In today’s post, we’ll be providing an introduction to the childcare programs we offer at our early childhood learning center. Read on to learn more, and if you’re searching for a children’s learning center in Northern Indiana, give us a call today!

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Daycare

Our daycare program is designed for infants and toddlers, aged six weeks to two years. We provide a warm, loving environment where your child can feel safe and secure. Our experienced staff provides individualized care and attention to each child.

Preschool

Our preschool program is designed for children aged three to five years. We provide a stimulating learning environment that helps prepare children for kindergarten. Our experienced teachers help children develop important skills such as literacy, numeracy, and social skills.

Evening Care

Our evening care program is designed for elementary school-aged children. Our after-school programs provide children with a safe atmosphere where they will feel encouraged to learn, grow, and engage with their peers, as well as activities that they’ll enjoy. We even offer our school-aged children care during school vacations and closings to ensure parents have a reliable and safe place to send their children.

Camps

We offer a variety of camps for children, from older preschoolers to school-aged children. Our camps are designed to provide a fun and enriching experience for children. We offer a variety of activities such as arts and crafts, sports, and much more.

Enroll Your Child in Growing Kids Learning Center Today!

Are you searching for a high-quality daycare or preschool program? Look no further than the early childhood learning center at Growing Kids Learning Center. With locations throughout Northern Indiana, we are sure to have one that will work for you and your family! Contact us today to learn more and schedule a walk-through.

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At Growing Kids Learning Center, we acknowledge how difficult this decision is. Our preschool and child care teachers have compiled a list of things for you to consider when looking into programs for your young one. While we know that our preschool and daycare center is an exceptional place for every child to grow, we believe families should make informed decisions that they feel confident in. Whether it’s with us or elsewhere, we hope this guiding list helps you choose an incredible daycare or preschool program for your child! Find out more from Growing Kids Learning Centers, and visit one of our locations in South Bend (at Ireland Road, State Road 23, and North Bendix Drive), Elkhart, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Goshen, Warsaw, or Bristol today.

What is the overall look?

When you’re touring daycare and child care facilities, first impressions are everything. You’ll immediately get a sense of there being a possibility for this school or not from the moment you enter the building and start walking around.

Are things kept pretty tidy? Are there good security measures in place? Are staff happy to greet you and answer any questions you have? Are children engaged in learning or play activities? These are some of the first things you’ll pick up on, and if you don’t like what you see, that’s a pretty good indicator that this is not the daycare facility for your family to consider.

What sounds am I hearing?

This might seem like a strange question to ask, but it’s a very important one. It’s something that you’ll intuitively do, but when you’re intentionally thinking about the sounds that you’re picking up on, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about your child’s potential daycare or preschool.

For example, do you hear child voices? Are teachers doing all the talking? If it’s silent, is there nap time? What are the tones in voices that you’re picking up on? How are adults talking to children and other adults, and how are children talking to adults and other children? Take all these things into account as you’re making your decision.

How do I feel when I’m here?

If you don’t feel comfortable at a daycare or preschool facility, you probably won’t want to send your child there. The right child care center should feel like a growing and learning environment. It should feel positive and uplifting, and a place where young ones can truly thrive.

Ultimately, your intuition is crucial for making your decision. As a parent or guardian, you know your child best, and you should trust your gut about the daycare or preschool you’re looking into. If you send your young one to a place you’re not comfortable with, you’ll feel even more stress than trying to find the right daycare to begin with. You shouldn’t send your child somewhere that makes you feel uneasy or defensive. If those are the feelings you’re getting, it’s best to say “thank you for your time!” and look into another option.

Choosing a daycare or preschool program can be stressful, but we know that you’ll find the right place for your young one. As tough as the search can be, it’s the kind of thing where once you’ve found the right place, you’ll have lasting relief and satisfaction. The search to find the right daycare is absolutely worth it! Growing Kids Learning Centers is happy to have you tour our school or ask any questions that are on your mind. Contact us to see if we’d be a good fit for your family!

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Try some of these gift ideas this year for something different, and schedule a school visit at one of our Growing Kids Learning Centers in Bristol, South Bend (at Ireland Road, Goshen, State Road 23, and North Bendix Drive), Goshen, Elkhart, Valparaiso, or Chesterton!

