We offer an infant daycare program for children in the range of 6 weeks of age to 18 months. Our teachers are happy to provide a loving and nurturing environment for every child. In order to offer the best care possible, our teachers and providers tailor this daycare for infants to fit the individual needs of the child and their family. This is best done meeting with the child’s parent(s) and discussing individual goals, needs, and even nutritional guidelines. Once a plan is set in place, our infant daycare teachers can provide personalized care to every child in the best way possible.Smart Start Academy
Showing posts with label infants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infants. Show all posts
Infant Program (6 weeks-18 months)
We offer an infant daycare program for children in the range of 6 weeks of age to 18 months. Our teachers are happy to provide a loving and nurturing environment for every child. In order to offer the best care possible, our teachers and providers tailor this daycare for infants to fit the individual needs of the child and their family. This is best done meeting with the child’s parent(s) and discussing individual goals, needs, and even nutritional guidelines. Once a plan is set in place, our infant daycare teachers can provide personalized care to every child in the best way possible.
Pre-K Program Focus Areas
Math Concepts: Our math program focuses on concepts such as measuring, predicting, patterns, spatial relationships, sorting and problem solving.
Science Concepts: Students are encouraged to recognize and investigate cause-and-effect relationships in everyday experiences.
Creative Art: Through our creative art program, our students develop an appreciation for dance, art, music, dramatic play, storytelling and visual arts.
Health & Wellness: Our health and wellness program highlights the importance of healthy nutrition and daily physical activity while also teaching our students safety and injury prevention skills. Through a series of fun, heart accelerating activities, our students learn the benefits of staying active in order to promote healthy lifelong behaviors.
Social Emotional: Students show care and concern for others. Develop healthy relationships with teachers and peers and learn how to express their feelings, needs and wants in a healthy and respectful manner.
Physical Skills/ Gross/Fine Motor: Students build on eye-hand coordination to use everyday tools. Through this process, students learn how to manipulate a variety of tools including eating utensils, pencils, scissors, blocks, etc. Students also develop motor coordination and skill using objects for a range of physical activities.
Language and Foreign Languages: Through conversation, storytelling, and technology, students develop an understanding of spoken language and world languages. Students are exposed to all forms of communication including English, sign language and world languages in order to enhance comprehension and communication skills.
Discipline Solutions
I've
made a lot of bad rules in the decade I've been a mom, from irrational
threats ("No graham crackers in the house ever again if you eat them in
the living room even one more time") to forbidding human nature ("You
may not fight with your sister"). But occasionally I've come up with
rules that work better than I'd ever contemplated. These made-up rules
have an internal logic that defies easy categorization, but their
clarity and enforceability make them work. Several of them are not,
technically, rules at all, but declarations of policy or fact. And
they're all easy to remember. A few personal favorites, plus those of
other moms:
I tried to explain to my expanded brood that if they helped me fold laundry, we could do something together sooner. But they knew I'd be available anyway if I finished folding myself, so the argument wasn't compelling.
And then one day, as my oldest foster daughter sat and watched me work, asking me favors and waiting for me to be done, I came up with a rule that takes into account two important facts about kids:
Why it works: I didn't care which she chose. And it was her choice, so it gave her control even as it took it away.
When this occurred to me, back when my oldest was 6 and my youngest was nearly 2, I announced to Anna and Taylor that the U.S. Department of Labor had just created a new rule and I was no longer allowed to do any kind of mom jobs past 8:00 in the evening. I would gladly read books, play games, listen to stories of everyone's day or give baths—the whole mother package—before then. Then I held firm—I acted as if it were out of my hands. Sort of like Cinderella and midnight.
Suddenly, my 6-year-old (and my husband) developed a new consciousness of time. My daughter actually rushed to get ready for bed just after dinner so that we could have lots of books and time together before I was "off." My husband, realizing that if things dragged past 8:00 he'd have to face putting both girls to sleep himself, became more helpful. Anna's now 11, and my hours have been extended, but the idea that I'm not endlessly available has been preserved and integrated into our family routine.
