Ages 6 weeks to 12 months

• Personalized care that fits individual schedules, nutritional needs, playtime activities, and naps
• Open environment which promotes exploration and curiosity in age-appropriate, safe spaces
• Individualized lesson plans that promote developmental milestones, including cognitive, gross motor, music, and verbal, including basic sign language.
• Nurturing the development of social-emotional skills including calming when upset and encouraging the verbalization of emotions and feelings

Ages 12 to 30 months

• Curriculum leans into individual goals through play-based learning games focusing on art, music, literacy, language, match connections, and sensory exploration. 
• Age-appropriate toys, games, artwork, and supplies are available and an integral part of structured and choice activities
• Younger toddlers focus on language development with sign language in a print-rich environment
• Older toddlers focus on self-help skills and practicing to be independent and solve problems
• Social-emotional skills and language are modelled by teachers to help toddlers learn how to express their emotions and feeling

Ages 30 months to 4 years

• Small group instruction
• Focus on language, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills development
• Social and emotional growth from organic and supervised peer interactions
• Curriculum and lesson plans integrate developing fine motor and gross motor while leaning into academic subjects including math, science, art, and literacy

Ages 4 to 5 years

• Small group learning approaches unique to each child in the class
• Project-based learning experiences allowing youth to build and master skills over an extended period of time
• Kindergarten-readiness transition plans including learning how to walk in a line, follow directions, and raise hands
• Focus on problem solving and social-emotional skills development 
• Curriculum and lesson plans designed to support the pre-academic areas with math, science, and literacy
   

Role Modeling

Teachers participate in meals through conversations about the food served, being present at the tables, and encouraging trying new food.  Menus offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on a daily basis.

Physical Activity

Ensure that children engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity for half-day programs and 60 minutes for full-day programs, including a mix of moderate and vigorous physical activities that promote bone and muscle strengthening. Play will take place daily outdoors whenever possible.

Screen Time

Eliminate screen time for children under two years of age. For children over two, screen time is limited to less than 30 minutes per day for children in half-day programs and less than one hour per day for those in full-day programs. 

Food

Serve fruits or vegetables at every meal and snack. Children serve themselves (family-style). No partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat), fried, or pre-fried foods. Serve whole grains when grains are served. Serve foods free of sugar as one of the first three ingredients or less than eight grams of added sugar.

Beverages

Offer water at the table during every meal and accessible at all times. Serve only water and plain, low-fat (one percent) or non-fat milk.

Family Engagement

Engage parents and caregivers using informational materials and activities focused on healthy eating and physical activity a minimum of once per quarter