A Sccessful Space

I am learning and designing my daycare space this week.

On top of making sure a space is safe for children, I am learning that a poorly arranged physical space can trigger emotional reactions in kids. A space that is too busy or has no quiet area can trigger more aggressive behaviours.

A quiet area is defined as a small enclosed space for no more than one or two children yet still visible by supervisors where a child may go to have alone time and get away from the busyness of the other children playing. Like adults children too need some time to relax throughout the day. Below are some images I liked to help define a quiet area.

I am also very passionate about having a designated sleep room with each child having there very own crib. It is something that our current daycare for our son has and it is brilliant! Each child has there own full size wooden crib, they know it, they have their favourite stuffed animal or blanket in there and it has their name on it. My husband and I love it and I think the children all nap better because of it. It is a must when I open Little Treasures. Please see some images below.

I also read today about levels. Kids are on a whole different level then us adults. Play material and visuals must be at their eye level. This should include pictures of their families, art that they have done, as well as books and toys.

I am very excited to be learning about how to design a space for children to promote imagination and creativity, that is warm and inviting! I hope to get a floor plan done by the end of August to show you all and I will also be reading about outdoor space this weekend!

My little helper

Just doing a little reading this morning while Ethan was playing with his trucks, when he came over to give me a hand.

He was very interested in the licensing material and wanted to help me learn!

Oh wait nah he wants to play! Hahaha

As I am trying to get back to all the wonderful families that have emailed me about Little Treasures, I realized that they all have very interesting and different stories. I am finding it all very fascinating and remember back to when I was trying to find part time daycare and had so many concerns. Ethan couldn't walk yet, had no teeth and couldn't feed himself. There  are so many things I wanted the person who would be caring for him to know, but people kept telling me to just secure a spot and not to worry. That is not how I want to run my daycare, I want to make sure that the parents, the children and myself and staff are very comfortable with each child's needs. All families are different and that's what makes are community so special! As I am working on the "Parent Package" in my course this weekend, I am keeping in mind all the great stories I have received from parents!

Starting the licencing course - eek!

Hi all,

Just spoke with my daycare license course coach on the phone and I am so excited. She is going to help me every step of the way as I go through the license process. We will coming up with daily schedules, parent manual, health and safety procedures, floor plans and so much more.

I am also still reading as much as I can about playbased learning. I am finding it all very fascinating. Both the Reggio and Montessori philosophies are about play! This is how children learn and socialize.

Importance

Play is sufficiently important to the United Nations that it has recognized it as a specific right for all children.^[18] Children need the freedom to explore and play. Play also contributes to brain development. Evidence from neuroscience shows that the early years of a child’s development (from birth to age six) set the basis for learning, behavior and health throughout life.^[19] The child’s neural pathways are influenced in their development through the exploration, thinking, problem-solving and language expression which occur during play episodes.^[20] According to the Canadian Council on Learning, "Play nourishes every aspect of children’s development – it forms the foundation of intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills necessary for success in school and in life. Play 'paves the way for learning'”.^[21]

Learning occurs when children play with blocks, paint a picture or play make-believe. During play children try new things, solve problems, invent, create, test ideas and explore. Children need unstructured, creative playtime; in other words, children need time to learn through their play.^[3]

According to researcher Charles E. Pascel, "Play is serious business for the development of young learners. This is such an important understanding. A deliberate and effective play-based approach supports young children’s cognitive development. When well designed, such an approach taps into children’s individual interests, draws out their emerging capacities, and responds to their sense of inquiry and exploration of the world around them. It generates highly motivated children enjoying an environment where the learning outcomes of a curriculum are more likely to be achieved”.^[22]

^{From - Wikipedia} 

My First Blog

Ok, this is my first blog!

I hope all the moms interested in my daycare find my daily updates both funny and helpful.

I am starting my course today to help me set up the daycare. The course will help me through the licensing procedures and help set up my daily procedures/schedule. I am really excited! I was totally overwhelmed by how many lovely responses I got from families. I can't wait to have and help a little community of families.

I am excited to do more research this week about playbased learning.