Child Care Goals

Childcare for Infants

To care for infants in a warm, affectionate way that lets each child know that s/he is a special person, including the physical affection and cuddling that is so important at this stage of development
To meet each child’s physical needs completely
To implement strict sanitation procedures that are followed faithfully
To provide opportunities for exploring, learning and social interaction through a good variety of daily activities
To prepare activities to stimulate the senses recognizing that infants learn through the use of their eyes, ears, fingers, sense of taste and smell
To care for children in small groups, preventing overstimulation and disorder, and providing opportunities for one-to-one interaction between children and staff
To provide opportunity for the development of large and small motor skills
To establish an awareness among staff that always provides for a safe environment
To provide a consistency between center and home care practices that will be most beneficial to the infant and will offer the parents an opportunity to influence the kind of care their child receives
To establish an observation system in which notes on each child are kept
To be supportive of parents, encouraging involvement and open and honest communication while using tact and discretion
To develop staff potential through training and supervision and by utilizing staff input and abilities

To provide a loving, caring, relaxed atmosphere where physical affection is freely given.
To instill in each child a feeling of autonomy and a positive self-concept.
To provide a joyful, enthusiastic and spontaneous attitude with the children.
To meet each child’s physical needs.
To establish the foundations for respect of others.
To establish the foundations for respect of equipment.
To provide for the language development that is so important at this age.
To make available a good variety and quantity of materials on the shelves at the child’s level.
To provide ample opportunity for use of gross motor skills.
To provide a variety of activities that begin to introduce the curriculum areas of art, science, social studies, dramatic play, manipulative (small motor), language, large motor, and music
To be supportive of parents, encouraging involvement, and open and honest communication, while using tact and discretion
To develop staff potential through proper training and supervision, and by utilizing staff input and abilities
To develop self-help skills in order to create a feeling of independence and confidence in the child
To provide care in smaller groups in order to give each child more personal attention, to prevent over or under-stimulation and to allow more freedom of choice.

To provide a wide variety of age-appropriate activities, within a routine, that draws from the curriculum areas of: art, math, science, cooking, music and movement, large muscle, practical life, social studies, dramatic play, language arts and manipulative (small muscle) activities.
To provide a nurturing, flexible and calm atmosphere where physical affection is freely given, self-concept is enhanced, independence is encouraged and expectations are made clear
To develop staff potential through proper training and supervision and by utilizing staff input and abilities.
To be supportive of parents, encouraging involvement and open and honest communication, while using tact and discretion.
To establish spatial awareness among staff so that a safe environment is always present both indoors and outdoors.
To meet each child’s physical needs while setting the stage for future independence in self-care.
To provide ample opportunity for the use of large motor skills and outdoor activity
To provide an atmosphere where the foundations of respect for others is established
To encourage social development through cooperative play.
To establish respect for the equipment and materials.

To meet each child’s physical needs while encouraging independence in self care
To provide an atmosphere in which children have respect for others
To establish respect for the equipment and materials
To provide a loving, relaxed and calm atmosphere where self-concept is enhanced, and independence and choices are encouraged
To provide an environment where the child gains self-discipline from knowing the limits and expectations
To provide a wide variety of activities within a routine where cooperative play is encouraged. These activities should be drawn from the curriculum areas of art, math, dramatic play, language arts and manipulative activities
To develop in each child an active curiosity about the world in which he/she lives and an enthusiasm for learning which stimulates exploratory behavior and creativity
To develop in each child an appreciation for beauty and nature
To provide ample opportunity for the use of large motor skills and coordination through physically active play in either indoor or outdoor activities
To establish an observation system in which notes on children are kept
To establish room awareness among staff so that a safe environment is always present both indoors and out
To be supportive of parents, encouraging involvement and open and honest communication while using tact and discretion
To develop staff potential through proper supervision and training and utilizing staff input and abilities

To provide a loving and relaxed environment where the child’s physical and emotional needs are met
To establish an atmosphere of respect for self and others
To establish respect for the equipment and materials
To help the children develop self-control and a clear understanding of the expectations in this environment
To provide a routine that allows for the kind of activities that the children might be involved with if they were at home
To provide an environment where the children will develop an enthusiasm for learning, exploring and creativity through the use of constructive play activities in the areas of: art, drama, literature, cooking, music and movement, social science, large motor, science, manipulative activities and field trips
To provide ample opportunity to develop coordination and large motor skills through physically active and outdoor play
To establish an observation system in which notes on children are kept
To be supportive of parents, encouraging involvement and open and honest communication while using tact and discretion
To develop staff potential through proper training and supervision and by utilizing staff input and abilities
To provide an opportunity for children to become independent and responsible through self-directed and individualized activities
To provide children with appropriate alternatives to angry and aggressive behavior
To help children learn how to participate and function in a group