Daycare vs Educational Child Care

Educational Child Care is about learning and fun!!

“Daycare” and “Childcare” are terms that are often used interchangeably. In some cases, that is appropriate. But childcare, especially educational child care, offers more in the way of programs than traditional daycare supervision.

Day care is most accurately described as a daily babysitting service. There is nothing wrong with traditional day care. Children are supervised, fed and given some fun activities to do while their parents work. But you may be looking for a little more for your child and the money that you will be spending.

Educational childcare is a rung above traditional daycare. Educational Childcare offers programs and activities that contribute to your child’s growth and learning in a safe well supervised setting.

Types of Educational Childcare

Educational childcare is usually designed for children from infant to preschool age. But there are also some great programs that cater to school age children as well. Summer camp programs are often a great way to keep older kids engaged and learning during the summer break.

But the most popular and most well-known type of educational childcare is preschool education. There are many benefits of preschool child care for both parents and students, including preparation for kindergarten, social engagement and cognitive development.

Preschool is not just daycare. It is a place where your child transitions from the at home informal learning of early childhood, to the more formal classroom based learning of kindergarten and grade school.

There are also great educational toddler programs that focus not only on play but also on learning and cognitive development and motor skills. Before enrolling your child in a child care program, don’t be afraid to ask the center staff exactly what their philosophy and curriculum is. If they are a quality child care center, they will gladly offer you their information and educational policies.

Educational Child Care Programs with Noah’s Ark Reno 

Noah’s Ark Child Center in Reno is dedicated to providing children and families in the Reno / Sparks area the quality educational child care they deserve. Our child care programs are designed around the educational and learning potential of all children. We offer child care programs from preschool to after school age. And we even offer a engaging school age summer school program. Come check out all our programs and contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you!

Summer is fast approaching. Soon, your child or children will be out of school and amped up to enjoy the warm summer weather and all the fun activities it can bring. However, from experience you may know that after a few weeks of summer fun the “I am bored” declarations start. On top of the boredom that can accompany the long, sweltering days, is your need of good childcare for your little ones while you are at work. Child care summer school programs can solve both of these problems. Summer school offers you a break from 24 hour care and gives your child fun and exciting things to do child in a social environment. Let’s take a look at some of the great benefits of summer camp!

Boredom Be Gone with Summer School

Prepare for adventure in summer camp!

As the novelty of the summer weather wears off and kids get bored, they can often become affixed to their computer and video games and end up spending most of their summer indoors. For those of us who spent most of our summers outdoors exploring, playing and having fun, seeing children glued to the screen for hours on end makes us worry that they are missing out on all the adventure! Summer camp and other summer programs offer your children fun and engaging activities that will get their body moving, mind thinking and curiosity piqued.

Hands on Learning in Nature with Summer Camp

Summer camp and summer programs are a great time to teach children that not all learning occurs in the classroom. At summer camp kids will soon find out that learning can mean dirty hands and exploring nature. Summer camp will teach your kids outdoor skills and allows them to experience mother natures classroom.

Unstructured Playtime

Along with structured activities designed to get your child’s mind thinking and curious, is time for free unstructured play and exploration. Summer camp allows kids to relax away from the classroom and explore their interests. Summer camp will give your child the ability to explore their inventiveness in play, problem solving and learning.

Social Skills

Summer school not only brings kids to nature and great activities. It also brings kids to each other. Summer camp activities are designed around group learning and problem solving. They learn to cooperate with other children, share resources and participate in group learning that prepares them for both the classroom and the real world.

Independence

Summer camp gives kids the opportunity to make choices and decisions as individuals away from their parents. Whether it is a day camp or overnight camp, the time at summer camp is spent learning to be themselves.

Summer School at Noah’s Ark Reno

Summer camp at Noah’s Ark Reno is a great way to keep your child busy this summer. Our summer school age program is built around a monthly activity calendar and many outings and field trips. There is a theme for each week of the summer program and daily activities and field trips are planned around this theme. Come check out all our programs and contact us today!

School age childcare programs are fun programs and engaging programs that kindergarten children and older can attend before school, after school, and during the summer and holiday breaks. Often, parents who have work schedules or family situations that make it difficult for an adult or guardian to supervise their child after the school day use school age child care to provide their child with a safe environment in which to spend their after school time.

Benefits of School Age Childcare Programs

Research has shown that quality school age childcare programs can provide children with a variety of developmental and intellectual benefits including improved academic performance, task persistence, improved work habits and study skills, and improved feelings and attitudes. These benefits are so comprehensive that federal, state and local initiatives are increasing the funding and support for school age child care programs. Approximately 6.5 million children participate in a school age after school program, and an additional 15.3 would attend if there were programs available.

