February 13, 2011

Our Classroom Online Daily Sheets: We’ll electronically track daily information about your child’s feedings, diapering, sleeping, moods, activities, photos, and more! This information is accessible from your computer or through a Smartphone or iPad application. You’ll have…

February 13, 2011

Our Classroom

Online Daily Sheets: We’ll electronically track daily information about your baby’s feedings, diapering, sleeping, moods, activities, photos, and more!  This information is accessible from your computer or through a Smartphone or iPad application.  You’ll have peace of mind while you watch what your baby is doing while in our care.

Age Range:
Infants that are 6 weeks of age through 16 months.

Small Student/Teacher Ratio: 4:1

Non-Mobile Area: This is a separate area in our classroom, away from crawling and walking babies, where your baby can practice tummy-time, play on the floor with a teacher, or enjoy his or her bottle while being held in a rocking chair without having the older infants in this space.

Diaper Changing Area: Our changing tables are sanitized after every diaper change.  Just like the teacher, your baby will have his/her hands washed after every diaper change.

Kitchen: Our infant classrooms offer a full-size kitchen which includes a fridge and sink.

Quiet Nap Room: The nap room is separated from active babies.  Your baby will have a restful sleep in our softly lit nap room filled with gentle lullabies. The room is monitored continuously.  Your baby will have his/her own designated crib and sheets provided by us.  To add the comfort of home, you are welcome to bring in your baby’s pacifier for use during nap times.

Our Teachers

Experienced: Our lead teachers have many years of experience and specialized education in child development!  Sue has over 30 years of experience and has been with us since 2016 and Kristi has been with us since 1998.  Our teachers are very familiar and comfortable responding to your baby’s messages and cues to determine his/her needs.

Loving: Our teachers will comfort your baby by holding him/her close, rocking or talking quietly when he/she is crying or upset.  They’ll hold your baby during feeding times and talk to him/her in soothing and reassuring tones.

Consistent: We know providing a limited number of consistent, qualified caregivers is a large part of building trust and security at our Center.  We have regular staff with very little turn over that children and families can count on.  Providing infants with an environment that encourages positive interaction in familiar surroundings as well as lots of positive encouragement & hugs also promotes trust and security at our Center.  We make every effort to quickly answer each baby’s cues, acknowledge anxiety, and offer loving support and reassurance to children in our care.

Our Curriculum

Children’s Discovery Academy celebrates the fact that we do not teach from a boxed curriculum but instead employ caring, qualified educators to write curriculum which meets all of the early childhood indicators of progress.  This way, we can ensure we are meeting the individual needs of your child.

Baby Sign Language: The teachers at Children’s Discovery Academy will talk out loud to your baby while signing.  This will help your baby communicate with sign language before they are able to verbally communicate.

A daily schedule directed by you!  Everyday, you can expect a detailed written summary of your baby’s busy day.  This summary will include nap times, feeding times, summary of diaper changes, activities, and development.

Toys and Activities: Our teachers will stimulate your baby through a variety of activities that promote learning such as reading stories, singing songs, playing games, exploring musical instruments, going for walks, crawling on climbers in our classroom and in our indoor gym, etc.

Social Development: Your baby will build friendships with classmates that will continue for years to come as they advance to the toddler and preschool programs with other students.  Teachers promote positive relationships with other children consistently by talking about what children are doing, providing opportunities to play in small groups, and by using names and other identifying characteristics to promote comfort and familiarity with others.  We have multiple toys to encourage parallel play instead of expecting infants to always take turns.  We talk about the emotions of other children and provide opportunities for imitation during songs and other play.

Emotional Development: Positive relationships with teachers will develop a sense of trust in the world.

Small motor development: Opportunities for babies to reach, pull, grasp are part of our daily environment.  Teachers encourage babies to hold their fingers,  Older babies are practicing grasping by feeding themselves.  We provide a variety of age-appropriate equipment to encourage fine motor skills (shape sorters, nesting blocks, simple puzzles, stacking rigs).  Older infants are given daily opportunities to do art projects which require holding a paint brush, crayons, etc.  Children are given daily opportunities for sensory experiences which require fine motor skills.

Large Motor Development: Rolling over, pushing up, crawling, taking steps, walking and running are all huge milestones for your baby.  He/she will have the freedom to move about safely in the classroom while working on these tasks.  Also, the exposure to climbing cubes and mats in the gym will help expand his/her large motor development.


Read Reviews from Infant Parents:

Love the infant room!

Very happy

We love CDA!

Stress Free

Amazing Infant Room

Loving daycare!

Highly Recommended!

My child’s second home

Very Happy

Infant

We love CDA

Great Day Care!!

Highly recommend CDA!!

