Infant/Toddler/Tiny Tots Program(3 months- 3 years)
The program is offered at Academy Hills(Rockville), Stone Mill(North Potomac) and Cold Spring(Potomac) centers.
Academy offers carefully designed environments for our youngest children, starting at three months of age. Specially trained staff nurture and guide the little ones through these formative years. Continuity of care and secure, loving relationships prepare children for their emerging independence. The Tiny Tots staff will assist with "potty training" for two and three year olds. Staff ratios are excellent and usually exceed recommendations. A l: 3 ratio is maintained in the Infant/Toddler room and a 1:6 ratio in the Tiny Tots. Staffing for each classroom depends on the ages of the children, the number of children in the group, and the individual classroom size. All teachers maintain current infant/child CPR and First Aid. To help maintain a healthy environment for all, parents must furnish documentation of immunizations, medical conditions, and medication orders according to schedule.
Staff members are selected according to Academy policies, OCC licensing requirements, and NAEYC accreditation guidelines. In addition to early childhood credentials, all teachers have completed course work specific to children, birth to age three. Each infant and toddler will be assigned a primary care provider who will be responsible for working with parents regarding their child's activities, growth and development. Every two months, parents need to provide the center with an updated written daily schedule for their child.
The program will be individually developed according to NAEYC child development standards, individual needs, and center constraints. Developmentally appropriate activities are child-centered, directed toward the natural interests and inclinations of children. The activities are also need-centered, directed toward the physical, emotional, cognitive and social abilities of children as determined by normal expectations.
Parent communication will be on a daily basis via the completion of a daily log and through morning and afternoon dialogue between parents and teachers. Parents are strongly encouraged to share information with staff and should put important information in writing. Staff will complete the log indicating feeding patterns, diapering schedules, sleeping and daily highlights. The OUNCE Scale will be used to document children's growth in the 7 domains of learning. Parent meetings and workshops will be held periodically to give parents the opportunity to meet with the staff and with other parents who have children at Academy.
Food Guidelines: Parents and staff will develop a feeding plan which indicates the time of the feeding, amounts of food, and the kinds of food to be consumed. All food is to be provided by the parent to accommodate various diet plans. However, health and safety requirements will only allow Academy staff to serve food that is:
- Commercially pre-bottled formula.
- Breast milk, formula, juice and water that has been pre-bottled at home and brought in by parent.
- commercially packaged baby food that is opened at the center and used the same day (unused portions will be sent home). Food must be prepared at home and brought to the center as it is to be served.
- Developmentally appropriate foods for snack or lunch prepared by the parent and consumed by the child the same day.
- Academy provides breakfast snack and afternoon snack for children 2 years and older.
- If appropriate, food will be heated. Only Infant/Toddler food will be refrigerated.
Equipment/Furnishings/Materials: All children have individual cots or cribs. Cribs meet the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Each crib has Plexiglas ends, a snugly fitting sheet and a moisture proof covering. Cribs and sheets are washed daily; weekly for Tiny Tots. The cleaning of other bed coverings is the responsibility of the parents. Furniture and equipment will be purchased with safety in mind. Walkers are not permitted. Ample toys and materials are available to stimulate language, motor, cognitive, and social development. Infant room toys are sanitized daily and at least weekly, or more, in the Tiny Tots room.
Diapering/ Toilet Training: Each parent will furnish disposable diapers/training pants, diaper wipes, and diaper creams or ointments (with completed medication order). Staff will follow Health Department approved hand washing, diaper changing, disposal, and bleach clean-up procedures which are posted above each diapering table, sink, and toilet. Universal precautions are practiced. Soiled clothing will be placed in a plastic bag and put in the child's cubby. All supplies will be conveniently located for easy accessibility. No child will be left unattended in the bathroom or on the changing tables at any time.