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Smart Start Academy
Showing posts with label preschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preschool. Show all posts
How to Potty Train in a Week
The book Potty Training Boys the Easy Way: Helping Your Son Learn Quickly – Even if He’s a Late
Let your child peruse your home…naked, or in just a T-shirt. Because he’s not wearing a diaper or underwear, he’ll have no place to put his pee or poop; he needs to put it somewhere—in the toilet would be a good idea! When he does put it in the potty, make sure you both have a look (yuck, I know, but the visual is important.) Make flushing a huge deal by pointing at the swirling water and acknowledging the cool whooshing sound.
Stickers, stamps on the hand, bubbles or a single M&M are all good potty prizes. Kick it up a notch by taking your child to the dollar store so he can pick out a super-special potty prize for a training milestone like the first full day in undies or staying dry overnight. Food prizes like a pizza party for dinner or ice cream sundae bar for dessert (set out sprinkles, gummy bears and cherries in bowls, and let your child create his own sundae) are also great ideas. If you don’t want to spend money, look around your house for an art project you can do together and display it so he can show off his “potty prize.”
Baby Steps: Ready to Go Outside?
The weather is finally starting to warm up, and you're sick of being stuck inside. But you're worried about taking your infant outside because Aunt Eleanor says that a newborn should stay in for the first few weeks, or even months. Should you listen?
Actually, no.
As long as your baby is healthy to begin with, going outside on a mild day can be a boon for you both (if your baby is a preemie or has a weak immune system or other health problem, talk to your doctor about possible precautions). The nice weather and sunshine are naturally invigorating, and lots of moms swear that babies sleep better after getting some fresh air -- many squeeze in naptime outside, too. Being outdoors is far better than being in a room with poor ventilation; some European hospitals place newborns outside for short stints daily! There's no way you can filter every microbe that floats by, so don't worry too much about taking your infant out for a walk. Enjoy!
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.
Preschool is Important
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 Can't Teach Creativity, But....
Many people assume that creativity is an inborn talent that their
kids either do or do not have: just as all children are not equally
intelligent, all children are not equally creative. But actually,
creativity is more skill than inborn talent, and it is a skill parents
can help their kids develop.
Because it is a key to success in nearly everything we do, creativity is a key component of health and happiness and a core skill to practice with kids. Creativity is not limited to artistic and musical expression—it is also essential for science, math, and even social and emotional intelligence.
Creative people are more flexible and better problem solvers, which makes them more able to adapt to technological advances and deal with change—as well as take advantage of new opportunities.
Many researchers believe we have fundamentally changed the experience of childhood in such a way that impairs creative development. Toy and entertainment companies feed kids an endless stream of prefab characters, images, props and plot-lines that allow children to put their imaginations to rest. Children no longer need to imagine a stick is a sword in a game or story they've imagined: they can play Star Wars with a specific light-saber in costumes designed for the specific role they are playing.
Here are some ideas for fostering creativity in your kids:
Because it is a key to success in nearly everything we do, creativity is a key component of health and happiness and a core skill to practice with kids. Creativity is not limited to artistic and musical expression—it is also essential for science, math, and even social and emotional intelligence.
Creative people are more flexible and better problem solvers, which makes them more able to adapt to technological advances and deal with change—as well as take advantage of new opportunities.
Many researchers believe we have fundamentally changed the experience of childhood in such a way that impairs creative development. Toy and entertainment companies feed kids an endless stream of prefab characters, images, props and plot-lines that allow children to put their imaginations to rest. Children no longer need to imagine a stick is a sword in a game or story they've imagined: they can play Star Wars with a specific light-saber in costumes designed for the specific role they are playing.
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Provide the resources they need for creative expression.
The key resource here is time. Kids need a lot of time for
unstructured, child-directed, imaginative play –unencumbered by adult
direction, and that doesn't depend on a lot of commercial stuff (see this post about unstructured play).
Space is also a resource your kids need. Unless you don't mind creative messes everywhere, give them a specific place where they can make a mess, like room in your attic for dress-up, a place in the garage for painting, or a corner in your family room for Legos.
Next time someone asks for a gift suggestion for your kids, ask for things like art supplies, cheap cameras, costume components, building materials. Put these in easy-to-deal-with bins that your kids can manage.
