Infants

Our program offers two infant rooms that serve infants from 8 weeks old through 18 months.  We provide a safe environment where they receive needs-based care for their individual development.  We strive to keep a 1 to 3 teacher to child ratio in the Young Infant Class for high-quality care and 1 to 3 or up to 1 to 4 in the Older Infant Class depending on ages and needs, with a maximum of 8 children in each classroom.   Our teachers have many years of experience and love to care for the youngest members of our Olive Branch families. Parents are welcome to check on their children through phone calls and visits as desired.

We check diapers every two hours and hold children to bottle feed.  Infants have individual cribs, bouncy seats, excersaucers, and swings that are assigned to them for the duration of the time they are needed.  Children have access to a variety of toys and activities for their developmental needs including everything from being held to floor (tummy) time, bouncy seat, swing, saucer, walker, riding toys, push toys, interactive toys, manipulative toys, books, etc.

Toddlers

The Toddler Room offers care for young children 15 months up to 3 years.  We maintain a 1 to 4 teacher to child ratio with a maximum of twelve children in the room.  This allows for the level of care needed as children have their first experience with routine in their school day as they move through activities as a group.

Diapers are still checked every two hours and teacher attend to individual needs throughout the day.  These children are also more independent than our infants in that they no longer have bottles (only sippy cups), feed themselves snacks (center provided) and lunch (parent provided) together at tables, move up and down stairs without being carried, have only one afternoon nap, and enjoy higher levels of activity.  Children have the opportunity to begin pretend play within their classroom, listen to books and complete hands-on projects to match their themed lessons each week, and play outdoors each day, weather permitting.

 

Preschool

Children 2.5 up to 4 years are cared-for in our Preschool Room.  This age group has a maximum of 16 children in the room with a 1 to 8 teacher to child ratio.  Children move through a schedule of activities throughout the day and have more content that is developmentally appropriate as they grow. Children eat snacks (center provided) and lunch (parent provided) together at tables and say prayer before each meal.  Weather permitting, this age group plays outside twice each day and has rest time after lunch.

Though not structured like a school-based program, children experience learning in a play-based environment.  Their social and emotional development is fostered as they increase in their interactive play and must be fully potty trained before graduating to the next class.  Children will take place in circle time with access to calendar activities that help develop understanding of days, months, counting and weather.  Children also have Bible stories and themed books read to them and then move into choice centers and activities that allow for open play and themed projects.

Pre-Kindergarten

Our oldest class in the center is Pre-K and offers care for children 3.5 years until they attend Kindergarten.  There is a maximum of 24 children in the classroom with a 1 to 10 teacher to child ratio.  Like the Preschool Class, children move through a schedule of activities throughout the day and have more content that is developmentally appropriate as they grow. Children eat snacks (center provided) and lunch (parent provided) together at tables and say prayer before each meal.  Weather permitting, this age group plays outside twice each day and has rest time after lunch.

Programming at this age is also not organized like a school-based program, but offers more structure and content as children develop.  Theme-based lessons are written for each week that give children experience with all kindergarten-readiness skills including basic math, science, and literacy concepts.  There is a Bible theme each week for spiritual development, and social and emotional development are high priority as we teach children to be more independent, share, take turns, move as a group and complete simple activities.  Hands-on projects that allow for individual-expression accompany most lessons.  Children will receive access to all content and skills necessary to be well-prepared for kindergarten in our play-based environment.