February 13, 2011

Children’s Discovery Academy offers programs for children as young as 6 weeks of age and we care for them all the way through Pre-K.  All of our classrooms are self contained so children are grouped…

February 13, 2011

Children’s Discovery Academy values our parent’s participation and interest in our Web site. Our online privacy policy guarantees the privacy of our guests. If we collect personal information, we use it only for internal purposes…

February 13, 2011

Hours and Cancellation

Children’s Discovery is open from 6:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Monday through Friday throughout the year with the exception of the following six holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. We will close at 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve Day.  FULL TUITION IS CHARGED FOR THE ABOVE HOLIDAY WEEKS.

Closures Due to Adverse Weather, Illness, or Emergency:

Children’s Discovery Academy is committed to being open.  In the event of extreme adverse weather that threatens the safety of our children and staff, a decision to close or remain open will be made based on current information from the National Weather Service and local news outlets.

In the event of a closure due to illness, Children’s Discovery Academy will make any closure decision based on current public health guidance recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health.

All other emergency circumstances resulting in decision to close will be based on the health and safety of children, in accordance with our license.

In the event of a center closure or late start, information will be communicated to families via email as early as possible.  If the center must close while children are present, families will also receive a phone call with closure information- in this case, parents will need to make arrangements to pick up children within one hour.  Under the circumstances we are forced to close for the health and safety of our children and staff, FULL TUITION WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE DAYS.  If we do not have enough teachers to open the center or classroom, tuition will not be charged during the closure.

Non-Discrimination Policy

In accordance with applicable Federal civil rights laws, Children’s Discovery Academy is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Clothing

It is essential to send along a complete change of clothing to be left at Children’s Discovery. Children’s clothes are very much alike in looks and size. Clothes NEED TO BE CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE CHILD’S FULL NAME.

Communication

A Program Plan has been written to insure all of these areas are being developed in each child.  This Program Plan is on file and is open to parents’ viewing at any time.  Programs are designed to enhance the child’s self-identification and group social involvement.

In order to share these commitments with you, a monthly planned schedule from your child’s teacher is available.

Parents are requested to read classroom and center emails to be aware of important information.  Additionally, each family will receive information on how to sign up for electronic daily information, specific to their child.  Teachers may also be reached by phone, email, and by messaging through Daily Connect.

Conferences are scheduled twice during the year to better acquaint the parents with our programs through personal discussion with the teachers.  Progress reports are written on each child at these times, and conferences can be arranged at any time on a particular concern that may arise.  Together we can better assure a more positive and satisfying environment so important to your child.

As a parent, you are welcome to visit Children’s Discovery any time during the hours of operation.  We encourage parents to use their discretion in choosing times that won’t disrupt your child’s day.

Discipline

Our staff is dedicated to search out the positive aspects of all the children.  If a problem develops in a particular situation, we will continue to search out alternate methods to bring the child back to appropriate behavior.  Personal relations that develop between teacher and child will normally lead to positive actions.  If the child’s behavior remains disruptive, the child may be removed from the class activity for a brief period.  If our staff cannot resolve the situation along with the help of the parents and outside resources, we will recommend that you find alternate care for your child.  The child is never physically or mentally abused by any member of our staff within Children’s Discovery Academy.  The full text of our discipline policy is available to families upon enrollment, or at request.

Field Trips

Fully supervised trips are planned to places of interest for children.  Children’s Discovery Academy will provide the same adequate, responsible supervision for these excursions as is provided to the children while in attendance at the Academy.  Bus service will be arranged through a qualified company.  You are responsible to sign a field trip permission slip.  If you do not choose to have your child attend a particular field trip, you must find alternate care and no childcare fee reduction will be given.

Insurance

Children’s Discovery Academy meets or exceeds the insurance policy requirements by government agencies.

Nutrition and Rest Time

Children’s Discovery Academy employs a full-time cook who will provide your child with the nutritional needs required for that part of the day in attendance.  These needs include snacks in the morning and afternoon, as well as a balanced lunch.  Breakfast can be provided at an additional cost.  Breakfast is required of children attending nine or more hours.  Our breakfasts are prepared for a predetermined number of children.  Because of this reason, if your child is signed up for breakfast, there will be NO CREDITS given for breakfasts.  This applies to days your child is NOT in attendance.

For children too young to eat table foods, parents should bring a daily supply of formula or breast milk and baby foods.  In this way, we can ensure each individual child will be eating a daily diet that is set for his/her specific needs.

If children bring treats to be shared with other children at school, they must be store bought and in their original unopened container.  NO HOMEMADE FOOD MADE OFF OUR PREMISES WILL BE SERVED TO CHILDREN AT CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY.

Each afternoon there will be a quiet time offered so children may rest quietly on their cots or engage in quiet activities (toddler ,preschool, & Pre-K).  Please bring in a small blanket and pillow to school for this time of day.

Potty Training

Children enrolled in preschool or Pre-K  must be toilet trained before attending preschool or Pre-K. Children must be wearing underwear. A child having accidents daily would not be considered toilet trained. Please note that wearing pull-ups is NOT considered toilet trained.  You can read our full toilet training policy here.