Cooking Kits

Kids love helping out in the kitchen (well, maybe not as much with the clean-up part), and who can blame them? They get to put their hands in the dough, stir things, mix ingredients together, and the finished result is something tasty. There are some amazing kits out there that allow kids to bake in real life. Of course, having a pretend kitchen set can be so much fun for kids to explore and use their imagination with. But for your little chef who always wants to make something new, this is a productive gift for them to enjoy.

Puzzles

Puzzles are a great way for kids to work on their problem-solving skills, and they take a good amount of concentration. Plus, they help develop fine motor skills and a sense of shape and space. There are traditional two-dimensional puzzles that your toddler or preschooler will be excited to try, but there are also some new 3D puzzles that can be taken on the road, or can be reset and restarted to be enjoyed again and again.

Another great thing about puzzles? You can get them for cheap by shopping at a thrift store or a Goodwill. You might run the risk of missing a piece or two, but most people donating puzzles have already completed them, and are giving them away for someone else to try. You can do the same thing by donating your puzzle when finished, and then exchanging it for another one!

Board Games

Every adult can think of at least one board game that they cherished as a child. Whether you tried to sink everyone’s battleship or wanted to pop the bubble in Trouble, board games are one of the best examples of how learning can be so much fun. They’re a great opportunity for your family to connect and spend time together, too. Invest in a fun board game or two, and make Friday or Saturday nights your board game night with the family. Not to mention, everyone will be playing games without the screen time — something that every parent can get behind!

Giving gifts is a joyous act in itself, but the wonderful thing about kids is that they don’t need much to be happy. Especially when they’re younger and everything is new and special, you don’t need to go overboard for them to enjoy their holiday season. There’s no reason to get caught up with the latest gadgets and gizmos, many of which will quickly fade into the toy background after the holidays are over.

There are some presents that are timeless, incredibly fun, and promote learning and experiences all in one — something that our preschool and child care center can get behind! Have a great holiday season, and don’t forget to find out more about our upcoming Christmas program (ask your child’s teacher for details). Happy holidays from Growing Kids Learning Centers!

The post Skip The Toys With A Few More Gift Ideas appeared first on Growing Kids Learning Center.

Even if your children are too young to make their own list for Santa, you already know they’re going to get one metric ton of toys. Grandparents and aunts and uncles are going to bring all the presents, most of which will likely start collecting dust before New Year’s. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about the amount of stuff, if you don’t want money spent on toys that you know your child will quickly forget about, you’re not alone.

At Growing Kids Learning Centers, we think you can go without all that “stuff” and still have an amazing experience with the ones you love. If you’re looking for a gift idea list that doesn’t involve the toy aisle at Target in December, we’ve got you covered. Find holiday gift ideas that aren’t toys, and enroll your young one at one of our child care centers! With locations in Goshen, Bristol, South Bend (at Ireland Road, State Road 23, and North Bendix Drive), Elkhart, Valparaiso, and Chesterton, you never have to go far to give your kids the best in child care.

Books

Building the home library is one of the most admirable and worthwhile gifts you can give. Reading aloud to your child is one of the single most important things you can do as a parent — it makes an incredible impact on their academic and overall growth and development. Invest in some classics — your child might love reading the books that you loved as a kid! — and try out some new titles as well. “The Book With No Pictures” by B.J. Novak is a fun read, despite being exactly what you think.

Some other new titles in 2018 include “The Digger and the Flower,” “Elmore,” and “Wordy Birdy” (the last one is especially great if you have a chatty child). By finding books that teach valuable lessons and are fun to read, this is a gift that will truly keep on giving!

Arts and Crafts

Kids love working with colors and creating something new. Arts and crafts are a perfect present for every child to try! Finger paints, colored pencils, crayons and a new coloring book, jewelry making kits — the list goes on and on. Arts and crafts are a great way for your child to explore their creativity and imagination, and they might just find a new hobby in the process.

