Toddler Schedule:
7am-8:30am- Greet children and parents / breakfast
8:30am-9:15am- Free choice activities / Prayer
9:15am-9:30am- Diapering
9:30am-9:45am- Circle Time / Music
9:45am-10am- Prepare to go outside
10am-10:30am- Outside time or indoor gross motor
10:30am-11am- Diapering / centers
11am-11:30am- Lunch
11:30am-12pm- Diapering / stories
12pm-2pm- Nap time
2pm-3pm- Diapering / snack / centers
3pm-3:15pm- Clean up / prepare to go outside
3:15pm-3:45pm- Outside time or indoor gross motor
3:45pm-4pm- Wash hands / water break
4pm-4:15pm- Discovery / Science
4:15pm-5:30pm- Diapering / centers / prepare to go home

What to Expect:

1. 9am is the latest drop-off time for your child unless they have a scheduled appointment.
2. In the infant classroom, parents are allowed to bring bulk items such as bags of diapers, large quantities of wipes, several jars of baby food and extra snacks.  In the toddler classroom, parents are asked to only send enough items to last each day for their child.  Small packs of diapers and wipes are allowed, but not in large quantities.  Snacks and other food items are to be sent each day, not in bulk. 
   
3. Toddlers are expected to have their bottles/cups labeled and dated just as they did in the infant classroom.  We realize that you may occasionally forget to label a cup or bottle, but please remember that all food items must be labeled and dated each day with a tape or other adhesive material that will stay on all day long.  If cups/bottles are not labeled, we are placed in jeopardy of a violation/write-up from an inspector if they come onsite.
4. Toddlers do not eat their meals while sitting in high-chairs, they eat at a a toddler sized table using toddler sized chairs.
5. Our toddler teacher does not focus on potty training.  If he/she sees a child showing interest in potty training, the parent will be notified and if ratios permit, the teacher may attempt to send the toddler to the restroom with the 2's teacher during some of the potty breaks.
   
6. Toddlers who use a pacifier should have their pacifiers labeled as well.  When in doubt, please just label any item that belongs to your child (ie.  bags, pacifiers, cups, bibs, etc.)
   
7. Toddlers are on the move a lot more than infants, so please do not send your toddlers in open-toed shoes or shoes with shoe strings.  Toddlers should come to school in shoes that fit their feet snugly and support their movements.  If your daughter wears skirts to school, they must wear shorts under the skirt or wear skorts.
8. Toddlers should have meals and snacks that allow them to feed themselves.  Their food items should be age-appropriate in content and portion sizes.  Finger foods are excellent choices for toddlers.
9. Toddlers are not allowed to have plastic or any kind in their classrooms, please do not send your child's lunch to school in plastic bags (ie.  plastic grocery bags, any other plastic, etc).  Vinyl lunch bags are allowed.
10. Toddlers should have an extra set of clothing that remains at school.  If you are able to send 2 sets, that would be great.  If your child does not have an appropriate change of clothing at school, we will attempt to fit them into clothes that have been donated to the school.  If your child is unable to fit into any of the donated clothing items, you will be contacted to bring them another set of clothing.
11. Teachers will attempt to send home memos if your child is in need additional clothing, wipes, diapers, etc.  Please partner with your child's teacher to check on your child's supplies to be sure they have what they need at school.  Teachers care for your child as well as other children, so please "partner" with them for smooth transitions and strong relationships.
    
12. In the toddler classroom, the students sleep on cots/mats instead of in cribs.  The crib that you see in our toddler room is for emergency evacuation only.  Our school provides the cot/mat and sheets for each student, and we also launder the sheets weekly.  No blankets from home are permitted for sanitation purposes.
13. Please only send small diaper bags to school with your toddlers.  The cubbies are narrow and will not allow the large, bulky bags to fit.  Please check your child's diaper bags before leaving them at school, they should not have any medication, sharp objects, or any adult items left in them.  If you find a small lunch box for your child's lunch, you will not need to bring a diaper bag to school each day.  We will keep their extra clothing at school and the only item to be transported each day will be their lunch box, if they bring their own lunch.
14. The toddlers nap from 12pm until 2pm, please do not enter their classroom during nap-time.  Out of consideration for the teacher and the other students, if you need to pick up your child early, please do it before nap-time or after nap-time.
15. As with all students, the longer it takes for mom or dad to drop-off, the more the child may remain upset.  Generally, toddlers will calm down quickly after the parent has left the room.  During drop-offs, please just place your child's bags in his/her cubbie and let the teacher know if your child needs to eat breakfast.  The teacher will get your child settled for breakfast according to the classroom schedule.
16. If you child arrives after 8:45am, he/she will not be allowed to eat breakfast.  At 8:45am, the teacher begins to clean up the breakfast table and prepare the students for corporate prayer time.  If a child comes in late for breakfast, the teacher will be behind schedule.  It is important that we keep the students on a routine schedule.
17. If you have more than one child enrolled, please pick-up and drop-off the youngest child first.  It is easier on older children to depart from parents,  and can be difficult for younger children if they hear their parents talking in another classroom prior to picking them up.  If you have more than one child enrolled, you must enter each child's classroom for drop-offs and pick-ups, neither child may leave their classroom to meet you.  A child's sibling younger than 18 years old is not allowed to remove them from the classroom.
    
18. If you have a complaint or concern about your child's classroom/teacher, the first step in your communication should be with your child's teacher.  Teachers are human and are not expected to be perfect, and they are great, but cannot read minds.  If you have a concern, please talk with your child's teacher first and if it cannot be resolved, you may schedule time to consult the director, Roxanne Knight, for assistance.  Your child's teacher is in the classroom with your child all day long and will have answers to your questions that the Director will not have.  Please remember that each teacher is different and possess their own set of gifts and talents, so please avoid comparing your child's new teacher with their old teacher.  Please take the time to get to know the new teacher and allow time for the teacher to get to know you and your child.  Remember, a teacher has several people they must learn about during transitions, you only have 1, the teacher.  Besides complaints or concerns, please remember to tell your child's teacher about the things she is doing well.  People tend to work better and harder when they feel appreciated.