Almost Home services children ranging in age from 2 months to sixth grade.  We provide childcare for infants, toddler programs, preschool, kindergarten enrichment programs, and a before and after school programs for school age children and a summer camp program as well.

Infant Programs • Toddler Programs • Preschool Programs • Kindergarten Enrichment Programs and Full Day Transitional Kindergarten • Before/After School Programs • Summer Camp Program

INFANT PROGRAM

LOVE...
Babies need love and lots of it!!!

We believe that babies need lots of love and nurturing in order to develop into loving and trusting individuals. Almost Home provides a warm and inviting environment where babies not only feel loved, but feel safe and secure.

DISCOVERY...

Babies grow and learn by observing and experiencing their world through active participation with their environment. Our teachers make sure that each day all of our babies are provided with exciting and stimulating activities that challenge and open their sensitivities to the world around them.

We provide age appropriate equipment that encourages curiosity and addresses your babies needs to experience the world through their senses.

Music, literature, and toys that promote gross and fine motor development are incorporated into the program.

DAILY SCHEDULE and COMMUNICATION...

Prior to your child’s first day at Almost Home, we invite you and your baby to visit and get to know the teachers who will be taking care of your child. During this visit you will be teaching our staff about your baby. You will share the schedule that works best for your baby, techniques for comforting, feeding, changing, etc. We will then work with you to create an individual plan to assist us in taking care of your baby.

Daily Information Form:

Each day our staff will complete a DAILY INFORMATION FORM, which will detail your child’s daily activities and schedule.  This will include naps, feedings, diaper changes, and special activities of the day.

Communication:

Parents are always welcome to stop in and visit whenever they like and may call to check on their child at any time. There are phones in each classroom so direct conversations with your child’s teacher are easily made. Parents may also chat with the staff in the morning at drop off or at pick-up time. Individual conferences may be made at any time if so desired.

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TODDLER PROGRAM

LOVE……….

Toddlers need love!

• hugs
• independence
• protection
• structure
• limits
• rituals
• routines
• consistency
• opportunities for exploration and creativity
• and most importantly to feel safe, secure, and loved
• messy stuff
• fun stuff
• books
• music
• movement
• sensory activities
• language and literature
• healthy food
• a good nap each day

Daily Schedule:

Drop off                   Free play
Circle time               Songs, finger plays, games, stories
Bathroom Break       Diaper/Potty/Hand washing
Snack                      Almost Home provides a morning and afternoon snack
Learning Centers      Art, science, imaginative play, blocks, manipulatives,
                               water play, sensory activities, puzzles, collage, finger
                               painting, cooking, etc.
Outdoor Play            Play in our playground, even in the snow!
Bathroom Break       Clean up for lunch
Lunch                       Parents provide lunch
Story Time               Always a favorite!
Bathroom Break       Diaper/Potty
Nap Time                 All our toddlers sleep on cozy cots provided by A.H.                        (They are only a few inches off the ground.)
Bathroom Break       Diaper/Potty/Hand washing
Snack                       Something yummy and healthy!
Outdoor Play            Play in our playground unless it is freezing or raining!
Learning Centers       More indoor fun
Bathroom Break        Diapers/Potty/Clean up to go home
Free Play/Pick Up     Time to unwind at the end of the day.

Toddler Curriculum

The toddler curriculum uses an integrated core curriculum in which a theme is used as a tool in the planning and development of the program. The themes vary week to week and will incorporate activities related to that theme each week.

These activities include all aspects of the program including:

• art
• music
• literature
• science
• cooking
• dance
• gross motor and fine motor development
• language development
• the ability to learn
• the ability to share
• the ability to get along with both peers and teachers in positive and constructive ways.

The activities are process oriented and emphasize the process of creating, thinking, exploring, examining, and working with materials that all promote creativity and hands on learning for children.

For example, if the theme for the week is the color red:

• The children may be asked to wear red clothes.
• They may finger paint with red paint.
• Read books about Clifford the Red Dog.
• Make their own red Jell-O.
• Learn about the letter R.
• Eat red apples for snack.
• Sing songs about the Red Fire Engine.
• Look for the color red outside in nature.

Everything is integrated so there is meaning. When there are real connections; learning occurs. It is meaningful, fun, and has a long lasting impact on a child’s brain.

Communication

Almost Home has an open door policy and parents are always welcome to come in for a visit.  Telephones are located in all classrooms and parents may call at anytime during the day and speak directly to a teacher to check up on their child.

Daily Information Forms

Daily Information forms are completed each day and include information on meals, naps, diaper changes or potty time, and special activities of the day.

Progress Reports

Individual Progress Reports will be completed and sent home twice a year. Parents may sign up for parent/teacher conferences at this time as well. However, parents may request a conference as needed at any time during the year.

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

LOVE……………

Even preschoolers need love!

