Small Treasures Child Care in Severn, Maryland
Our MissionIt is the mission of Small Treasures Childcare to provide a safe and educational environment that allows each child to discover and explore the world around them, while helping them develop and grow intellectually, socially and emotionally.
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Our PhilosophySmall Treasures Childcare maintains a dedicated commitment to providing children with a nurturing and caring environment, that promotes learning and independence; while building lifetime bonds and friendships. Also achieving this at a cost families can afford.
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AdvantagesBeing a licensed and Nationally Accredited child care allows us to stand above the rest. As we provide the highest quality of child care available. With the flexibility of a family child care and the quality education of a Child Care Center we're the Best Child Care in Severn, MD.
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Our Curriculum
Age Appropriate Curriculum
All children are taught using an age and developmentally appropriate curriculum, made to help them achieve milestones.
Individualized Learning
All lesson plans are modeled to incorporate all learning styles, allowing children to lean their own unique way.
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Low Teacher to Student Ratios
With dedicated teachers and staff we are able to provide children with small group sizes for individual attention.
Learning Through Play
Play helps develop a love of life long learning. We plan each activity based on lesson plans and learning goals.
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Why Choose UsOur Daycare stands out from the rest by holding the highest standards daily.
TESTIMONIALSPraesent vestibulum molestie lacus. Aenean nonummy henrit mauris. Phasellus porta. Fusce suscipit varius mi. Cum sociis natoque penatibu et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridicu lus mus. Nulla dui. Fusce feugiat malesuada. - J. Anderson |
What Accreditation Means and Why It Matters
Holding a national accreditation means that our child care has been reviewed by a nationally recognized independent agency to ensure we are providing the highest quality of care available. Getting accredited is not an easy task, and because of this less than 10% of all child care’s nation wide hold an accreditation. When we talk only day care in a family home independently, those statistics drop drastically more. To meet accreditation standards and maintain the status of being accredited our child care must practice a strict process daily. This process involves provider and staff training, client’s family participation, health and safety inspections and classroom and curriculum observations. NAFCC holds daycare's to a much higher standard than those required by the state’s child care licensing agency. Everyday we must meet, not only licensing standards but, the highest standard for child care across the nation!
Our Accreditation Shows a Commitment to All Children
Our child care decided to become accredited, and continues to maintain our highest standard of excellence to show our commitment to the families we serve and the children we care for. We strongly believe in the philosophy that every child deserves the best education in the safest environment during the most important years of their development. Each family that attends our care notes the incredible difference they see in not only the service they receive but the development and growth of their children.
You Can Count On Us
Holding and maintaining our accreditation creates an environment where staff is constantly working to create improvements in all areas of the Child Care. Our Daycare makes it a daily mission to provide the best care and educational experience to every child while being able to offer families:
- The Staff: Our staff are always held to a professional standard. We only hire based on experience and qualification. Every Staff member is expected to be safe, nurturing, while forming bonds with the children and building trust with our families.
- The Environment: You will always find a safe and organized environment that is ready for children to learn and grow in. Our daily routines will be followed as closely as possible, so every child feels safe and secure in their environment.
- The Curriculum: Our curriculum is approved for state licensing and accreditation. We use the curriculums we do because it is designed to evoke a love of learning and exploration in young children. All curriculum is based on developmental abilities, so each age group has their own specially planned curriculum that will help them meet their next milestones and explore the world around them.
Who is Our Accredits Through
Our child care holds national accreditation from National Accreditation of Family Child Care the only national early childhood accreditation agency for family child care.
We are licensed through the state of Maryland.
We are licensed through the state of Maryland.
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Health and Safety
When seeking child care for your little one we understand where parent’s priorities lie. Appropriate development and education are important, but health and safety is the most important. Therefore, Small Treasures Child Care has implemented extensive health and safety policies through out our child care home.
Strong Minds Start with Strong Bodies
Small Treasures Child Care provides a variety of healthy meals and snacks. All menu items are planned according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommended food guidelines. Each age group has a separate set of guidelines that provide optimal nutrition for each child’s phase in development. You can ensure that each day while in care your child is being fed a diet that is healthy and portioned appropriately. All meals are prepared in accordance to Safe Food Handling Guidelines to also ensure that children are not exposed o foodborne illnesses or bacteria.
Servings and Nutrition for Children
Each meal is prepared to include different food groups. Meat or meat alternatives, milk, fruit, vegetables and bread/ grains are included in meals through out the day for proper nutrition.