Sports-Related Gifts

Has your child just started getting into sports? Are they ready and rearing for their first soccer team that starts this spring? The holidays are a great gift-giving opportunity that can help them get their feet wet. Nerf balls, footballs, baseballs, frisbees, scooters, or bikes are all some other sports-themed gifts that your child will surely continue to love and use (especially when it gets warmer out).

Experiences

Kids usually have just a few toys that they truly love and that they remember. Experiences, however, are a gift that sticks with them, and helps shape who they are. The best thing about giving experiences as a gift is that it provides more opportunity for you to interact and connect with your young one. Plus, it doesn’t really matter what the experience is — if you hype it up, your child will be just as excited.

Mini golfing, trips to the museum, driving out of town to explore a new park or hiking trail, or even a trip to a hotel (with a pool, of course) are all things that kids will simply love. You can make it so that they still have something to unwrap by giving them a card with some picture clues, or create a scavenger hunt to help them figure out where they’re going!

Kids are what make the holidays so much fun. You want your child to have an incredible time, but you also want it to be worthwhile and meaningful. With these non-toy-related gifts, that can most certainly happen. Stay tuned for a few more ideas in our next blog, and contact Growing Kids Learning Centers to get the best in child care and preschool!

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Milestone Reminder

It can be scary to see these milestones and think, “my child isn’t there yet.” In most cases, that’s completely normal. Milestones serve as a general guideline — if your child isn’t hitting them “on time” it doesn’t mean anything is wrong, or that they never will. Some kids take longer to talk, some take longer to walk, but they all tend to get to the same place eventually.

Of course, if you’re concerned, you can always talk to your child’s pediatrician or daycare teacher to see if they have any insights. Early interventions, while not always necessary, can make a huge difference. You can always help your child continue to grow in these skills at home, and enroll them in a daycare or educational program where they can continue working towards their kindergarten readiness. But the most important thing to remember with milestones is that they serve as an idea of where kids should be — they’re not written in stone.

With that in mind, take a look at some other things that your child should master or be working on by the time they get to kindergarten:

Social Play

This is one of those milestones that takes consistent practice and lots of time — in fact, many adults still need practice with positive social interactions! By the time your child gets to kindergarten, however, they should know about taking turns, sharing, and be able to have conversations with their peers and adults. Playing games, interacting with play groups, practicing safe play and learning to respect other people’s physical boundaries are all important things to work on before and during kindergarten. This can be a great reason to enroll your child in daycare — all of these social skills are consistently practiced and taught.

Independent Bathroom Use

It’s not uncommon for kids to have accidents. Especially in younger years, children might have seemingly mastered using the bathroom, and still have the occasional night time incident. For the most part, however, kids should be able to independently use the bathroom by the time they enter kindergarten. This means advocating for themselves and recognizing when it’s time to go, taking care of business, and washing hands when they’re done. If your child is still struggling with this, talk with their doctor for some additional advice, and communicate to their teacher what works best for your young one.

Number Fluency

Recognizing patterns — such as seeing two identical shapes that repeat in a sequence or even knowing that they brush their teeth and listen to a story before going to bed — are essential for kids to start picking up before kindergarten. Children should also be able to count to 10, as well as be able to identify the numbers (even when they’re written out of order).

Additionally, while pre-kindergartners don’t need to be able to tell time precisely yet, they should understand words like “soon,” “later,” “tomorrow,” “today,” and “yesterday,” to name a few.

Milestones can seem like a big responsibility for both parents and children, but with the proper guidance and support, children will thrive. Our daycare center utilizes a curriculum and lessons to specifically help the development and growth of each child, and we know that your entire family will love what we do at Growing Kids Learning Centers. With flexible scheduling and pick-up/drop-off times, experienced and compassionate caregivers, and nine convenient locations, there’s a reason why families in Northern Indiana choose our daycare program again and again. Help your child prepare for kindergarten — enroll them in educational daycare with Growing Kids Learning Centers!

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But why exactly is preschool the most important grade? We’ve discussed how preschool is incredibly beneficial for your child, but today, we’re going to discuss why this is the grade that is most essential to success — both academic and as a whole. Find out more, and enroll your child in preschool with Growing Kids Learning Centers in South Bend (at Ireland Road, State Road 23, and North Bendix Drive), Elkhart, Valparaiso, Goshen, Bristol, or Chesterton!