Why it works: You're not telling anyone else what to do. The rule is for you, so you have only yourself to blame if it's not enforced.
When I first heard this, I was skeptical. It seemed too simple. But to my utter surprise, not only did it do the trick but kids seemed to rally around it almost with relief. They must have seen that if it applied to them today it might apply to someone else tomorrow.
Why it works: It's irrefutable—it almost has the ring of runic or prehistoric truth to it—and rather than focusing on an abstract notion like "fairness," it speaks directly to the situation at hand.
For the irrational and long-winded whining jags sometimes used by her 4-year-old son, my friend Denise has turned this rule to a pithy declaration: "I'm ready to listen when you're ready to talk." She then leaves the room.
Why it works: It gives children a choice rather than a prohibition and does so without rejecting them.
It cuts both ways, though: When your kids want to spend their "own" money, point out potential mistakes and give advice on the purchase if you'd like, but at the end of the day, don't overrule them unless it's a matter of health or safety. After all, you don't argue about money. They may make some bad choices, but they'll learn. And you'll all enjoy shopping together a lot more.
Why it works: It shifts the focus from the whined-for treat to financial policy. You're almost changing the topic on them, no longer debating why they should or shouldn't have gum or some plastic plaything and, instead, invoking a reasonable-sounding family value.
Why it works: It empowers your child by suggesting he has something valuable to say (if he says it nicely) and allows you to completely invalidate (i.e., ignore) the rude presentation.
Why it works: By the time your kids have figured out the puzzle of how something that exists can also not exist, they won't be bored. Also, it changes the terms of debate, from a challenge for you (list all my toys, then cave in and let me watch TV) to one for them. Besides—if your child learns how to entertain herself, there truly is no such thing as boredom. And that's a gift that will last all her life.
Rule #1: You can't be in the room when I'm working unless you work, too
Goal: Get your child to help, or stop bugging you, while you do chores
It might seem odd, but I don't mind doing laundry, cleaning floors or really any kind of housework. But I do mind my kids, oblivious to the fact that my arms are full of their underwear, asking me to find their missing doll shoe or do a puzzle with them. Until recently, this was a source of great frustration, especially when our household grew to five kids when my husband, Taylor, and I became temporary foster parents for two months.I tried to explain to my expanded brood that if they helped me fold laundry, we could do something together sooner. But they knew I'd be available anyway if I finished folding myself, so the argument wasn't compelling.
And then one day, as my oldest foster daughter sat and watched me work, asking me favors and waiting for me to be done, I came up with a rule that takes into account two important facts about kids:
- They actually want to be with you as much as possible.
- You can't force them to help you in any way that is truly helpful.
Why it works: I didn't care which she chose. And it was her choice, so it gave her control even as it took it away.
Rule #2: I don't work past 8 p.m.
Goal: Regular bedtimes and time off for you
You can't just announce a rule to your husband and kids that says, "Bedtime has to go really smoothly so I can get a break at the end of the day." It won't happen. But if you flip the problem and make a rule about you instead of telling everyone what they have to do, it all falls neatly—and miraculously—into place.When this occurred to me, back when my oldest was 6 and my youngest was nearly 2, I announced to Anna and Taylor that the U.S. Department of Labor had just created a new rule and I was no longer allowed to do any kind of mom jobs past 8:00 in the evening. I would gladly read books, play games, listen to stories of everyone's day or give baths—the whole mother package—before then. Then I held firm—I acted as if it were out of my hands. Sort of like Cinderella and midnight.
Suddenly, my 6-year-old (and my husband) developed a new consciousness of time. My daughter actually rushed to get ready for bed just after dinner so that we could have lots of books and time together before I was "off." My husband, realizing that if things dragged past 8:00 he'd have to face putting both girls to sleep himself, became more helpful. Anna's now 11, and my hours have been extended, but the idea that I'm not endlessly available has been preserved and integrated into our family routine.
Why it works: You're not telling anyone else what to do. The rule is for you, so you have only yourself to blame if it's not enforced.