Integrated Core Curriculum

Almost Home offers a child centered approach to curriculum that challenges preschoolers to explore their world. Themes are used as a tool in the development of an integrated curriculum.

This type of program helps children to understand and make connections between things.

It makes learning fun, interesting, and challenging.

Children are encouraged to gain a sense of responsibility for themselves as individuals, for the children in the class, and for their environment both in the classroom and out in the world.

What children gain from this type of learning environment:

• Positive self esteem
• Critical thinking skills
• Creative problem solving skills
• Responsibility
• Independence
• Sense of community
• Feeling of belonging
• Ability to make choices
• Creative and meaningful learning experiences
• A love for learning
• Respect for people and living things
• Good manners
• Multi-cultural awareness and appreciation
• Kindergarten preparation

The three year old class is presented with new themes on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Themes may include:

Dinosaurs                 Shapes                      Transportation        Dr. Seuss

Nutrition                    Family                       The 5 Senses            Butterflies                             

The four year old class concentrates on one thematic unit each month.  Themes may include:

Native Americans             The Solar System                The Rain Forest

Community Helpers          Plant Life                               Ocean Life  

For example, the rain forest theme includes some of the following experiences:

• They read books about the rain forest.
• Create the rain forest in the classroom with a multitude of art activities.
• They will learn about the animals that live in the rain forest.
• They may do science experiments as they learn about the layers in the rain forest.
• They will integrate math concepts by constructing graphs and charts that represent the plant life.
• Sing songs relating to the rain forest.
• They will even act out through imaginative play life in the rain forest.
• Integrated into these thematic units are:
• literature
• music
• art
• math
• science
• social studies
• sign language
• pre-reading skills
• pre-writing skills
• movement
• imaginative play
• drama
• cooking
• field trips (four year old class only)

Letter of the Week Program

Our preschool 4 class will also begin to study the alphabet by having a “letter of the week” program. Each week a new letter is introduced. The children learn the correct sound and correct way to write each letter. In addition to creating word lists for each letter of the week, and many sensory projects relating to the letter of the week, Almost Home introduces the American Sign Language hand symbol for each letter as well as many words.  This is not only fun, but helps the children to develop an even deeper connection to each letter and also is teaching them another language!

Typical Daily Schedule for 3’s and 4’s

Drop off :   Free Play

Learning Circle:  Discussion of theme, Job Chart, Calendar, Songs,                Letter of the week study (for P.S.4),

Snack                                                                           

Learning Centers: Art, science, sensory tables, puzzles, blocks,        imaginative play, manipulatives, painting, cooking, learning games, writing, cutting, collage, murals, construction materials, thematic activities, literature, poetry, drawing, cooking

Bathroom Break

Outdoor Play:  We play outside all year long, weather permitting.

Story Time

Lunch:   Parents provide lunch.

Rest: Almost Home provides individual cozy cots for all!

Bathroom Break

Snack:   Something yummy and healthy!

Outdoor Play

Learning Centers: Various learning centers available to choose from.

Free Play:  Free Play and clean up as we get ready to end the day.

Communication

Progress reports are sent home twice a year and parent conferences are offered at this time as well.

The Kindergarten Enrichment Program encourages children to explore their world in creative and exciting ways.  Almost Home encourages the children to build on the skills they are learning and creates an atmosphere in which these skills are reinforced through various activities and learning centers.

Learning by doing is our motto!

We provide children with the tools necessary to become risk takers and critical thinkers, and gain the skills they need to become constructive problem solvers.

We encourage children to explore, create, and experiment with confidence. Children are encouraged to work independently and cooperatively in small groups and together as a class.

The program provides a magnitude of hands on experiences for children to learn and grow.

The Kindergarten Enrichment program is designed to supplement the half day kindergarten program offered in the public schools.

• Almost Home offers Enrichment Programs in the morning and afternoon.
• Children may attend on a part time or full time(5 days per week) basis.
• Transportation is provided by Almost Home or the local bus company.
• Almost Home offers FULL DAY PROGRAMING during public school vacation days, staff development days, snow days, and summer.

A typical Kindergarten Enrichment Schedule:

Morning:                                                 Afternoon:

Learning Circle                                         Outdoor Play

Language Arts                                           Learning Circle

Snack                                                       Language Arts

Outdoor Play                                            Learning Centers

Learning Centers                                      Group Discussion

Group Discussion

Lunch Bunch is available between morning and afternoon enrichment.

Full Day Transitional Kindergarten

Almost Home is committed to providing a stimulating and creative Full Day Transitional Kindergarten program.

• This program is designed for both children who may need an extra year before moving onto public school kindergarten, or for families that prefer a full day experience for kindergarten.
  
  
• Learning by doing is stressed.

• Almost Home provides children with the tools they need to become risk takers and critical thinkers.