Sets the Tone for Academic Success

Learning and hitting essential academic milestones, particularly in the math and literacy departments, are thought to be huge indicators for later academic success. In one study, it showed “that preschool boosts a child’s chances of doing well at school and going on to take advanced level examinations,” as reported by The Guardian. This, in turn, contributes to the direct correlation between children going to preschool who later go to college. Simply put, an early academic start helps children be prepared sooner, and play less time catching up.

Reverses the Effects of Poverty

From the University of Wisconsin – Madison, a study on poverty and childhood was conducted with some incredible results. Poverty has known to be detrimental not only to the state of a child’s life, but to their actual development and growth as a whole. Children born into poverty have a lower chance of being academically successful — which is especially problematic when about half of all public school children are living in poverty.

One of the biggest things that can change and reduce the negative effects of poverty is early childhood education. With early interventions, children can be caught up to speed with their peers of more advantageous backgrounds. Some of the main resources to help a child grow — books, educational activities and games, and a well-balanced diet — are difficult to invest in when the main priority is keeping everyone alive. Preschool offers all of these things, where families might otherwise not be able to provide these things.

A Positive Long-Term Outlook

Here are just a few of the things that preschool is believed to have an impact on:

• Grade retention — fewer occurrences when children have gone to preschool.
• Special ed. — fewer placements among children who attended preschool.
• Graduation rates — higher rates of graduation for children who went to preschool.
• Crime and delinquency — it’s true: preschool is thought to lower crime rates.

While every grade is important, preschool is truly at the foundation of education, contributing to some of the greatest examples of later success. Not only is it instrumental in helping a child prepare for school, it gets them on track for the years to come. This means leading all the way up to and through college, as well as setting children up for success in life as a whole.

Growing Kids Learning Centers has an incredible curriculum at each of our preschools, implemented to help each child thrive — both in their time with us, and for the time after. With locations all across Northern Indiana, it’s never been easier for your child to have the positive educational experience that will truly shape their life. Enroll your child today for the upcoming school year before space fills up! We can’t wait to start the school year with you!

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Your child will be taken care of.

You’ll always worry about your kids, but when they’re at school, you know that their basic needs are being met. Not only are they receiving an education, but they’re getting fed, they get to move around, and they are looked after for eight or more hours a day. When summer comes, there’s no longer a guarantee that your child will be looked after, forcing you to figure out alternative plans.

At a day camp, you can ensure that your child is receiving just as much care as when they’re in school. Knowing your young one is safe during the summer months brings a huge sigh of relief, and our day camps are an excellent way to alleviate some of the stress of summer care planning.

You can rely on consistent care.

Babysitters are amazing, there’s no denying it — but they’re also human. Sitters get sick, sitters have things come up, and even the most reliable have moments and situations where they can’t be there. For anyone who has experienced this, suddenly lacking your sitter sends you into a frenzy of trying to figure out coverage, balancing your work schedule, and everything in between.

With day camps, such as the ones at Growing Kids Learning Centers, it would take a lot for us to shut down. We have a highly-trained and supportive staff who are here to help your child get the care they need, as well as provide fun activities and structure that they’ll love.

Speaking of fun activities…

Day camps are fun!

Let’s face it, after even just a few days of being at home, kids get bored. Or they melt their brains with hours upon hours of screen time. Either way, this isn’t taking full advantage of the freedom that can come from summer, or allowing kids to partake in some of the best kinds of summer fun!

Our day camps take trips to the zoo, go strawberry picking, bowl with their friends, enjoy fun water activities, try their hand at roller-skating, and can even take swimming lessons! In fact, we take two to three field trips a week! This means that their days are going to be packed with fun activities, and provide a summer experience that they will absolutely remember.

The structure is just what they need.

In an unstructured environment, kids, at the very best, get bored easily, and at the worst, can get into hazardous situations. Children do better in structured environments, where they’re still able to practice their independence and have their own time and space, but with some limits in place.

This also makes it easier to transition back into the school year, which isn’t simply easier for your child, but easier for your family as well. The day camps at Growing Kids Learning Centers provide structure, but not in an overwhelming way that takes away from the fun of being a kid.

