Nursery
Ages: 6 weeks to 2+ years
Group Size: 6 infants, 10 young toddlers
Staffing: Led by 1 certified teacher, who is assisted by five additional staff members screened and selected for their understanding of children's growth and development.
Description of Program:
RCC's nursery has two adjoining rooms: one for infants and one for young toddlers, with group sizes that allow the staff to know each child well.
The rooms were designed with the unique needs of this age group in mind. Both have plenty of natural light and offer a combination of comfort, safety, and intimacy. Children will find soft places to sit and play, a variety of textures, materials, and toys encouraging their explorations. The rooms share a small food preparation area and a separate diaper-changing area.
Infants follow their own individual schedules. The staff will adhere to the routines established at home as closely as possible. Daily communication between parents and staff ensure there is as much consistency as possible for the baby. The staff plays individually with children, using toys, music, and lots of conversation and cuddling. Infants are taken outside for walks in the neighborhood as weather permits.
Parents of infants are welcome to provide their own bedding and crib decorations, or use those provided by RCC.
Young toddlers eat and nap at the same times. Breakfast is served at 8:45, lunch at 12:00. The children nap after lunch and receive an afternoon snack when they awaken. They sleep on cots to eliminate the chance of falling or climbing out of a crib. Sheets are provided for the cots; parents send in blankets or cuddlies to sleep with.
Young toddlers enjoy some small group activities, such as finger painting and blowing bubbles. They go outside to their own toddler playground as often as weather permits.
For both groups of children, a daily information sheet is sent home noting foods eaten, nap times, diaper changes, and comments about the child's activities and behavior, so parents are fully informed about their child's day.