• Children are encouraged to explore, create, and experiment with confidence.

• Children work independently and cooperatively in small groups.

• The program is stimulating, creative and fun!

• We provide a magnitude of hands on experiences for children to grow and learn.

• Children who complete this program are eligible to move into Kindergarten in the public schools the following year or first grade if appropriate.

• Enrichment programs in Karate, dance, and movement are available.

• Before and After School Programs are available from 7 – 9 each morning and 3 – 6:30 each afternoon.

• Almost Home offers vacation camp during the public school vacations.

• Almost Home offers a Summer Camp program for school age children. (See details ahead.)

• Almost Home provides snack, parents provide lunch!

The program includes:

Theme based curriculum            Learning Centers               Language Arts

Creative Writing                       Cooperative Learning      Art and Music

Hand on  Math and Science      Creative Arts                     Literature based

Outdoor Play                            Field Trips                         Cooking

Enrichment Programs in Karate, Dance, and Movement available.

A typical daily schedule runs from 9:00 – 3:00.

Before and After school programs are available from 7:00 – 9:00 and 3:00 – 6:30.

• Morning Circle
• Language Arts
• Snack
• Outdoor Play
• Learning Centers
• Lunch
• Story Time
• Mon. – Science experiments and study
• Tues. – Math experiences
• Wed.- Social Studies activity
• Thurs. – Literature and Language arts activity
• Fri. – Art, cooking, music, creative arts
• Clean Up
• Circle Time

BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAM

• The Before School program is open from 7:00 – 9:00

• Transportation is available by the Almost Home busses or by the public school bus for children who attend Scotland Elementary School .
• Morning activities can include playing in the classroom, finishing up homework, having breakfast (which must be brought from home), playing games, using the computers, reading, or just relaxing before beginning a busy day.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

• The After School Program is open from 3:30 – 6:30.
• Snack is provided.
• Outdoor Play
• Homework Time
• Classroom activities include: games, crafts, computers, art, cooking, sports, and hanging out with friends.

LUNCH BUNCH

• There is a one hour window of time between the morning and afternoon Kindergarten sessions in the Ridgefield Public School .
• The Lunch Bunch allows children to remain at Almost Home before going to their public kindergarten, or after coming from their public kindergarten.
• The children must bring their own lunch and must be registered for this program in advance.

PUBLIC SCHOOL VACATION WEEKS, SNOW DAYS, HOLIDAYS

• Almost Home offers full day programs during public school vacation days, holidays and snow days, unless Almost Home is also closed for one of these reasons.
• Full Day programs include field trips, theme days, sports, cooking, etc.
• Field trips may include trips to the movies, ice skating, mini golf, playgrounds, bowling, in-house special guests and presentations.

SUMMER CAMP

The Almost Home Summer Camp offers children entering grades

1 – 6 with an action packed summer.

Field Trips are the major focus of the program. Trips may include:

• The Beardsley Zoo
• Maritime Center
• The Children’s Museum
• The American Indian Museum
• The Garbage Museum
• Kent Falls
• Putnam Park
• Movies
• Mini Golf
• Bowling
• The South Salem Wolf Reserve
• Art Spot
• Blue Fish Baseball games
• Magic Workshops
• Scavenger Hunts
• Drum and Dance Circle
• Ridgefield Library
• Local Playgrounds
• Ballard Park
• Martin Pond
• Mad Science

Swimming is also a major summer time activity. We take trips to swim at Martin Pond three times each week.

Activities at Almost Home include sports, computers, crafts, cooking, drama, science experiments, games, theme days, carnival, music, hiking, and playing outside as much as possible.

A typical CAMP DAY

• Arrival
• Morning Meeting, plans for the day
• Outdoor Play, soccer, water balloon toss, relay races
• Snack
• Crafts, Computers, Games, Drama, etc.
• Lunch
• Swim trip to Martin Pond
• Snack
• Outdoor Play at Almost Home
• Indoor Centers, cooking, games, volcano experiment, building contest, book making
• Clean up and get ready to go home!

Or

• Arrival
• Morning Meeting, organize groups for trip
• Field Trip to Maritime Center: 9:30 – 2:30. Trip includes Imax movie, lunch, tour of the Maritime Center
• Back to Almost Home
• Snack
• Outdoor Play, Soccer, Baseball, Relay Race
• Indoor Centers, maritime collages, puzzle contest, crafts, computers
• Clean up and get ready to go home.

Or

• Arrival
• Morning Meeting, plans for the day
• Trip To Duck Pin Bowling
• Pizza Lunch at Bowling Alley
• Back to Almost Home
• Outdoor Play, flag football, duck duck goose
• Snack
• Drama, plan for Talent Show
• Indoor Centers, crafts, cooking, Lego contest
• Clean up and get ready to go home.