In our next blog, we’ll cover even more reasons that summer day camps are the perfect opportunity and solution for your family and child to try. Not only do your kids get to have an amazing time in the months after school gets out, but you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that they’re not only taken care of, but enjoying their time. We simply love getting to work with kids and see the joy they experience from having fun all summer long. Sign up for Growing Kids Learning Centers’ day camps today, and get ready to have one of the best summers possible!

The post Benefits of Day Camp appeared first on Growing Kids Learning Center.

• Relax: Your child can pick up on your emotions, and if you are stressed, sad, or frustrated they can sense it. Relax, and share your peaceful mood with your child.
• Establish a routine: Try to make the morning routine consistent, and familiar for your child. A routine lets your little one know what to expect, and eases fears.
• Don’t linger: Drop-off time should be just that, and if you linger for longer on certain days, it will be harder for your child to say goodbye. A quick kiss, hug, and “I love you” is a great way to leave.
• Expect tears: Don’t be surprised if your little one sheds some tears (even after weeks of being fine). Tears are an easy way for kids to express themselves, and kids can quickly shake off the tears and start playing.
• Bring something from home: If your child has a special animal, see if they can bring it to daycare. A familiar stuffed animal can ease the transition from home.
• Communicate: Touch base with your child’s teachers to find out how long their crying lasted, or to ask other questions. Great communication between you and your child’s teacher will make their experience better.

At Growing Kids Learning Centers we understand that dropping your child off can be a traumatic experience for both kids and parents. We strive to offer a nurturing environment that can help your child feel safe, secure, and want to go to daycare! If you are looking for a daycare in South Bend, call us today!

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It can help get kids ready for school.

Daycare is the perfect place to spark a love of learning. With plenty of activities and learning opportunities, even our youngest daycare attendees have a chance to start exploring the world around them and seeking out opportunities where learning is fun.

There are more socialization opportunities.

Kids who attend daycare have a chance to socialize with children both older and younger than them. This can help them learn more about sharing, working with others, and how to make friends. Those are skills they’ll use their whole lives!

It can be good for a child’s mental health.

Some studies suggest that attending daycare can be good for a child’s mental health. That’s because a daycare provides a stable, safe environment with routine and structure. That can help kids who might not find that environment at home develop much-needed stability for later in life.

They have fewer colds later in life.

Being exposed to germs can be a good thing! It helps your child build up immunity to illnesses later on. Children who attend daycare and pass around those germs at a young age are less likely to battle them later on.

Kids learn structure and routine.

Daycare can be a place where kids learn about routine and structure to their daily lives, something that will be important both in their school lives and their career later on.

Want your child to experience the benefits of daycare for themselves? Sign up with Growing Kids today!

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A topic that seems to remain in the air, more often than not, is what the ideal age for a child to be enrolled in daycare is. While age does play a part in eligibility, most of the time it comes down to whether or not the parents are working and what methods of care and assistance are available. While this is the primary reason that we see children being dropped off at daycare, it isn’t the only reason that parents believe their child should be there; social experience and advancements in learning are also a part of the reason that parents believe in enrolling their children at daycares like Growing Kids Learning Center.

What is the average age?

On average, children are enrolled in daycare around age two. This age is when children begin to pick up and retain social interactions and reactions. These types of skills are practiced when children are enrolled in learning centers through play groups and small lessons. These types of setups allow for us to help you child develop in these areas.

What types of areas do daycare’s focus on?

For the most part, your child is going to be working on emotional and social development, but we do also do our best to start teaching basics to help transition into preschool later on. If your child has a difficult time with social and emotional development as is, it may be best to hold off on enrolling your child until they have a better understanding.

If you feel that your child is too young for a learning center, they may be a better fit for our infant care program. This program is great for children between the ages of 6 months and 2. We can work with you for special cases with children that may be in the transition from this infant care to the standard daycare program. Whether it require a few weeks in infant care before the move, or a few months, we will work with you to create a strategy solely for your child. Call our office today to learn more about the Growing Kids Learning Center or to get a quick quote on our services.

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