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You have them, raise them and watch them grow faster than you’d ever imagine.
Eventually, a time comes when you need to let them go…at least temporarily….to
a child care center. Whether it’s a vital need for daycare in order for
Mom to return to work, a desire to expose children to others in their peer group
or simply time for a hectic parent to re-group, the need for quality child care
is on the rise.
In the past, often family member or close friends pitched in and helped tend
to the needs of small children, including helping with after school care. Today
these options may not be available: there may only be one parent, and families
sometimes relocate as a result of a transfer.
So what choices do parents have?
Do you need before or after school care, or are looking for a twelve-hour facility?
Do you need just an afternoon off for self pampering? Are you hoping to build
a spiritual foundation or to expose your child to the joys of formal pre-school
academics? Whatever your need, Jacksonville has you covered.
Focusing on early childhood development is the cornerstone of nationally recognized
Kindercare’s mission statement. “We have age appropriate activities
which encourage and stimulate children,” states Jill Eiland of Kindercare.
Programs are available for infants starting at six weeks all the way up to before
and after school care for all ages up to twelve. “Our goal is to accommodate
most parents’ schedules; we can arrange for transportation to and from
school and provide meals,” says Jill. Parents are given progress reports,
daily activity reports even notations on diaper changes for infants.
A provider who brings a personalized element to childcare can help parents
feel more comfortable with their choices. Dawn Gillespie of Dawn’s Daycare
and Learning Center thinks of her clients as friends. “I get to know the
parents and children on a personal basis so I can understand what the family
is about and what I can do to provide childcare that makes sense to each family’s
lifestyle.” Dawn makes sure that parents are presented with verbal reports
of their children’s activities and progress.
For parents who wish to combine a spiritual and academic foundation, Promiseland
Preschool and Academy could be a viable option. “We have dedicated teachers
who give the children what they need,” says Academy Director Maxine Williams.
“I encourage our teachers to ‘work outside of the box’ if their
students are understanding at an advanced rate.” Stacy Ellison adds, “Our
students learn elements which prepare them for kindergarten. Our three-year-olds
know the names of all of the Presidents!” It’s also never too early
to learn life skills. “Our four-year-olds are learning to tell time and
count money,” notes Maxine. On the SAT test the school gives their four-year-olds,
many score at first and second grade levels.
Pam Barry of San Jose Episcopal School tells of the academic offerings at her
facility. The school offers programs starting with pre-K through sixth grade.
“Our Pre-K program provides a wide range of subjects for hands-on exposure
for our four-year-olds,” says Pam. Just what types of topics are covered
in the classes? “We have a true academic and age appropriate program including
language arts, math, science, computer lab and social studies,” Pam reports.
“We fully integrate all resources available to us to prepare children for
the formal education that lies ahead; plus we add the religious aspect of Christian
devotion.”
What if Mom wants to have some time to run errands or to take an afternoon
at a day spa, or what if she needs someone to watch the children while she works
part time? Check with Cindy Lawrence of Avondale Child’s Day Out Playschool.
“Most of our students are here anywhere from two to five days a week between
the hours of nine to two. We have moms who work part time and some who need
a Mom’s Day Out,” says Cindy. This summer Cindy is busy preparing
the fall curriculum. “We are excited to be participating in Duval County’s
Universal Pre-K program starting in August with a large part of it tied to the
Links to Literacy program.”
Would you like your child to be bi-lingual? Petite Ambassador’s Language
School offers Spanish and French, as well as Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese,
Russian and Arabic. According to Julie Warrenfeltz, the earlier children are
exposed to another language, the easier it is for them to learn it. Our programs
start with newborns; we expose them to music and language which helps with balance
and neuromuscular development. A baby has the ability to process dialects and
language differences up to the age of ten months. After that, it becomes more
difficult for the brain to comprehend the language differences,” states
Julie. The toddler and pre-school programs take the teaching a step further
by providing complete language immersion with motor skills development and actually
learning to speak the language. “By speaking the language, we encourage
an actual understanding and improvement in overall verbal skills, in both the
language learned as well in English,” says Julie. “We even have a
three-year-old in the program who can speak seven languages!”
Perhaps your family could benefit from live-in assistance. Andrea Stutler,
Local Coordinator of Cultural Care Au Pair, presents an affordable option: “For
$275.00 per week (plus room and meals), a family can have up to ten hours per
day live in au pair child care, no matter how many children are in the family.”
Strict screening, monitoring and government regulations work together to allow
both families and the program participant a mutually beneficial experience.
“The family learns a whole new cultural experience and the student gets
to improve English communication skills,” says Andrea. The student chosen
for the au pair program can come from Europe, Mexico, South Africa and Australia
and must know at least some conversational English. The average age for an au
pair is eighteen to 26, and both men and women apply. Andrea works to meet the
needs of the host family and the student. “We work within a careful process
to ensure a perfect match with a family’s need and a student’s capabilities.
I have meetings once a month with both the au pair and the host family to make
sure all parties are doing well.” Program participants are in the United
States for twelve months and usually receive one week of training before starting
work with a family. Andrea notes, “The students receive total safety training
including guidelines set forth by the National Safe Kids Campaign. They also
have classes for bike, water and playground safety.”
For any budget, situation or need, childcare alternatives are available for
everyone. Whether you need a part-time assistant for a couple of days per week
or more permanent short term care, you and your family should be able to find
the caregiver that is right for you.