Sharing Circle

Age integration in child care is the process of including children of various ages in the daily activities of the communities. Contrast this with age segregation, which involves separating children into definite age groups for instructions, activities, learning and playing. Age integration in child care gives each child an equal responsibility where they become both collaborators and contributors. Age integration is popular because it provides the perfect environment for learning since the kids are able to observe and teach their peers.
 
Four benefits of age integration in child care:

• The young children benefit from consistent education and care in the same place and time. They are able to move consistently through their early childhood without interruption.

Summer camps programs are essential learning opportunities for kids and have proven to have a correlation with higher graduation rates, positive effects on self-esteem, better preparation for college, confidence and motivation.

Moreover, these programs are great at improving talent and keeping students engaged. Therefore, it is no surprise that parents are looking for great summer camp programs in Albany for their children.

So what should a parent look in a great summer program?

We often hear a lot about bullying at schools, but forget that bullying in child care is more common than most people think. Perhaps you have had your child’s ear bitten or pulled in pre-school. Maybe she/he was isolated during playtime or teased and beaten. The truth of the matter is that these aggressive behaviors can also manifest in young children in child care.

According to a research by Montreal University, aggression in children can start in the first year of birth and peak between two and four years. That means that your child might be a victim of pre-school or child care bullying. It also means that your child might as well be the bully. In both cases, parents must learn to recognize elements of bullying and curtail it as early as possible before it grows into an uncontrollable monster later in life.

What should you do if you suspect that your child is being bullied?

In normal circumstances, child care administrators will deal with cases of bullying among the children. But, the only problem is that only parents of the offending kids are involved while leaving out the parents of the victimized children. Many children prefer to remain silent when bullied. However, there are always some signs to look out for when you suspect that your kid is being bullied.

Here are some signs to look for:

Did you know that all children, including those that have special needs, have a right to a quality after school program? These programs promote the philosophy of teamwork, inclusion and leadership. Although day care programs that accommodate special needs children are hard to find, the law provides for children with special needs to be accommodated in daycare.
 
Finding a child care program that will take care of your child’s special needs can be difficult, but it is critical to make sure that you find the right program.
 
You will definitely want a program that has the same attributes as those of your child. Ideally, you should look for one that is run by trained professionals who will know how to handle your child with personalized care and professionalism. Look for a program that offers a smaller environment with a structured child care program.

You have searched far and wide. You have done all the necessary research in order to ensure that you select the best daycare for your children. You have finally settled on a magnificent after school daycare in Albany with wonderful caregivers. You find the caregivers knowledgeable and friendly, and they seem to match every description of the ideal people you would like to handle your child. It seems like a perfect deal. However, on the pickup day, you notice something that makes you start thinking twice.

Here are some concerns that you would want to solve before handing over your child.

Food - the good thing about licensed daycare givers is that nutrition is a top priority. The law requires centers to provide healthy, balanced options to the children. However, it is possible that you might still be concerned about the food offered at the daycare. It is important to talk to the staff about the type of food they provide. Some centers allow children to make choices.  But it is also worth noting that being extremely choosy for your child when it comes to food might not help. Remember, that is part of the things that your child will learn at the facility. Unless food being offered is not nutritious, it is best to allow your child to go along with it.

Clinton once said that it takes a good community to effectively raise a child. That sounds so true today especially for parents that are in search of quality daycare for their little ones. From the parents, to the administrators, to the religious leaders, to the caregivers, to state licensing agencies, there are many people involved in shaping the future of the child. It is not a surprise that finding a good program is a chief concern for many parents. A good child care support program should be affordable, safe and one that allows their kids to grow socially and intellectually. That said, it is a major undertaking to identify a great program, one that meets all your high standards. 
 
What is quality child care?

Choosing the right child care is not an easy task. There are a number of options you need to look at when it comes to choosing the right child care program. Here, we are going to discuss the available options so that you can make a quality decision:

1) Daycare center
Currently, there are more than 2.6 million children that attend daycare in the United States. These facilities are licensed and have met various government safety standards and regulations. As such, you can expect them to have qualified professional caregivers. The good thing with daycare centers is that they accept even infants that are 6 weeks old. The cost ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 depending on the facility and state.

Daycare centers are perfect for busy parents who do not have time to look after their kids. Moreover, the centers are equipped with child care programs that are meant to foster the growth of your child. The only downside is the high cost. Even if you pay for the most expensive daycare, there are no guarantees that your child will receive quality, personalized care.

What is differentiation in child care?

It is simply a method of teaching which involves employing various teaching techniques to instruct a diverse range of students, with varied learning needs. In a daycare center, you are likely to find a heterogeneous group of students with different abilities, interests, flexibility and academic level. You are required to use different instructional strategies to teach the students. The goal is to ensure that every student has mastered essential skills and knowledge without disadvantaging anyone.
 
Differentiation including special needs children
At any quality, child care center, you will find different kinds of children with different abilities, needs, interests and educational level. As a child care giver, you should encourage the parents to share with you vital information of their children and what disability, if any, they might have. By working together, the parents of the child and the professional can ensure that the child gets the best daycare services. Many adaptations you will make for the benefit of the children will range from simple to complex, depending on the specific needs of the children.