The demand for school age childcare programs is increasing for two reasons. The first reason has to do with the fact that many parents are working hours that extend many hours beyond the length of the typical school day. For these parents, before and after school child care ensures that their children are supervised and safe while they are at work. The second reason has to with the many benefits of school age programs.

No matter what your reasons, below are some things to look for when choosing a quality child care program.

Not Just Daycare

A quality after school or school age childcare program of any type should be more than just a supervised day care. School age programs should be designed to complement and enrich the learning

Our staff is committed to exceptional school age childcare.

that takes place at school. Before choosing a school age program, ask the program director about age appropriate learning activities they offer.

Balance

While it is important that school age childcare offers learning activities and time to do homework, you don’t want your child to burn out on learning. That is why it is important that the school age program allows an appropriate level of autonomy and play time to the children. Research has shown that exercise and play are vital to child development. Before choosing a childcare program, ask the director about the amount of time that the kids are allowed to be kids.

Variety

Make sure that the school age childcare activities are varied and won’t risk your child becoming bored and tired. Ask about how the childcare staff come up with new, fun an exciting daily activities for your child.

Safety

Any school age childcare setting, no matter what the ages it caters to, should be devoted to the safety of the children. Make sure the child care facility is designed for safety and maintains a low child to caregiver ratio.

School Age Childcare Programs at Noah’s Ark Child Center

At Noah’s Ark Child Center in Reno, we provide high quality before and after school age childcare programs as well as programs during the holiday and seasonal breaks. Come check out all of our  program offerings and contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!

When a child starts preschool, they are invited into a whole new world of learning and exploration. The preschool environment is a place where they begin to learn the basics of what they will later learn in grade school. The preschool curriculum includes learning the alphabet and simple reading, learning to play and interact in groups, and exercising creativity in arts and crafts. In addition to crafts and the learning that goes on in socialization, preschool children are introduced to math and number. Preschool math is designed to introduce the children to the concept of number, comparisons and the many ways that number is used in daily life.

The Importance of Preschool Math

As education becomes more focused on math, science and technology, it is important that children are introduced to numbers and become comfortable with

Preschool math is an essential part of early childhood education.

using them. While preschool math curriculum doesn’t guarantee that your child will be a math wiz, they will enter kindergarten and grade school with a solid foundation in math and the various ways it is used.

Preschool math is a transitional curriculum based on the assumption that the child knows very little to nothing about math and is designed to be the bridge to kindergarten learning.

How is Math Taught in Preschool?

Like many preschool subjects, preschool math is taught primarily by play, games and song. Preschool math curriculum is designed to introduce the child to number and many of the everyday uses of number. As adults, we forget how thoroughly numbers are a part of our lives. From the date to the time, numbers are everywhere. The purpose of preschool math is to expose children to the concept of number and engage some of the ways we use it in everyday life.

What are Children Taught in Preschool Math?

The beginning of preschool math education is the introduction to numbers, counting and number recognition. Games are used to help the preschooler recognize the numbers, learn to count and match numbers to their names. Children will learn to count the days of the school year, will be put into numbered groups and will begin to learn the concept of time and date.

Some of these mathematical concepts, however, are too hard for young learners to fully grasp. At this age, there is not too much to worry about if your child is struggling with numbers and their associated concepts. Telling time on a clock, for example, because it uses two sets of 12 distinguished by a.m and p.m. to account for a 24 hour day, introduces a second layer of possible confusion for a first time learner. Preschool math will give your child the building blocks of to learn further in kindergarten and grade school.

Preschool Math at Noah’s Ark Reno

Noah’s Ark Child Center is dedicated to providing excellent quality preschool education to the families of Reno, Nevada. In pursuit of this goal, the Preschool program at Noah’s Ark encourages children to discover number and learn how it is used in their daily lives. Children learn to recognize number, count and are introduced to the days of the week and the calendar. Come check out our programs and contact us today to get your child started on the path to future academic success! We look forward to hearing from you!

Boo-boos happen. They are a nearly unavoidable part of childhood. And as every parent knows, children are more likely to get hurt at play than at rest. It is just a fact of life. And every teacher knows that the children in their care are more likely to get hurt on the playground than in the classroom. That’s why it is so important for parents, teachers and children to have a good handle on playground safety techniques and practices. Keep reading to get some tips on how you can keep your child safe while they are on the playground.

