About Us

Your Child Is in Great Hands

Philosophy

We believe that all children grow and develop at their own pace and while it is important to ensure children are ready for kindergarten and for life experiences, we also feel they should not be hurried through childhood. Our goal is to provide a safe learning environment where kids can simply by kids.

We feel play is an essential aspect of young children’s lives… it is essential to their well-being and development. Our preschool program provides time for free play as children need these experiences. New concepts, new skills and new understanding come to children through play. In play, children learn to formulate and organize ideas and to become more flexible in problem solving. Children’s attention begins to lengthen when they play. Their imagination can take them anywhere they want to go. During play children learn to communicate their thoughts, feeling and needs to others. We feel by arranging our child care areas to offer challenging, interesting play and learning choices at a range of developmental levels, children will learn through their play.

We balance play with many structured activities such as table time, circle time, open ended art activities, music, meals, clean up etc. We choose curriculum activities based on the needs of the children enrolled and where we feel they need to be for kindergarten. We feel it is important to help each child succeed at his or her own level and adjust projects to meet and challenge their current level of development. Teachable moments provide learning opportunities on any given day. Activities such as setting the table can be used as teaching opportunities.

Children can learn counting, patterning, and one to one correspondence setting the table. Looking up a bug they may have seen on the playground teaches them not only the information about the bug (science), but that book, magazines, and computers are resources. We strongly feel that developing their love for learning and exploration is every bit as important as their care and safety!

We believe social skill and self-help skills are essential for each child to develop and we reinforce this through modeling responsibility, acceptance, caring, sharing and respect for all children and adults. We believe by truly listening and engaging in conversations with children provides numerous opportunities for the development of emotional, language and social skills as well as enhancement of self-esteem. We are sensitive to each child’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs. We strive to meet their individual needs as well as the group’s needs as a whole. We believe given these experiences and opportunities, children will develop a positive self-esteem and love of learning that will follow them throughout their lives.

Health & Safety

Your child’s health is important to all of us.Staff are trained in CPR, First Aid, and Basic Water Safety.

Our emergency medical facility is typically Bridgton Hospital unless another facility is dictated by your insurance carrier, you, or the severity of the emergency. In case of emergency, we will make every effort to contact the parent first. Children requiring emergency treatment may be transported by a teacher or EMS for minor injuries requiring immediate treatment.

No child will be released to any person not listed on the child’s enrollment form without prior approval for the child’s parents.
When someone other than normal pick up people comes to pick up a child, prior permission from parent is required. The child may identify familiar adults or ID will be required for unfamiliar adults.
Playground and classroom equipment is cleaned and inspected regularly.
Children and staff use proper hand washing procedures before and after each meal, toileting, diapering, etc.
Child records are kept up to date and are located where all staff member can quickly access in case of emergency.
Children are only allowed in the pool area with staff supervision and preschoolers must wear life jackets unless a single child is being worked on one on one with staff, while other children are being supervised by additional staff. Children must swim 50+ feet without being labored and have parental permission to not wear a life jacket.
We are a family of nonsmokers and no smoking is permitted in any children’s areas including the classroom, pool or playground.
A first aid kit, children’s emergency information and cell phone are located at pool and brought on any field trips.
Monthly fire drills are held at various times of the day using different exits. Fire extinguishers and wired/battery fire alarms are installed and inspected regularly.
Carbon Monoxide detector is located in sleeping area.
State Fire Marshal inspects premises before each license renewal.
State licensing inspector visits the premises each year. This is an unannounced visit. Additional unannounced visit by food program inspector takes place 4 times a year.
Staff are mandated reporters of suspicion of child abuse or neglect.