CARING FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE
I can promise you that each and every day I strive to give each of the kids “THE BEST DAY EVER” as they put it. I truly love what I do. It’s not a “babysitting gig”. It’s my career, one that I take very seriously. It is my responsibility to not only make sure the children I care for are in a safe and clean environment but also to teach them. I teach them colors, shapes, songs, recognizing the alphabet, and counting. I do lots of arts and crafts with the children such as making Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas presents just to name a few. All of that is great, but let’s face it – children also need to learn things like sharing, how to get along with friends, saying please and thank you, how to be kind, and how to apologize. In the summertime, I get them comfortable in the pool, and eventually teach them to swim.
WEEKLY EVENTS
LEARNING: I focus on a letter of the week and then they make an art project that goes with the letter we are working on. I accumulate all the pages and make a book that they bring home at the end of the school year.
MUSIC: Every Tuesday, I have an outside musician come in and play her guitar, keyboard, or whatever other instrument she decides to bring that week. She teaches them new songs, sings seasonal/holiday songs, reinforces songs that they already know, and sings movement songs to get them moving and wiggling their wiggles out.
MOVEMENT: Once a month, I take the kids to a movement class at the Granite State Dance Center. All the kids love going! They can participate starting at around the age of 2. Parents pay a nominal fee directly to the dance center per class if they want their child to participate. They learn how to do a frontward roll, hop, skip, tip-toe, hula hoop, and have a blast dancing with their friends. This class is exclusively held for in-home day cares, and limited to just 20 kids max.
DAILY ACTIVITIES
OUTDOOR PLAY & EXERCISE: I take the kids outside every day, weather permitting. There is a very nice rail trail which abuts my home that we always walk along. It’s very nice to be able to allow the kids to walk without holding my hand so they can take their time to explore their surroundings. I usually come back with a stroller full of pinecones, acorns, and rocks that they just NEED to bring home. They also love to play on the swing set and slide in my backyard, or play in my large driveway with some sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and ride-on cars. I read to them every day before nap time, giving each of them an opportunity to pick which book they want read.
FIELD TRIPS
I absolutely love taking the kids on field trips! To be able to witness their faces light up with excitement is a true blessing and what I live for. My annual field trip list consists of going to:
- York’s Wild Kingdom
- Deerfield Fair
- Carter Hill Orchard – Apple Picking with tractor ride
- Fire Station – tour of building then they get to explore inside fire trucks and spray the hose!
- McQuesten Farm – Pumpkin Picking with hayride
- Meet and greet with the Manchester Police Mounted Unit & K-9 Unit.
- I supply all car seats and regularly buy new ones as they expire.
MEALS AND SNACK
I am part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and supply a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack included in my fee. I love to cook so having meatloaf, pulled pork, chicken pie, homemade chicken soup, and homemade pizza are all regular things I serve for lunch. The CACFP makes unannounced visits to my home four times a year to monitor what I serve the kids.
LICENSED
I participate in more than 18 hours of child care development training each year.
I am first aid and child & adult CPR certified.
I have background and fingerprint screenings every three years.
The State of NH licensing specialist makes unannounced visits at least annually.
Fire Inspection every 3 years.
Health Department inspection every 3 years.
SPECIAL EVENTS
- Birthday parties
- Christmas party
- Easter Egg hunt
- Valentine’s Day party
- St. Patrick’s Day – The Leprechaun comes!
- School Portraits