Tip 1: Adult Supervision

The first and most obvious way to keep children safe on the playground is to make sure that they have adequate parental supervision. The adult should be familiar with the playground equipment and its intended use and what kids should and should not do on it. The adult responsible should keep children from climbing on the equipment in a manner that can cause injury. For the most part, playground equipment is safe as long as it is not abused. An alert, safety conscious adult can go a long way to ensuring playground safety and fun.

Tip 2: Playground Design and Area 

Good playground design is essential for playground safety.

If a playground were 100 percent safe, it wouldn’t be a playground. There is always a chance that falls, bumps and bruises are going to happen. But there are some things to be on the lookout for when it comes to playground design.

Playground surfaces should be soft and impact absorbent. Concrete and asphalt should be avoided. The best surface materials for playgrounds are rubber fillings or rubber safety mats. The rubber mats allow access to people and children in wheelchairs and is the preferred surface material in modern playground designs. The surface should be clear of rocks, glass, sticks and other debris to avoid falls.

Tip 3: Age Appropriate

Many playgrounds are designed around a specific age group. The spacing and height of the playground is determined by the average size of children in the age group. Make sure that the playground that young children are playing on is properly designed for their age group.

Tip 4. Maintenance and Inspection

Before every play time event, the supervising adult should do a brief inspection of the equipment to make sure that there are no loose or broken parts that can cause an injury. Any play equipment that is found to be broken or defective should not be used, unless the damage does not make the equipment more dangerous.

Tip 5. Teach Children about Safe Play

Make sure that the children are aware that pushing or roughhouse while on a jungle Jim or other elevated equipment. Make sure they understand that they should go feet first on all slides and to hold the handrails on all climbers.

Playground Safety at Noah’s Ark Reno

Playground Safety is our highest priority at Noah’s Ark Reno.

At Noah’s Ark child care center in Reno, Nevada, playground safety is one of our top priorities. Our professional and caring staff are trained to recognize when a dangerous situation is brewing and stop it. Children are taught the proper way to play on our jungle Jim and avoid falls, bumps and bruises. If you are looking for a fun, engaging and safe child care center for your child, come check out our programs at Noah’s Ark and contact us online or stop by our Reno location.

As you watch your children grow, take those first steps, learn and play, your greatest hope is that they will carry that joy, curiosity and love of learning that you see now into their future lives. Naturally, you want to do everything that you can to help them achieve success and a well-developed social, emotional and intellectual life. One of the best ways to give your children a head start in their social and intellectual development is to put them in an early childhood education program.

What is Early Childhood Education?

Early Childhoo Education gives children a head start!

Early Childhood Education is a set of educational theories, practices and programs that focus on children as young as infants to around age eight. A subset of early child education, known as infant/toddler education, is focused on children from birth to age two.

Most infant/toddler education takes place informally, at home, with parents and loved ones. Family socialization with young children is vital to their healthy development. But the positive effects of formal early childhood education programs, such as an accredited preschool education, is now widely recognized by early education experts as being just as crucial to a child’s intellectual development.

How Will My Child Benefit from an Early Education Program?

The benefits of early childhood education and preschool programs have been shown in study after study for many years. These benefits of preschool are perhaps one of the most solidly proven subjects in educational research. In fact, if this article were to detail the entirety of the benefits of early childhood education and preschool, it would run on so long you would probably stop reading it. So we will keep it to a few key findings.

According to an article in Psychology Today, brain research has revealed that the human brain undergoes a crucial cognitive development period at an early age. If the necessary cognitive stimulation is lacking at this critical time, the child may experience deficits in cognitive ability that would otherwise not appear.

The article goes on to point out that studies on the effects of quality preschool education indicate that preschool education provides children with skills vital to later success. A survey of 28 year olds who had received a preschool education revealed that they had better paying jobs and life security than those 28 year olds who did not attend preschool.

In depth studies have recorded additional long term benefits. A famous long term of study of the impacts of preschool and early education programs, called the High/Scope Perry Preschool study, found that preschool attendees have fewer behavior and metal health problems, are less likely to get into trouble with the law, earn more income and have high school and college higher graduation rates.

Early Childhood Education Programs at Noah’s Ark Reno

Noah’s Ark Reno is dedicated to quality early childhood education.

At Noah’s Ark Reno we are dedicated to providing your child with quality and stimulating early childhood education programs and childcare, like preschool, at that critical time when your child is “like a knowledge sponge,” to quote an early education expert. Come check out all our child care offerings and contact us today! Located in the Reno area. We look forward to meeting you and your child and starting a learning adventure!

