Infant Class
Your baby's primary caregiver is a nurturing child development professional who is focused on creating experiences and opportunities that invite exploration and support the rapid and important development that is occurring in their first year. Warm and nurturing interactions with caregivers, days spent in a home-like environment for learning, individualized attention and experiences, and meaningful partnerships with parents are the cornerstones of our curriculum.
Infant Feeding and Diapering
Your child's feeding will be based on the information you provide on the completed Infant Feeding Schedule form.
Deviations from your requested schedule must be made by the parent/legal guardian only. Likewise, diapering schedules will be at least every two hours or by demand.
Infant Activities
Early lessons feature activities that encourage babies to practice grasping objects, sitting up, squeezing a ball, learning a word while pointing to certain objects.
As the weeks go by, your baby may be ready to be introduced to more complex associations between words, sounds and meanings*. We usually use soft puppets and interesting toys as learning tools to help focus baby’s attention on the lesson. Music is also incorporated into lessons through short, simple songs. Older infants are introduced to colors and numbers on a predetermined schedule.
Once children have mastered crawling, walking, grasping and basic speaking they are encouraged to explore independent activities. Activities include singing, music, rolling balls, push/rider toys, bubbles, building blocks, peek-a-boo games, musical instruments, sensory toys, etc.
*We will introduce signing to help infants better communicate.
Infant Class Typical Daily Schedule
We believe that the establishment of a predictable daily schedule supports confidence and benefits with some of the
separation anxiety that commonly occurs with young children. Below is a summary of our typical daily schedule:
7:15-8:45 - Breakfast/Activity Time
8:45-9:30 - Arrival of 1/2 day students/activity time
9:30-10:30 - Nap and small group art/music time 10:30-10:50 - Hand washing and Snack time
10:50-11:10 - Diaper Changes 11:10-11:30 - Stroller walk Inside or Outdoor Time
11:30-11:45 - Activity Time 11:45-12:00 - Circle Time-Music and Leaning Songs, dancing and story time
12:00-12:45 - Lunch and cleanup
12:30-2:30 - Naptime as needed/Quiet Activities
2:30-3:00 - Snack
3:00-6:00 - Afternoon Activity Time
Schedule Details
We welcome our little students @ 8:45 to 9:00am. We begin by signing our "Good morning song". After our song we will begin infant activities.
Snack time:
We teach appropriate meal time behavior by first washing our hands. We then will say our blessing. At this time the children will usually calm down to eat. This time also allows us to teach eating skills the children will need to know like when to say “Please” and “Thank You”. We will assist with spoon-feeding or other requested feeding preferences made by the parent/legal guardian.
Physical Activities:
On days below 40 °F we usually head to the Gym for some physical activities but on warmer days we will go outside.
Arts and Crafts:
We believe that the motions involved in making art, such as holding a paintbrush or scribbling with a crayon are essential developmental steps for the growth of more advanced fine motor skills.
Diaper Change:
Self-explanatory
Music time:
We will listen and dance to fun and appropriate learning songs.
Story time:
Books and stories are a great way to foster imaginative participation in learning as well as help to create a positive foundation for a lifelong love of reading. We read different books everyday, and we practice saying new words.
Dismissal time:
Time to go home. We offer extended hours for those needing additional childcare.
As teachers of the infant room, we feel genuine adoration and a loving bond with all of our students. We enjoy watching them grow into happy, confident toddlers. Thank you for considering Viewmont Baptist Church Tree of Learning Preschool for your child. We look forward to serving you and your family.