Rule #3: You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit
Goal: No more haggling—over which pretzel has more salt or who gets their milk in the prized red cup and who in the cursed green, or which cast member of Blue's Clues adorns whose paper plate
My friend Joyce, director of our town's preschool, told us about this terrific rule, now repeated by everyone I know on playgrounds and at home. Not only does it have a boppy rhythm that makes it fun to say, but it does good old "Life isn't fair" one better by spelling out both the essential truth of life's arbitrary inequities and the only acceptable response to the world's unfairness: You don't throw a fit.When I first heard this, I was skeptical. It seemed too simple. But to my utter surprise, not only did it do the trick but kids seemed to rally around it almost with relief. They must have seen that if it applied to them today it might apply to someone else tomorrow.
Why it works: It's irrefutable—it almost has the ring of runic or prehistoric truth to it—and rather than focusing on an abstract notion like "fairness," it speaks directly to the situation at hand.
Rule #4: Take that show on the road
Goal: Peace and quiet
Is it just me or does someone saying "one-strawberry, two-strawberry, three-strawberry" over and over in a squeaky voice make you want to smash some strawberries into a pulpy mess? I want my kids to be gleefully noisy when they need and want to be. But I don't feel it's necessary that I be their audience/victim past a few minutes or so, or that I should have to talk (shout?) over their, um, joyous clamor when I'm on the phone. So once I've shown attention adequate to their display, I tell them that they're free to sing, bang, chant or caterwaul to their hearts' content, just not here. The same goes for whining, tantrums and generic pouting.For the irrational and long-winded whining jags sometimes used by her 4-year-old son, my friend Denise has turned this rule to a pithy declaration: "I'm ready to listen when you're ready to talk." She then leaves the room.
Why it works: It gives children a choice rather than a prohibition and does so without rejecting them.
Rule #5: We don't argue about money
Goal: Short-circuit begging and pleading for stuff
This rule has to be enforced consistently to work, but the basic deal is that you can tell your child yes or no on any requested purchase, but you don't discuss it. If your child protests, simply repeat, calmly, like a mantra, that you won't argue about money. The key to success is that you have to have the courage of your convictions and not argue. Thus the calm repetition.It cuts both ways, though: When your kids want to spend their "own" money, point out potential mistakes and give advice on the purchase if you'd like, but at the end of the day, don't overrule them unless it's a matter of health or safety. After all, you don't argue about money. They may make some bad choices, but they'll learn. And you'll all enjoy shopping together a lot more.
Why it works: It shifts the focus from the whined-for treat to financial policy. You're almost changing the topic on them, no longer debating why they should or shouldn't have gum or some plastic plaything and, instead, invoking a reasonable-sounding family value.
Rule #6: I can't understand you when you speak like that
Goal: Stopping whining, screaming and general rudeness
This one requires almost religious consistency of application to work effectively. But, essentially, you simply proclaim incomprehension when your child orders (rather than asks) you to do something, whines or otherwise speaks to you in a way you don't like. Whispering this helps; it takes the whole thing down a notch on the carrying-on scale. This is a de-escalation tool, so calmly repeat the rule a few times and don't get lured into raising your voice. A child who's whining or being rude is clearly seeking attention and drama, so use this as a way to provide neither.Why it works: It empowers your child by suggesting he has something valuable to say (if he says it nicely) and allows you to completely invalidate (i.e., ignore) the rude presentation.
Rule #7: There's no such thing as boredom
Goal: Prevent your child from saying "I'm bored"; teach her to entertain herself
A friend of mine says this is one of the few things he got right with his kids. The first time his older daughter claimed she was bored he simply denied that the thing existed. Now he sometimes adds: "There's no such thing as boredom, only failure of the imagination" or "...only mental laziness." Surprisingly he's never gotten the "There is too boredom!" argument, only an exasperated "Da-ad." Regardless of the phrasing, the result is the same: The burden of amusement lands directly on your child, which is precisely where you want it.Why it works: By the time your kids have figured out the puzzle of how something that exists can also not exist, they won't be bored. Also, it changes the terms of debate, from a challenge for you (list all my toys, then cave in and let me watch TV) to one for them. Besides—if your child learns how to entertain herself, there truly is no such thing as boredom. And that's a gift that will last all her life.
