Why are we special
We know that as parents and caregivers you have your pick when it comes to childcare. There are plenty of places that will take great care of your children, but at Nature’s Edge Child Development Center we believe in going beyond that. A few of the ways that we strive to stand apart from the rest of the crowd include:
These are just some of the ways that we stand out from the crowd while providing exemplary care for the most precious things in your life – your children.
- Including toilet training at no extra cost
- Providing 2 healthy meals + 1 healthy snack at no extra cost
- Maintaining a ratio of 1:8 in the 2s and 3s class
- Providing the opportunity for parents to track their child’s progress throughout the day using our Brightwheel app
- Offering extracurricular activities for the children, including a yoga instructor and Spanish lessons
- Adhering to a play-based curriculum led by both the teachers and the children
- Offering weekend hours on Saturdays from 7:30-5:30 pm for those caregivers who work on the weekend
- Staying open year round
- Accepting subsidy programs (Children’s Home Society, Crystal Stairs, and DCFS)
These are just some of the ways that we stand out from the crowd while providing exemplary care for the most precious things in your life – your children.
Brightwheel App
We are pleased to announce the use of the parent/teacher app, Bright Wheel, as part of our program. With Brightwheel we can easily track your child’s progress throughout the day, including what they ate during mealtimes, how long they napped for, and any other developmental observations we may notice throughout the day. Additionally, we can upload photos and videos so you can experience the day with your child as if you were actually in the facility with them! The Brightwheel app is a streamlined, easy to use app that works on any device and will keep you connected to your child and their teachers like never before.
We are pleased to announce the use of the parent/teacher app, Bright Wheel, as part of our program. With Brightwheel we can easily track your child’s progress throughout the day, including what they ate during mealtimes, how long they napped for, and any other developmental observations we may notice throughout the day. Additionally, we can upload photos and videos so you can experience the day with your child as if you were actually in the facility with them! The Brightwheel app is a streamlined, easy to use app that works on any device and will keep you connected to your child and their teachers like never before.
Extra- Curricular Activities
|
Weekly Yoga Class: Weekly Yoga Class conducted by a certified yoga Instructor Susan Mapes Every Thursday 10:30 am to 11:15 am Feedmysoulproject.com |
|
Our Program
|
Vision
Nature’s Edge Child Development Center strives to be a place full of joy, a small community within a large city. We wish to be a place for children, teachers, and families to enjoy their journey of discovery.
|
Mission
Our mission is to offer quality childcare that supports a child’s growth in all areas of development. We believe in creating a stimulating environment where children use their senses to explore and discover the world around them. Our goal is that children learn and develop at their own pace through play and interaction in an emergent curriculum.
|
Assessment
Appropriate early childhood assessment is essential to the philosophy and curriculum of our program. During your first “intake” meeting, when you enroll your child, we will use their “developmental history” to inform planning (Ages and Stages Questionnaires). This important first assessment meeting gives you the chance to tell us about your child so that we can be prepared to welcome your family to the learning community of NECDC.
Your child’s individual development is addressed informally and routinely through the teacher’s daily observations and interactions with the children. We will look at all areas of a child’s development – physical, social, emotional, and cognitive in the context of both the individual child as well as through the daily life of our center. Our staff will use a variety of tools to support their observations and recommendations for the next steps and these will be shared with you as part of our parent and teacher conference procedures. We will want to talk about your child’s strengths and individual goals as well as how your child negotiates the social environment of our program. Assessment is a collaborative process and begins as soon as you enroll your child with our program. A portfolio of your child will be prepared when they arrive and may be presented in a combination of formats incorporating photographs, text, and work samples when they graduate from preschool.
Your child’s individual development is addressed informally and routinely through the teacher’s daily observations and interactions with the children. We will look at all areas of a child’s development – physical, social, emotional, and cognitive in the context of both the individual child as well as through the daily life of our center. Our staff will use a variety of tools to support their observations and recommendations for the next steps and these will be shared with you as part of our parent and teacher conference procedures. We will want to talk about your child’s strengths and individual goals as well as how your child negotiates the social environment of our program. Assessment is a collaborative process and begins as soon as you enroll your child with our program. A portfolio of your child will be prepared when they arrive and may be presented in a combination of formats incorporating photographs, text, and work samples when they graduate from preschool.
Nutritional Program
We participate in the Korean American food program with USDA Standards. Our weekly menus are posted on the Parent Bulletin Board and also available on our website. The Chef makes lunch and three snacks daily. Menus are based on local and sustainable fresh produce, meat, 1% milk and low-fat dairy, whole grains, and simple recipes to make fresh and flavorful food. Pre-K classroom meals are served family-style so that students can engage with food and learn skills to become independent.
The following principles are used for menu planning guidelines:
- Appropriate portion sizes for each required meal component set by U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines of the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
- Consideration of student’s food allergies.
- Local, seasonal, and sustainable produce.
- Engage the senses: smell the aromas, notice the colors, feel, compare & contrast textures
- Practice safe and healthy food preparation habits