- All snacks and meals provide children with the proper amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates to give them energy and proper nutrition to grow. This also means that each child’s total calorie counts each day is met based on their age group and activity levels.
- With all food served in care we limit sodium and sugars while being sure daily fiber intakes are met.
Allergies and Special Diets
Please be sure to always notify our staff of any allergies or special diet concerns your child may have upon initial interview. This way we can work with your family to provide any accommodations that may need to be met for us to offer your little one the best nutrition for them. At times we may need a note from your doctor as required by the USDA family child care food program.
Some Ways We Ensure Safety Everyday
Staff
All staff employed at Small Treasures Child Care are held to a high professional standard. Each employee must Complete the following upon employment:
· Pass a criminal Background check through the state of Maryland
· First aid and CPR
· Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect training
· Emergency preparedness training
· Know and follow all Licensing regulations and accreditation standards
· Medication administration training
· Complete 12 hours of training pertaining to childcare, each year
Environmental Health
Your child’s health is one of the most critical factors in their early childhood development and we take it vary seriously!
In the kitchen food is always handled and pepped with the utmost caution to ensure that every meal is safe and healthy. All staff follow strict procedures for hand washing, food handling and surface decontamination.
In all areas of the child care home, surfaces and equipment are regularly cleaned, sanitized and disinfected as needed. You can ensure that when your child is in care they are in a healthy clean environment at all times.
Personal Safety
Going above and beyond as we always do here, our child care takes safety to a whole new level. With constant video monitoring of the entire family care home (excluding private areas) you can ensure that we have a constant eye on every child and employee.
All staff are trained and drilled on emergency preparedness, evacuations and reunification policies. This allows our families to always be sure that their children are safe even when disaster strikes.
All areas of the daycare where children have access are completely childproofed with either prevention locks or entry prevention barriers. All cleaning supplies, medications and other objects that may cause harm to small children are locked away and out of reach of little hands.
Visitors
All visitors to our care must be fully vetted if ever left unsupervised by a staff member with children.
Wellness and Medication
We are a well child care facility. This means that when children do fall ill we have special practices and regulations in place to stop the illness from spreading. This may include exclusion, separation, and disinfecting the entire home as needed. Staff members are approved for sick days to prevent adults from spreading illness to children as well.
If at any time your child needs medication while in care, please inform a staff member immediately. We can find a solution that best suites the needs for your family. Parents can also ensure that all medications in the child care are handled and stored with caution to prevent any accidents.
All staff employed at Small Treasures Child Care are held to a high professional standard. Each employee must Complete the following upon employment:
· Pass a criminal Background check through the state of Maryland
· First aid and CPR
· Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect training
· Emergency preparedness training
· Know and follow all Licensing regulations and accreditation standards
· Medication administration training
· Complete 12 hours of training pertaining to childcare, each year
Environmental Health
Your child’s health is one of the most critical factors in their early childhood development and we take it vary seriously!
In the kitchen food is always handled and pepped with the utmost caution to ensure that every meal is safe and healthy. All staff follow strict procedures for hand washing, food handling and surface decontamination.
In all areas of the child care home, surfaces and equipment are regularly cleaned, sanitized and disinfected as needed. You can ensure that when your child is in care they are in a healthy clean environment at all times.
Personal Safety
Going above and beyond as we always do here, our child care takes safety to a whole new level. With constant video monitoring of the entire family care home (excluding private areas) you can ensure that we have a constant eye on every child and employee.
All staff are trained and drilled on emergency preparedness, evacuations and reunification policies. This allows our families to always be sure that their children are safe even when disaster strikes.
All areas of the daycare where children have access are completely childproofed with either prevention locks or entry prevention barriers. All cleaning supplies, medications and other objects that may cause harm to small children are locked away and out of reach of little hands.
Visitors
All visitors to our care must be fully vetted if ever left unsupervised by a staff member with children.
Wellness and Medication
We are a well child care facility. This means that when children do fall ill we have special practices and regulations in place to stop the illness from spreading. This may include exclusion, separation, and disinfecting the entire home as needed. Staff members are approved for sick days to prevent adults from spreading illness to children as well.
If at any time your child needs medication while in care, please inform a staff member immediately. We can find a solution that best suites the needs for your family. Parents can also ensure that all medications in the child care are handled and stored with caution to prevent any accidents.
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Curriculum
At Small Treasures Childcare, our curriculum encourages learning through play, using a variety of activities and techniques to reach particular goals. Our developmentally appropriate curriculum provides for the whole child; it combines physical, emotional, social, and cognitive learning through an integrated approach. Each of these domains is interconnected and impacts the others. Children learn by doing. Through active involvement with their environment, children attempt to make sense of the world around them. They learn by exploring their environment through hands-on experience.
