Programs
The primary aim of Stony Brook Child Care Services is to provide a warm, supportive and creative atmosphere. Each room is "family-grouped", enabling children to interact with others of different ages. Since children at this stage of their development "learn by doing," there are plenty of hands-on activities that at times build a child's self-reliance.
The center is nationally accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, which means it has voluntarily undergone a comprehensive process of internal self-study and invited external review to verify compliance with the academy's criteria for high-quality early childhood programs.
The criteria for accreditation include:
- Frequent, positive, warm interactions among adults and children
- Planned learning activities appropriate to children's age and development, such as block building, painting, reading stories, dress-up, and active outdoor play.
- Highly trained early childhood teachers
- Enough adults to respond to individual children
- Many varied age-appropriate materials
- A healthy and safe environment for children
- Nutritious meals and/or snacks
- Regular communication with parents who are welcome visitors at all times
- Effective administration
- On-going, systematic evaluation
Stony Brook Child Care Services offers an Infant-Toddler Program for children 8 weeks to 3 years in age and a Preschool Program for children 3 years to 5 years in age.
Infant-Toddler Program
For 8 weeks to 3 years.
T
he Infant-Toddler rooms are places where early childhood professionals set up environments
for very young people to grow and develop. The atmosphere is one of warmth and respect.
The child's developing sense of safety, self esteem and competence is most important.
The Infant-Toddler classrooms are designed around the physical, emotional, social and cognitive needs of children ranging in age from 8 weeks to 3 years of age. Infants and toddlers experience incredible growth and change in the first three years of life and have different needs at each stage. For example, infant feedings and nap schedules are based upon each individual baby's needs, toddlers can enjoy community lunchtime and a planned nap time. Caregiving is a most essential part of the curriculum; teachable moments arise during diapering and toileting, meals and feedings, dressing and napping. This includes engaging children during routines as well as providing an environment rich in choices and adult-child interactions, guided by the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Visit the link, at right to the NAEYC to learn more about the mission and programs of our accrediting agency.
Our curriculum activities emerge from individual child's interests and abilities. It is the teachers' role to observe and to find opportunities to expand on these interests and abilities. Within each Infant-Toddler room areas are set up to encourage exploration and discovery. Each area in our rooms offers a wide range of choice for the children to select from. Materials in art, science, literacy, math, movement and dramatic play are set up in an inviting manner to encourage involvement and exploration. For example, there is a tiled area for art and science and small motor development (paint, paste, water, sand, utensils) carpeted areas with equipment and space for large motor exploration; puzzles, building and stacking toys to encourage problem solving and small motor skills; dramatic play props to help children role play and understand their world; quiet places to look at books and read with teachers and friends or just to relax, child sized dining tables and table height high chairs to encourage socialization and self help skills; child sized toilets and sinks to encourage independence and feelings of competence. In addition, each classroom has its own kitchen, children's bathroom, nap rooms (crib room for infants and cot rooms for toddler) and backyard.
If you would like more information about our Infant Toddler Program, please contact Josefina Gallardo-Salguero by phone (631) 632-6930, or by e-mail Josefina.Gallardo@stonybrook.edu
Preschool Program
For 3 years to 5 years
The Preschool classrooms of Stony Brook Child Care Services provide warm, nurturing
and stimulating environments where young children thrive and reach their individual
potentials at the pace that is right for them, guided by the standards of the National
Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Visit the link to the NAEYC
to learn more about the mission and programs of our accrediting agency.
The natural curiosity of children and their eagerness to learn are fostered through a variety of discovery activities, hands-on experiences and interaction with peers and adults. The environment serves as the foundation of the curriculum. The rooms and individual activity areas are furnished, equipped and arranged to foster discovery, exploration, self help skills, social interaction, independence and choices while promoting large and small motor development, language and literacy skills, math and science concepts, creativity, artistic expression and problem solving. Materials are available in the activity areas that support these goals during independent play and exploration as well as during teacher facilitated activities. In addition, each classroom has its own kitchen, children's bathroom, nap room and backyard.
Preschoolers are concrete learners, therefore children engage daily in activities like sand and water exploration, reading and storytelling, puzzles, singing, painting, dramatic play, block play, cooking, small manipulative play, gross motor indoor and outdoor activities in which they experience science, math and literacy concepts. An important part of each preschool classroom's day is meeting time which happens each morning and afternoon. This is a community building time that includes all the children and teachers in the group and focuses on group singing, games and sharing information to promote listening skills, speaking, turn taking and being part of a group.
With the support of trained early childhood educators, children are guided to become self-confident, competent and cooperative members of their group. They are encouraged to become active learners, to ask questions, to make predictions, to explore and to articulate their observations about the world around them. These are skills and abilities that serve them well now and in the future.
If you would like more information about our Preschool Program, please contact Jill Stafford by phone (631) 632-6930, or by e-mail Jill.Stafford@stonybrook.edu
Parent Handout - Getting Ready for Kindergarten
The Building Blocks of a Good Pre-K (New York Times)