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Make your home a Petri dish for creativity. In addition to creative spaces, you need to foster a creative atmosphere.
Solicit a high volume of different ideas, but resist the urge to evaluate the ideas your kids come up with. At dinnertime, for example, you could brainstorm activities for the upcoming weekend, encouraging the kids to come up with things they've never done before. Don't point out which ideas aren't possible, and don't decide which ideas are best. The focus of creative activities should be on process: generating (vs. evaluating) new ideas.
Encourage kids to make mistakes and fail. Yes, fail – kids who are afraid of failure and judgment will curb their own creative thought. Share the mistakes you've made recently, so they get the idea that it is okay to flub up. Laughing at yourself when you blow it is a happiness habit.
Celebrate innovation and creativity. Cover your walls with art and other evidence of creative expression. Tell your kids all about your favorite artists, musicians, and scientists. Share your passion for architecture or photography or that new band you want to listen to all the time. Embrace new technologies like Twitter so your kids grow to find change exciting, not over-whelming or intimidating.
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Allow kids the freedom and autonomy to explore their ideas and do what they want. Don't be so bossy.
(If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black, who knows what is.)
Stop living in fear that they are going to be kidnapped or not get into a
great college. Statistically, the odds are very low that they'll be
kidnapped, and I'm here to tell you that I'm not a happier person
because I went to an Ivy League school.
External constraints—making them color within the lines, so to speak—can reduce flexibility in thinking. In one study, just demonstrating how to put together a model reduced the creative ways that kids accomplished this task.
Our Educators
Smart Start Academy values and takes great pride in their educators. Our teachers are carefully selected based on their education, teaching experience and their passion for teaching. All of our lead teachers must meet or exceed the qualifications set forth by the DCF, in addition to completing extensive training and orientation classes at S.S.A.
Our educators must also undergo an extensive background screening, health screening and attend annual professional development conferences in order to support continuous professional growth and development.
At S.S.A., we strive to train and develop the “whole” teacher. Through training, professional development and mentoring, our teachers are given the tools to successfully teach our students in a positive and nurturing manner.
Together, our highly qualified teachers and directors, create a positive learning environment for our students and families!
Our educators must also undergo an extensive background screening, health screening and attend annual professional development conferences in order to support continuous professional growth and development.
At S.S.A., we strive to train and develop the “whole” teacher. Through training, professional development and mentoring, our teachers are given the tools to successfully teach our students in a positive and nurturing manner.
Together, our highly qualified teachers and directors, create a positive learning environment for our students and families!
Learn About This Valuable Resource
Our after-school program offers school-aged children a safe, secure and fun learning environment.
Our S.S.A. teachers offer tutoring and homework assistance, allow for child-initiated activities and encourage children to develop lifelong friendships while participating in our year-round program and summer program.
After school programs are a valuable resource for children and parents. Many children come home every day to an empty house after school gets out, usually because their parent or parents are working. This means that not only are children left alone for long stretches of time, but parents are left to worry if their kids are safe.
According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, the peak time for juvenile crimes and risky behaviors falls during the hours following school, or from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Even at a young age, children get involved in alcohol and drug use. They are also more likely to become a victim of violence during these hours.
After school programs are a valuable resource for children and parents. Many children come home every day to an empty house after school gets out, usually because their parent or parents are working. This means that not only are children left alone for long stretches of time, but parents are left to worry if their kids are safe.
According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, the peak time for juvenile crimes and risky behaviors falls during the hours following school, or from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Even at a young age, children get involved in alcohol and drug use. They are also more likely to become a victim of violence during these hours.
We'd Love to Hear What You Think!
We take great pride in our education programs and we hope you love them too! We'd love to hear what you think of our programs. Leave your honest review here so we can make our programs even better!
Help Your Child Become a Math Wiz Early!
Children are using early math skills throughout their daily routines and activities. This is good news as these skills are important for being ready for school. But early math doesn’t mean taking out the calculator during playtime. Even before they start school, most children develop an understanding of addition and subtraction through everyday interactions. For example, Thomas has two cars; Joseph wants one. After Thomas shares one, he sees that he has one car left (Bowman, Donovan, & Burns, 2001, p. 201). Other math skills are introduced through daily routines you share with your child—counting steps as you go up or down, for example. Informal activities like this one give children a jumpstart on the formal math instruction that starts in school.