Teaching young children is a creative process. An early childhood curriculum provides the framework for what actually happens in a planned environment where children interact with materials, peers, and adults. The primary teaching goal is to help young children use the environment productively and see themselves as capable learners. They will acquire the skills and abilities needed for a lifetime of learning through carefully planned, developmentally appropriate activities arranged by the teachers. When a learning environment encourages exploration and discovery, children develop a sense of trust and belonging. They feel important and valued when others listen to them, seek out their ideas, and allow them to express themselves. This type of environment is considered hands-on or learning through play.
Children in our daycare rooms are encouraged to discover things on their own. They learn by exploring the actual objects we talk about. The teachers inspire the children by asking open- ended questions and finding new ways to teach new things within the subject area.
Teaching young children is a creative process. An early childhood curriculum provides the framework for what actually happens in a planned environment where children interact with materials, peers, and adults. The primary teaching goal is to help young children use the environment productively and see themselves as capable learners. They will acquire the skills and abilities needed for a lifetime of learning through carefully planned, developmentally appropriate activities arranged by the teachers. When a learning environment encourages exploration and discovery, children develop a sense of trust and belonging. They feel important and valued when others listen to them, seek out their ideas, and allow them to express themselves. This type of environment is considered hands-on or learning through play.
Children in our daycare rooms are encouraged to discover things on their own. They learn by exploring the actual objects we talk about. The teachers inspire the children by asking open- ended questions and finding new ways to teach new things within the subject area.
Developmentally Appropriate Practices
Our teachers use developmentally appropriate practices to nurture the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of each child. The theories of early childhood education is used to implement the curriculum. Assessments are done to identify the strengths of each child as well as the needs of each child. These assessments help us to tailor the curriculum to the needs of each daycare rooms.
Age Appropriateness
Human development research indicates that there are universal, predictable sequences of growth and change that occur in children during the first nine years of life. These predictable changes occur in all domains of development – physical, cognitive, emotional, and social.
Knowledge of the typical development of children within the age span served by our programs provides the framework from which teachers prepare the learning environment and plan appropriate experiences.
Knowledge of the typical development of children within the age span served by our programs provides the framework from which teachers prepare the learning environment and plan appropriate experiences.
Individual Appropriateness
Each child is a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of growth, as well as an individual personality, learning style, and family background. Both the curriculum and adults’ interactions with the children should be responsive to those individual
differences. Learning in young children is the result of interaction between the child’s thoughts and experiences with materials, ideas, and people.
differences. Learning in young children is the result of interaction between the child’s thoughts and experiences with materials, ideas, and people.
Themes
Each week(s) the entire daycare focuses on one general theme or concept (camping, the zoo, etc.). The group activities are themed as well. Teachers are encouraged to base STCCs appearance and activities on the theme.
Objectives
Each class has its own goals and objectives, appropriate to that age group. The goal is for each child to reach his or her full potential with these goals before moving onto the next objective or goal. Every child will have their own goals to focus on. Activities are then designed to facilitate learning the objectives. While participating in the activities, each child’s individual discoveries and progress are noted in that child’s file. Every time a similar activity is done, or a comparable objective is desired, this record provides the means by which the child’s overall progress may be assessed against common core standards, where appropriate. Some goals and objectives will be determined by the curriculum designer. Others may be determined as appropriate by the teacher.
Gross Motor Play
Gross motor play develops and builds large motor skills (walking, crawling, running, jumping, climbing, etc.). Children develop these skills outside while using the play equipment, running, taking walks, and inside by exercising, climbing on the soft blocks, and climbing in the ball pit. These skills are important in many ways. The children develop large muscle movements that ultimately translate into beginning writing skills. Children grow from the trunk of their bodies out to their fingers. They need to master large movements before they can master the small ones. Teachers can facilitate play by planning games and exercises.
Small Group Activities
Teachers take groups of 2-3 children to work on projects or do assessments. The children get more individual attention in the small group.
Large Group Activities
In large group activities the entire class participates in an activity. This allows the children to use peer interaction to help one another with ideas. This is a fantastic way to teach and use cooperation skills. Older children who have mastered skills are usually willing to help the younger ones. This helps to teach both children.
Circle Time
Circle time is a group activity. During circle time, children learn about the days of the week, the months, the weather (and weather predictions), the alphabet, and counting. The teacher generally reads a story at this time as well.
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