - YES
Sci. reasoning/physical world - Free play with some structure - - YES
Music - Free play with some structure - - YES
Visual arts - Free play with some structure - - YES
Physical activity - Free play with some structure - - YES
Other subjects taught n/a
Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The director likes for the children to build their own interests and then she will lead them in the direction they want to go.

Quality of Teaching

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Individualized Teaching


Description of how teachers work with children who are
"behind," "excelling" or "different" from the majority of students

All children need and want individual attention and training and that is what your child will receive. No matter if your child is behind or excelling each child will be made to feel like he is great at no matter what level he is learning at at that time.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.5) Four And Half Stars
Conducts an open house at start of school year Three Stars
Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year Five Stars
Conducts regular parent teacher conferences Four Stars
Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year Five Stars
Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year Five Stars
Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools Five Stars

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars
Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Abbreviated schedule at start of school year

Director's and Parents' Comments

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The director lets you come in at any time but asks that if you must come in during nap time to please be quite while the children are resting and to not use the door bell at that time.

Drop-in Policy

- During school parents are welcomed as the school has an open door policy

General Parent Education

-This preschool does not conduct parent education classes

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (4.0) Four Stars

Parents:

- Encourage play dates out of school

Modes of Communication Between School and Home

- Notes

- Email

- Drop-Off

- Pick-Up

Discipline, Health and Safety

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (3.8) Three and Half Stars
Parents' Opinions
Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children: are handled well in a way that gives me confidence in the safety of my child

Overview


Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline


Discipline:
Discipline means guidance in the form of helping children change undesirable behavior into more acceptable, satisfying behavior. Guidance is a process. Discipline is the slow, time-consuming task of helping children to see the sense in acting in an acceptable way. It is helping a child learn self-control and self-direction. Discipline is to be guidance that improves, strengthens, molds, and helps a young child control his or her own actions. For that to happen, we must set the example for the child to follow. We provide consistent guidelines for the child to follow, give positive re-enforcement, provide acceptable choices, set realistic limits, encourage a child to express feelings with words when they are able, use consequences that are related to the behavior, and listen carefully to what our children are saying to us. Discipline and guidance should nurture love, patience, self-esteem and a positive self-image. I find that discipline is most effective when there is open communication between the parents and provider.

Behavioral Goals
While in my care, only positive encouragement is enforced. Children will NOT be subject to spanking, hitting, kicking, restraint, or to, verbal, emotional, or physical punishment. I believe the most effective ways of enforcing positive behaviors are: Praise, Respect, Re-Direction, and Positive Re-Enforcement. I don’t play “REF”; I use strategies to engage children in their own problem solving. During conflict, it is important for children to feel respected, secure, loved, important, and special. They need to know I am always available to listen and help, not to judge. My goal is to coach the children so they can negotiate, compromise, brainstorm and learn how to work it out together. I do believe in the use of “time outs” but use them as a last resort. I will only place a child in time out if I feel that they are a threat to the safety and well being of themselves or others or if there is no other choice. When this becomes necessary, I make sure everyone is all right, then I stay with the child. I will also send home a note to the parents if a child must be given a time out.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Disicipline was never a problem.

Health

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars
Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable Five Stars
Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided Five Stars
Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly Five Stars

Food Allergies

- I ask that each parent informme of all allergies and try to refrain from using those foods in our menus. If there are milk allergies or other major food allergies I will ask the parents to give me alternative ideas so that their child can have simular foods with the other children in care.

Medications

- We keep their medication on hand at all times

- I require names on all medications provided by each parent along with maditory written instructions.

Safety

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars
Screen and identify all visitors Five Stars
• I guess this is a yes and no answer. I screen all persons, parents and such that inter my daycare family home. All interviews are done at times when there are no children present until I am able to check out peaolple references. At this time I am the only care giver so no, I do not screen any staff members because I am the only one that has access to your child but I would if the need for additional staff was there.
Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others Five Stars

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition

Ages Class Size Days Tuition
From 3 years to
5 years
$125/Week
From 1 months to
3 years
$135/Week

Extended Care

- This school does not have extended care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

This is a little different than the way I charge. I charge $135/per week per child if not completely toilet trained and $125/per week per child if the child is completely toilet trained no matter what the child's age is.

Calendar Year

School Year

Year round program

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: While child is in utero, upon birth, after a face-to-face meeting at the school

Parent visits tours are: Mandatory (in order to receive application)

Child interview process: Required for all applicants

Parent interview process: I want to meet both parents and all children before I will admit one into my care. If after the interview I feel they will work nicely within our daycare home I will then allow the parents to enroll their child into my care.

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Application fee: $0

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: Selective based on how children and parents interact with each other, how they interact with the provider an dwhat type of paretning direction i notice as the child interacts with their children.  
• I also do a screening on each family before I will admit their child/ren into my care. This is for the safety of all other children that are in my care.

Notification occurs: Immediately

Parents must submit deposit within the following timeframe of receiving notification of acceptance: 1 weeks time BUT must be before enrollment into care.

Financial aid is not available.

Director's Comments

Comments

No Application fee but we do have an initial one time administration/set-up fee of $50 for each child that is enrolled into my daycare family home and is due at the time the contract is signed.

Age/Child Requirements

Child must be 1 months to enroll.

Child does not need to be potty trained to enroll.

Inquiries accepted from June 1 onwards.

Director's views on diversity:
All children are welcome to attend our home daycare.

Kindergarten Placement & Tips



Director and Parents have not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source.



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