Welcome to the Dandy Ducks’ Room!
Welcome to the Toddler Program. We’re extremely proud of our unique environment. Our open concept allows us the opportunity to work creatively together and helps develop a family atmosphere. We want your child’s experience at MudPies to be positive, and we feel the first step in establishing a successful program is communication. The following suggestions will make the transition to our room smoother for your family.
ARRIVAL
Arrival times are busy for teachers and parents alike. Please help by placing your child’s bottles and food in the designated spaces and the remaining items in the appropriate cubby or drawer. You may relay any messages to your child’s teacher at this time; however, we recommend written instructions for important messages.
Most children respond better to a firm, quick good-bye. Lingering can make the separation much more difficult for many children. We have observation windows outside the classrooms. If you have concerns, feel free to observe or to call back and check on your child later in the morning. Most children settle into the daily routine very quickly after the initial separation.
FOOD
Some toddlers may still use a pacifier. We encourage children to limit pacifiers to nap periods whenever possible. Children who have a bottle or pacifier do not learn to communicate with language as quickly. If your child is still attached to a pacifier, we will work with you to eliminate it during playtime as well as any bottles during the day.
Many of our children have already begun eating table foods and drinking out of sippy cups. When your child is ready for this stage, we will cooperate in every way possible. We cut table foods into small pieces and are careful about the foods we select. Our lunchtime is from 11:00-11:30. Our menus are posted in the multi-purpose room near the kitchen and here in the room! Take a copy home if you would like!
SUPPLIES
MudPies supplies sheets, blankets, and bibs. You are encouraged to bring special items if you would like.
Children need to feel good about them! We use positive guidance techniques to enhance the child’s self worth. We encourage play- and having fun. However, learning independence, developing responsibility and conquering self-help skills can be very MESSY. Please leave two SEASONAL changes of clothing at the center at all times. This is a state law and required in all rooms! We play outdoors every day, weather permitting.
We encourage security items during naps. Children in our classroom will learn to nap on a mat quickly as children adapt readily to mats. Naptime immediately follows lunch and the children start waking up around 1:00-1:30.
All food and bottles and cups MUST be labeled and dated in order for us to meet state licensing requirements. Please use a permanent marker to mark items, and check on a routine basis to see that all items are labeled. We cannot keep unlabeled bottles or food items in the room and we will discard any items not labeled or dated!
DAILY COMMUNICATION
Please help us with our record keeping by signing your child’s in & out each day when you arrive and again when you pick up your child at the end of the day. Our staff will be happy to help if necessary.
Each day the teachers will record your child’s activities on a Daily Report. Feedings, diaper changes, and naps will be listed on the form. Please take this form home daily!
Some children may experience signs of stress when entering a new environment. They may cling, act shy, become more aggressive, or cry and tire more easily. These are all normal symptoms of change and will disappear as your child comes to know our routines and us.
You can help by being supportive, cheerful, positive and relaxed. Give the change a few weeks and we’ll be great friends. Of course, if you have any discomfort or have questions now, we want to help. Communications and a great relationship are our ultimate goal.
Our main objective at MudPies is to provide a positive atmosphere, which will help your child grow physically, intellectually, socially and emotionally. Learning experiences appropriate for the development age of our group are provided daily. Toddlers are very active and need lots of space to discover their world. Your toddler will spend much of the day involved in free play inside and outside, and will enjoy many different experiences in art, nature, music, and stories. A Weekly Activity Plan and a Daily Schedule are posted in our classroom for your review. Notes on the dry erase board outside the classroom door will describe the day’s activities.
When necessary teachers may receive calls from parents to discuss specific situations concerning their child. However, an appointment should be made for extended conversations, as it can be difficult for the teacher to answer the phone or talk with parents during transition times.
If you plan to be at a number other than the numbers listed on your enrollment form, please leave the emergency number with our staff.
SAFETY
Please be considerate of other children in the Toddler Room. Small earrings, which may fall out of the child’s ear lobes, barrettes or other accessories, can easily be swallowed. We recommend that these items not be used.
Young children can develop illness and fever quickly. Please make arrangements to pick up your child as quickly as possible when called for an emergency. Delays in departure are difficult for the child who is sick as well as for other staff and children.
Medications must be listed and signed for on the permission form at the front desk, and then locked in the appropriate location. Ask one of our staff if the procedure is unfamiliar to you. Please do NOT leave medicines in the classroom or in diaper bag; children can be very inquisitive! A MudPies staff person will give medications between 11:00a.m and 12:00.
Please adjust your schedule accordingly. We ask that you remove all medicine daily as it cannot be left overnight.
Our staff will alert you to any other potentially hazardous situations. Together we will find a suitable solution to the problem.
Small children do best when they follow a consistent schedule. Help your child to have a better day by providing adequate rest, consistent rules and a loving and happy relationship with the adults in his or her life.
It is very important to us that we form a bond with your family. Children cannot feel safe and secure until they trust our care. For some children this is very easy; they may hug and kiss us on their very first day. Others are more hesitant – they watch and see. The bond we form with you is the key to the relationship we have with your child. The more we work at forming a trusting friendship, the easier it is for your child to trust and love us.
This trust does not mean you accept us unconditionally, but that you feel you can ask questions and we will listen. Bonding begins with communication. Let’s begin working on this relationship right away!
Together for Children,
Dandy Ducks Teachers
