Babies are constantly learning and they need:
* a safe, predictable environment
* routine procedures and satisfying interactions
* a developmentally conscious program
* caring staff that is trained to respond to coos, and giggles as intensely as they respond to distress
Environment:
We have found that babies are happier if everyone is on the floor. Tummy time is more satisfying. Crawlers and walkers feel free to explore when a caregiver is sitting with them instead of standing over them. Babies need to see us speak, they love our faces, they are attracted to our laps, and they feel brave if we are close to them.
All of our furniture is baby sized, close to the ground. We have seating for meals that keeps your baby’s feet on the floor. The caregiver is able to interact with both the child she is feeding in the 5” chair and the curious crawler that comes to inspect. No baby is left out. Self feeders eat at a table on 7” chairs, where they are neither dangling nor restrained making meal times an opportunity to learn to sit at a table. These children also feel free to “pull up a chair” and sit with their small friends or request an impromptu snack time of their own. A high chair requires that a child asks for “up up up” and “down down down”. Babies at Dove Day can confidently sit in their chairs themselves.
We have an exclusive yard for our babies. Our turf area is cushioned, comfortable, and clean, a perfect crawling surface. The children enjoy refining their walking with the various push toys. Our attentive staff makes the tiny climbing structure safe and we all cheer for the climbers as they summit.
Routines:
Diapering: Babies build an expectation of comfort with hourly diaper checks. Changing into a fresh diaper presents an opportunity to talk to a baby, giving them a language to understand and then express their needs. Babies that are used to being clean are easier to potty train later and we are happy use your cloth diapers.
Feeding: Schedules are simply a guideline. By observing and tuning into the baby’s cues we can anticipate the hungry times and feed a baby before they become upset. We are able to accommodate breast fed babies, home prepared baby food, allergies, and family preferences. Once your child is eating “table food” we provide it from our menu, prepared in our kitchen fresh daily.
Nap time: Linens are always fresh. Caregivers rock, pat and soothe while sleepy tunes play quietly in the background.
Program:
Our babies’ days are filled with exploration opportunities. To encourage communication we all learn a new “Baby Sign” each week. We schedule craft, singing ‘circle time’, buggy rides, and outside play. Tummy time is critical to baby’s growth, strength and learning. We start with minutes and gradually babies let us increase the time.
Our staff creates goals for each child in language, small and large motor control, rythm, and self help. Then we promptly celebrate each achievement. The babies quickly build balance and strength as there isn't a single place for them to be "parked", they are active always.
Staff:
Our staff is more than qualified: they’re devoted. Devoted to the babies in their care, to their growth and development, happiness and wellbeing. They take pride in being the best in their field. These teachers have the freedom to take basic skills and add their own magic.