Parents Love Us!
Learn why parents love Smart Start Academy by reading their reviews:
Finding a preschool/daycare that met our needs at a reasonable price was difficult until I went to an open house at Smart Start Academy. This center is beautifully decorated and bright, the small teacher to child ratio is great, and the teachers are very understanding and nurturing. My son loves going to school and is learning so much! As a parent, it feels great to know that my son is being well taken care of and is having fun. I highly recommend this academy for parents that are looking for a professional, loving, and creative environment for their children. Thank you Ms. Cesia and Staff!
Rocio C., mother of 4 & 6 year old
We have nothing to say but great things about Smart Start Academy! This is an awesome school. The teachers and director are wonderful. The activities and curriculum are engaging and fun for the kids. Our daughter was able to learn at her own pace. Our daughter has really excelled here - she loves going to school. We searched and toured quite a few schools in the area and none of them compared to Smart Start. We feel super lucky to have found them! Our daughter has been attending since she was 2 1/2 - she is now 5 years old, entering kindergarten this year, and will be attending Smart Start’s After School Program. We would highly recommend this school!
Jewel R., mother of 5 year old
Ensure Your Child is Cared For
Our Backup Child Care Program helps families ensure their children are cared for when their regular child care arrangements are not available for any reason. Whether your regular child care provider gets sick or you need to attend an unexpected meeting, Smart Start Academy is there to provide a temporary solution to your child care needs.
Please call ahead for fee information and to ensure that we are able to serve your child. You will also be required to fill out our Backup Care Application upon arrival.
Responsible parents are always sure to schedule babysitters whenever they know that they are going to be away from their kids. They want a trusted adult with their kids who will take care of them, give them attention, and keep them safe. However, there are so many different unexpected things that can come up during the week such as meetings at work, a sick babysitter, or a last minute emergency within the family. Any of these leave parents scrambling to find a trusted individual who can take care of their children.
For these types of instances, Smart Start Academy provides a service we call our Backup Child Care. This program is designed to give parents a backup plan so that they have a great place to drop their kids off without a lot of notice. Not only are parents able to access high quality childcare with a quick phone call, but our Backup Child Care Program helps bring a peace of mind to busy parents in a pinch when their regular child care arrangements are not available for any reason.
The Best Backup Plan
This program is only offered as a temporary solution for families. One of the best reasons parents trust us with their kids is because we are a fully licensed and operating daycare and preschool. Every day we have kids enter our doors to attend one of the many other programs and services we offer. For many, this is a benefit to a fast backup plan because our classrooms are fun, educational, and kid-friendly.
Another benefit is that we have multiple locations. This is ideal for a backup plan because if one location cannot accommodate your child or children, you aren’t out of options. Instead, you can still access our Backup Child Care through a different center.
Get Started!
All of our admissions forms are available on our website! Get started on enrollment today by following this link.
Preschool is important, and we'll tell you why!
Every parent knows the importance of what a good education means for
their children. How they thrive in a classroom setting can set the tone
for how they thrive in a successful career as an adult.
You encourage and push your children to get good grades, so that they may be able to further their education by attending, and graduating from, an exceptional college.
Even though the end game is to help your kids become successful
adults, often parents overlook the importance of the beginning of an
education. Starting your child in a preschool program is the first step to years of happy and intelligent learning.
Here are 5 reasons why having your child attend preschool may help them throughout their entire lives:
1- Opportunity for Growth and Preparing Children for Kindergarten
Most likely this will be the first time your child is in a structured setting with groups of other children and teachers. This is where they will learn to share and follow instructions, which will be the foundation for learning in elementary school.
Exposing your child at a young age to letters, numbers, and shapes helps them feel comfortable and more accustomed to learning before entering the more academic class setting of kindergarten.
Although some parents feel that preschools tend to focus too much on the pre-math and pre-literacy skills, which will take away from play time and push a child to grow up too fast, our curriculum focuses on developing the entire child rather than just the areas that other schools deem necessary. Helping students find areas in which they excel naturally is a great way to boost their self-esteem and knowledge of themselves. Having that confidence when they move into the kindergarten classroom will give them a better personal space for learning.
