Classrooms

Infant Classroom Philosophy 

Relationships and secure attachments are the foundation for learning and development in infants. A child learns best in a warm, nurturing, safe, and respectful environment. 

At Children’s Place, we believe:

• A child’s learning environment should be filled with meaningful interactions.
• Infants develop on their own time at their own pace. We foster independence by letting them explore indoors and outdoors with all of their senses.  
• Children are wonderfully unique. Our classroom activities and arrangements are designed for the developmental capabilities of each child’s different needs and interests. 
• Families are the primary educators for their children. We form partnerships with families and keep them updated about their infant’s experience. 

Infant Daily Routine

At Children’s Place, we foster the individual needs of the children, which means following their cues and schedules. 

Each morning, a teacher and/or student aide greets caregivers and their infants as they arrive in the classroom. At pick up, a teacher and/or student aide greets caregivers and answers any questions about their child’s day.

Naps and bottle feeding happen throughout the day and are based on each child and their routines at home. Diapers are changed every 2 hours or as needed. We have an open-door policy which means caregivers are supported and encouraged to come in to nurse or bottle feed their child throughout the day if they choose to do so. 

Throughout the day children are allowed to free play in the classroom through floor exploration. We offer a wide array of manipulatives, toys, equipment, and natural items for infants to explore with all their senses. We also spend time in the large motor room to work on gross motor development. 

We take indoor campus walks and aim to allow time for outdoor exploration or walks daily. We read many books and sing many songs at any given time throughout the day. 

Meal Schedule: Children’s Place offers meals when your infant is ready.

In our toddler room, our main goals are:

• to foster independence in everyday tasks,
• to build and master communication skills, which helps us to grow and express our emotions and our classmates' emotions as well,
• to build fine and gross motor skills, which help us gain independence in dressing, eating (with utensils!), and moving our bodies in new and challenging ways.

Toddler Room Philosophy 

We believe that: 

• Building a partnership with each family is the best way to provide for each child’s individual needs.  We are here to be an ally as you navigate this new and fascinating time of your child’s growth and development.

• Toddlers are inherently curious and being in nature is one of the best ways for them to explore and learn about the world around them. We aim to be outside every day in all kinds of weather so that children can learn to love every season we experience here. 

  
• Each child is unique and deserves to be seen for who they are and where they are at the time. We strive to guide each child in the self-help and social skills that they will be taking on and celebrate all the moments—big and small—that come with this age.
• Sensory play is one of the best ways to explore. We strive to engage all your child’s senses throughout the day and know that despite our best efforts, getting messy will happen. 
• Toddlers thrive on a schedule but also need flexibility. We have a typical daily schedule laid out. However, we like to keep things open-ended so that we can make choices based on the needs of the group each day. 

Toddler Daily Routine

** This schedule varies with children’s individual needs**

  ** Diapering & toileting occur throughout the day. **

Preschool Classroom Philosophy 

Our preschoolers transition from the toddler room at 33 months and are with us until they go to kindergarten. This wide range of ages creates opportunities for peer leadership and a variety of social interactions. Our preschool room strives to be play based and child centered. 

• We believe children learn through play, so we provide ample time for child-led and open-ended free play. 
• Rather than follow themes and units, we bring the child's interest into the room and the preschoolers explore in and play in the areas that interest them. In our preschool room, you will see plenty of blocks, books, manipulative toys, and open-ended art materials. 

• We highly value nature play and time spent outdoors. We are fortunate enough to have many wonderful outdoor spaces here on the UMD campus to spend time playing in. We spend plenty of time playing in the rain, mud, snow, and sunshine. 
• We want all our children to feel welcome, and safe, and have a sense of belonging. This extends to our families as well. We keep the lines of communication open and update families with plenty of photos, videos, and monthly newsletters.  

Preschool Daily Rhythm