What math knowledge will your child need later on in elementary school? Early mathematical concepts and skills that first-grade mathematics curriculum builds on include: (Bowman et al., 2001, p. 76).
- Understanding size, shape, and patterns
- Ability to count verbally (first forward, then backward)
- Recognizing numerals
- Identifying more and less of a quantity
- Understanding one-to-one correspondence (i.e., matching sets,
or knowing which group has four and which has five)
Number Sense
This is the ability to count accurately—first forward. Then, later in school, children will learn to count backwards. A more complex skill related to number sense is the ability to see relationships between numbers—like adding and subtracting. Ben (age 2) saw the cupcakes on the plate. He counted with his dad: “One, two, three, four, five, six…”Representation
Making mathematical ideas “real” by using words, pictures, symbols, and objects (like blocks). Casey (aged 3) was setting out a pretend picnic. He carefully laid out four plastic plates and four plastic cups: “So our whole family can come to the picnic!” There were four members in his family; he was able to apply this information to the number of plates and cups he chose.Spatial sense
Later in school, children will call this “geometry.” But for toddlers it is introducing the ideas of shape, size, space, position, direction and movement. Aziz (28 months) was giggling at the bottom of the slide. “What’s so funny?” his Auntie wondered. “I comed up,” said Aziz, “Then I comed down!”Measurement
Technically, this is finding the length, height, and weight of an object using units like inches, feet or pounds. Measurement of time (in minutes, for example) also falls under this skill area. Gabriella (36 months) asked her Abuela again and again: “Make cookies? Me do it!” Her Abuela showed her how to fill the measuring cup with sugar. “We need two cups, Gabi. Fill it up once and put it in the bowl, then fill it up again.”Estimation
This is the ability to make a good guess about the amount or size of something. This is very difficult for young children to do. You can help them by showing them the meaning of words like more, less, bigger, smaller, more than, less than. Nolan (30 months) looked at the two bagels: one was a regular bagel, one was a mini-bagel. His dad asked: “Which one would you like?” Nolan pointed to the regular bagel. His dad said, “You must be hungry! That bagel is bigger. That bagel is smaller. Okay, I’ll give you the bigger one. Breakfast is coming up!”Patterns
Patterns are things—numbers, shapes, images—that repeat in a logical way. Patterns help children learn to make predictions, to understand what comes next, to make logical connections, and to use reasoning skills. Ava (27 months) pointed to the moon: “Moon. Sun go night-night.” Her grandfather picked her up, “Yes, little Ava. In the morning, the sun comes out and the moon goes away. At night, the sun goes to sleep and the moon comes out to play. But it’s time for Ava to go to sleep now, just like the sun.”Problem-solving
The ability to think through a problem, to recognize there is more than one path to the answer. It means using past knowledge and logical thinking skills to find an answer. Carl (15 months old) looked at the shape-sorter—a plastic drum with 3 holes in the top. The holes were in the shape of a triangle, a circle and a square. Carl looked at the chunky shapes on the floor. He picked up a triangle. He put it in his month, then banged it on the floor. He touched the edges with his fingers. Then he tried to stuff it in each of the holes of the new toy. Surprise! It fell inside the triangle hole! Carl reached for another block, a circular one this time…
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.
Great Things to Say!
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
After checking out all the preschools and
daycare facilities in the JC area, once we walked in we instantly fell
in love with Smart Start Academy. The school is clean, spacious and very
well kept. The director Cesia Acosta and her staff are warm, friendly,
knowledgeable and extremely dedicated to the children and the school.
My son has been going there for a couple months now and has learned so
much and comes home super excited to tell me about all the new things he
has learned and about all his new friends. My husband and I are
extremely happy we found Smart Start and we highly recommend any parent
looking for a safe and awesome learning environment for their children
to check it out!
- Joanna G., mother of 3 year old
Need Backup Care?
Our Backup Child Care Program helps families ensure their children
are cared for when their regularchild 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.
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.
We want to know how you feel about us! Please tell us about your experience with Smart Start Academy here! We are always striving to be the best!
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