2- Social and Emotional Development
In order for a child to build trusting relationships with adults outside the family they need to spend time away from parents. Our program encourages the nurturing of warm relationships among children, teachers, and parents.
Young children will develop social skills and emotional self-control in “real time.” A great teacher knows that 3 – 4 year olds will learn from their experiences or “teachable moments” and take the time to help them learn and understand, such as how to manage anger or frustration and how to help them understand the impact their aggressive or hurtful behavior may have on another child.
3- Making Friends and Playing Well With Others
Although the preschool environment may seem chaotic it is actually quite structured. Having an organized classroom space encourages social interaction. “Structured” environment doesn’t mean that adults are constantly directing activities, on the contrary, children are encouraged to find each other and play on their own, which teaches them how to have positive interactions with the other children.
4- Children get to Make Choices
Some children know what they want and when they want it. They have no problem entering a group or activity that interest them, but others may not have the skills to enter other children’s play space. We encourage and teach them ways to feel comfortable knowing what they want and suggestions on the best way to join in on the fun.
5- Children Learn to Take Care of Themselves and Others
Learning to take care of themselves and help others gives young children a sense of competence and self-worth. They are encouraged to view themselves as a resource for their peers. A teacher may ask a “veteran” preschooler to help a newcomer learn where certain toys or coloring books are kept.
These are only a handful of the amazing things your child will learn in a preschool environment. Whether you are looking for the best Hoboken preschool or the best Jersey City preschool, our program focuses on each individual child. Preschoolers are not accustomed to sitting still and listening to lectures, which is why we don’t teach that way. Through the world of hands-on teaching, exploration, and movement we maintain flexibility for the children and encourage them to independently explore their specific areas of interest.
Take a look at our events calendar as summer camp prep week, and end of year parent/teacher conferences are just around the corner. Contact us today for more information on admission dates and prices. Start your preschooler today on a path that leads to successful lives through proper education.
You encourage and push your children to get good grades, so that they may be able to further their education by attending, and graduating from, an exceptional college.
Even though the end game is to help your kids become successful
adults, often parents overlook the importance of the beginning of an
education. Starting your child in a preschool program is the first step to years of happy and intelligent learning.Here are 5 reasons why having your child attend preschool may help them throughout their entire lives:
1- Opportunity for Growth and Preparing Children for Kindergarten
Most likely this will be the first time your child is in a structured setting with groups of other children and teachers. This is where they will learn to share and follow instructions, which will be the foundation for learning in elementary school.
Exposing your child at a young age to letters, numbers, and shapes helps them feel comfortable and more accustomed to learning before entering the more academic class setting of kindergarten.
Although some parents feel that preschools tend to focus too much on the pre-math and pre-literacy skills, which will take away from play time and push a child to grow up too fast, our curriculum focuses on developing the entire child rather than just the areas that other schools deem necessary. Helping students find areas in which they excel naturally is a great way to boost their self-esteem and knowledge of themselves. Having that confidence when they move into the kindergarten classroom will give them a better personal space for learning.
2- Social and Emotional Development
In order for a child to build trusting relationships with adults outside the family they need to spend time away from parents. Our program encourages the nurturing of warm relationships among children, teachers, and parents.
Young children will develop social skills and emotional self-control in “real time.” A great teacher knows that 3 – 4 year olds will learn from their experiences or “teachable moments” and take the time to help them learn and understand, such as how to manage anger or frustration and how to help them understand the impact their aggressive or hurtful behavior may have on another child.
3- Making Friends and Playing Well With Others
Although the preschool environment may seem chaotic it is actually quite structured. Having an organized classroom space encourages social interaction. “Structured” environment doesn’t mean that adults are constantly directing activities, on the contrary, children are encouraged to find each other and play on their own, which teaches them how to have positive interactions with the other children.
4- Children get to Make Choices
Some children know what they want and when they want it. They have no problem entering a group or activity that interest them, but others may not have the skills to enter other children’s play space. We encourage and teach them ways to feel comfortable knowing what they want and suggestions on the best way to join in on the fun.