Parent’s Grievance Policy

Children’s Discovery Academy has a written grievance policy on file in the office for parents use whenever they deem necessary.

Pets

Children’s Discovery Academy will occasionally have small household pets in our classrooms.  Pets must be approved by the Center Director.

Research and Public Relations

Children’s Discovery Academy will obtain written permission from each parent before their child is involved in experimental RESEARCH or public relations activities while at Children’s Discovery Academy.

Privacy Notice

Children’s Discovery Academy’s full Privacy Notice can be found HERE.

Transportation

Parents must provide transportation to and from Children’s Discovery Academy.  Your child must be signed IN and OUT each day in order for our facility to accept legal responsibility.  Parents are also responsible for bringing the child’s belongings to the appropriate classroom.  Parents must fill out appropriate forms stating who has permission to pick up their child/children.  In the event someone other than the parent must pick up your child, please notify the office.  These people must be able to show an I.D. to prove they are whom they say.

Child Pick-up

Unless notified, a child will only be released to leave Children’s Discovery Academy with a custodial parent or guardian.  If you would like someone else to pick up your child, please call us or write a note authorizing us to release your child from Children’s Discovery Academy with the designated person.  Any person picking up a child that we have not met before is required to present their photo ID before we will release the child to them.

Child Pick-up by Unauthorized Person

If an unauthorized person attempts to pick up a child in our care, the child will not be released to their care and the appropriate parent or guardian will be contacted.

Child Pick-up by Incapacitated/Impaired Person

If an incapacitated/impaired person attempts to pick up a child, we will call another person to pick up the child.  If the incapacitated/impaired person refuses to leave the child at Children’s Discovery Academy, we will call the sheriff’s office.

February 13, 2011

“We looked at many day care centers. Children’s Discovery seemed to “feel right” for us. The teachers seemed very engaging and professional. We also really liked the educational activities and programs offered by the center.”…

February 13, 2011

“My daughter is entering the third grade and it is wonderful that the bus picks her up and drops her off right at Children’s Discovery. She never has to stand outside in bad weather and…

February 13, 2011

“This is not just a day care center. Let’s be honest, this is a 2nd home for our child. He has spent more time there than at our home. As a working parent, we need…

February 13, 2011

“Both my children have been enrolled at Children’s Discovery since infancy and they now participate in the school age program. My husband’s and my, and more importantly my children’s, experience has been extraordinary. The children…

February 13, 2011

“27 years ago we brought our son to daycare at Children’s Discovery. He learned so much there and went on to being enrolled in gifted programs. As it goes, he moved to California. 22 years…

February 13, 2011

“Both Christopher and Patrick started at Children’s and moved through the Kindergarten program. Both boys have been tested as gifted and are making excellent grades. More importantly, however, they are both very well adjusted and…

February 13, 2011

“Rhiannon visited 10 preschools and came up with a list of 3 possible choices. I visited the 3, and ranked them independently. In retrospect, it is no surprise that each of us chose Children’s Discovery…

February 13, 2011

“We are very satisfied and happy with the care that has been provided to my son who has been at Children’s Discovery for 5 years and my daughter who has been here for 1 year!…

February 13, 2011

“25 years ago, we brought our son to what was then called ‘Little Canada Child Care Center’, at the ripe old age of 3 years old. Karl was a shy child, who spent many of…

February 13, 2011

“We decided to bring our children to Children’s Discovery after we had some difficulties at our prior center. Our previous center lacked an organized preschool program and we were looking for a more structured program…

February 13, 2011

Our son is enrolled in full-time daycare and started out in the toddler room. He is now in the process of advancing from preschool to prekindergarten. My husband and I have been very happy with…

February 13, 2011

Before Ella was born, we researched dozens of daycares and toured those we felt might provide excellent care. We chose Children’s Discovery because it was very conveniently located and we were confident after meeting the…

February 13, 2011

“We decided to bring my son to Children’s Discovery because it felt as the “right place” safe, educational-oriented, clean and warm. My husband and I are very happy with our son’s development while attending Children’s…

February 13, 2011

“The staff are wonderful! We started at Children’s Discovery seven years ago. Many staff members who were working at the center when we started are still there. There is very little staff turnover and that…

February 13, 2011

“My daughter started at Children’s Discovery approximately three months ago and I am very happy that we chose Children’s Discovery. The Infant teacher, assistants and aides are great with my daughter. The staff are very…

February 13, 2011

“The staff at the center, especially in the infant room, go above and beyond our expectations on a regular basis. They keep an eye out for those subtle little things that can often be overlooked….

February 13, 2011

“It is very rewarding to see how much the teachers pay attention to the details of each child. We’re very pleased with our decision to have Samuel attend Children’s Discovery. The trained, long-term staff and…