Primary care is the center of our Infant program, as each caregiver strives to be in tune with each infant's unique cues and needs. The caregiver works in partnership with the family to ensure consistent care and a trusting reciprocal relationship is formed. Care is balanced between times for meeting the infant's personal needs for eating, sleeping and diapering, and times for exploration of developmental "play" environment.
Personal care times with an infant's primary caregiver fosters a secure relationship by fulfilling the infant's needs for unhurried one on one time through gentle words and warm, engaging, individual attention. Every baby at Minnieland is unique, and the schedule is driven by his or her individual needs. So a typical day may vary for each child.
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Arrival Time
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As the parent and child arrive, a warm and loving caregiver greets the infant. During this time, his mother puts his food away and fills out her part of the daily sheet. Parents communicate to the caregivers important changes and updates for the child’s day. |
Morning Activities
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Independent exploration is the focus of an infant’s day. Caregivers allow for long uninterrupted times for play to foster interactions between infants. Infants are encouraged to grow and learn in an environment that changes according to their individual developmental level. Morning activities range from reading books, free play, music, sensory and gross motor activities, and interaction with other babies. |
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Mealtimes
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Infants are fed according to their needs, with instructions from their parents. During lunch, soft music is played as the primary caregivers individually feed each infant. |
Afternoon Time
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Infant's are taken outside twice a day. They may take a "walk" in specially made infant buggies or they may spend time on Minnieland's infant playgrounds, equipped with age appropriate toys and equipment. Teachers encourage sensory stimulation as the babies enjoy the fresh air. An infant's day continues with gentle stimulation activities such as interaction with other infants, playing with their primary caregiver and gross motor activities such as crawling. |
Departure
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As the parent arrives in the afternoon, caregivers share with parents, details of their child's day and any developmental milestones achieved during the day. |
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