5- Children Learn to Take Care of Themselves and Others
Learning to take care of themselves and help others gives young children a sense of competence and self-worth. They are encouraged to view themselves as a resource for their peers. A teacher may ask a “veteran” preschooler to help a newcomer learn where certain toys or coloring books are kept.
These are only a handful of the amazing things your child will learn in a preschool environment. Whether you are looking for the best Hoboken preschool or the best Jersey City preschool, our program focuses on each individual child. Preschoolers are not accustomed to sitting still and listening to lectures, which is why we don’t teach that way. Through the world of hands-on teaching, exploration, and movement we maintain flexibility for the children and encourage them to independently explore their specific areas of interest.
Take a look at our events calendar as summer camp prep week, and end of year parent/teacher conferences are just around the corner. Contact us today for more information on admission dates and prices. Start your preschooler today on a path that leads to successful lives through proper education.
Helping Toddlers Expand Their Language Skills
Early language acquisition is instinctive and for most children tends to happen quite naturally. But how we as adults respond to their attempts to communicate can have an impact—accelerating or decelerating their language development. As a speech-language pathologist who works with young children who are in the process of acquiring and developing language, I have collected many strategies and techniques that help children learn. Here are some of the basics that you can use in everyday interactions with all children—those who are acquiring language typically and those who may be having a little more trouble.
Read more here: https://goo.gl/wNfI0G
What to Expect When You Bring Home Baby No. 2
If you've ever been pregnant, you know your baby bump seems to be a magnet for commentary from complete strangers. When I was pregnant with my second baby, I received lots of, "You're going to be busy," comments from passersby upon their discovery that I had another child. I figured, "Of course, I'll be busy. I'm busy now. Everyone's busy."
I had no idea.
I wasn't prepared for the transition from one child to two to be as much of an adjustment as I found it to be. I figured we were still playing "man-to-man" with just two kids and that crazy must really start when you have to shift to zone defense from two to three.
Here are some other parents' experiences along with a few tips for keeping sane while balancing competing needs.
I had no idea.
I wasn't prepared for the transition from one child to two to be as much of an adjustment as I found it to be. I figured we were still playing "man-to-man" with just two kids and that crazy must really start when you have to shift to zone defense from two to three.
Here are some other parents' experiences along with a few tips for keeping sane while balancing competing needs.
Building the Right Infant Daycare Curriculum Infants
Children between the ages of six weeks and 18 months – need a nurturing and loving environment in which they feel comfortable and receive the attention they need. Even at that early age, though, every child has individual personalities and needs. Any daycare curriculum built for them, then, must keep that in mind. Developing children require a lot of different activities and experiences to make the most of their time and benefit from a curriculum. This means that the learning experience has to address each aspect of the development process, and it has to be fun and immediately engaging. Infants at this age are developing quickly, so they need a lesson that helps them grow in both body and mind.
Healthy Body
At this stage in their development, infants are just starting to learn to control their movements and become fully mobile. Daily activities can involve rolling from side to side, learning to crawl, stand and walk. There are several motor skills that they can work on, too, which will help them build their abilities through repetition and experience. This means activities that include trial and error, object interaction and permanence, and cause and effect actions can be very beneficial. Whether this involves stacking and moving objects or just running around, this is a great way to start confidently using their hands, feet, arms, and legs.
Healthy Body
At this stage in their development, infants are just starting to learn to control their movements and become fully mobile. Daily activities can involve rolling from side to side, learning to crawl, stand and walk. There are several motor skills that they can work on, too, which will help them build their abilities through repetition and experience. This means activities that include trial and error, object interaction and permanence, and cause and effect actions can be very beneficial. Whether this involves stacking and moving objects or just running around, this is a great way to start confidently using their hands, feet, arms, and legs.
Bilingual babies learn languages faster
Some parents may worry whether teaching their babies two languages concurrently will overburden their babies' minds, while some may wonder if babies get confused learning two very different languages from birth. These concerns are unfounded, according to the latest findings by psychologists from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
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