One of the best indicators of a quality childcare provider is a good student teacher ratio. The student teacher ratio is simply the number of teachers or childcare professionals on hand at any given time in a childcare, preschool or daycare setting in relation to the number of kids. For example, a preschool class of 20 children and 2 teachers has a student teacher ratio of 10:1. One teacher for every 10 kids. A class of 18 and 2 teachers has a ratio of 9:1 and so on.

A good student teacher ratio needs a well qualified team of teachers!

There are many factors that go into determining what a good student teacher ratio is, including the age of the children and the type of program – educational or simple childcare. And what is considered good in one scenario may be considered inadequate in others. But generally the lower student teacher ratio the better the quality and safety.

What is a Good Student Teacher Ratio?

The most ideal circumstance, and one that many parents dream about, is if your child were paired up with a single adult childcare provider who could provide individual attention and support to your child and no one else for the entirety of their school days. Unfortunately there are not enough teachers and child care providers to create a 1 to 1 ratio between every student and teacher in the country.

Instead, child care providers try to maintain a student teacher ratio that is within the acceptable range. The acceptable range of class size to number of teachers is the subject of much study and debate. But the general consensus is that a student teacher ratio of 10:1 is more than sufficient for preschoolers and older.

What are the Benefits of a low Student Teacher Ratio?

The lower (better) a student teacher ratio becomes, the more expensive the childcare usually becomes. But the quality also increases dramatically.

According to research conducted by The National Bureau of Economic Research, small class size and low student teacher ratios were one of the most vital elements in early childhood education settings to future academic achievement.

It’s not surprising why. A lower student teacher ratio allows for more personalized learning and care. A teacher who has to juggle too many kids is just not going to be able to make sure that all of them are performing at a decent level.

Children learn best in a setting with a low student teacher ratio.

Another factor of teacher student ratio is safety. A teacher who has too keep his or her eyes on 25 preschoolers – just imagine that for a moment – by themselves may become distracted and not be able to make sure that the kids are not getting themselves into unsafe situations. While most childcare facilities are safe places to be for all children, making sure that there enough adult eyes and supervision per child is a childcare safety essential.

Student Teacher Ratio at Noah’s Ark Childcare.

In support of all your childcare safety and education needs, Noah’s Ark Childcare Center maintains a minimum student teacher ratio of 1:10 with all of our programs and age groups. We strive to be there for your child whether they are playing, learning, dancing or socializing. Noah’s Ark Childcare staff have extensive experience and undergo 24 in service training classes per year, ensuring that we are up to date on all the latest research and news in early childcare education. Contact us today for more information on our childcare, preschool and daycare programs. We look forward to hearing from you!

Though it can sometimes be very cold and nasty, depending on where you live, winter can offer you and your family a variety of fun outdoor activities and experiences that rival those of the summer months. From snowball fights to snowboarding and skiing trips, no matter what you plan for, as we head into the short days and cold temperatures of the winter months, keep these winter safety tips for kids in mind and ensure that you and your family have a fun and healthy winter experience.

1. Keep Warm!

The first winter safety tip for kids seems obvious. Making sure that you and your kids are warm during winter activities is instinctual. But there are a number of ways to dress properly for winter weather that have to be learned.

Winter offers fun and exciting outdoor activities.

It is important that you layer your child’s winter clothing. Layers provide more efficient insulation than just one bulky coat and can easily be removed and added to suit the temperature.

Frostbite is one of the most common winter freezing injuries. Frostbite is most frequently seen on bodily extremities and exposed skin. If not properly protected, your child’s fingers, toes, nose, ears, and cheeks can become numb, pale, gray or bluish in color. This discoloration is the first sign of frostbite. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you apply warm water – not hot – to any suspected frostbite areas (around 104 degrees). If the numbness and blisters persist, call your child’s doctor immediately.

Another winter condition resulting from exposure to cold air is hypothermia. Hypothermia is when the body temperature of your child drops below normal levels, usually as a result of prolonged outdoor activity in freezing temperature. This condition can occur more quickly in children than adult, so it’s important to keep a lookout for it.

Common hypothermia symptoms include shivering, lethargy, clumsiness and loss of motor control, slurred speech and confusion. If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 and take them inside.

In order to prevent hypothermia, set reasonable limits on outdoor play in cold conditions.

2. Winter Activity Safety

While it is important to keep warm during the winter months, that is not the end of the story. Many of the activities that both kids and adults enjoy are hazardous in their own way. These quick winter safety tips for kids and adults will help make your winter activities with you family safe and fun.

When sledding, skiing or snowboarding it is important to inform your child about how to keep as safe as possible and avoid injury.

All children should be supervised while sledding. It is recommended that children use steerable sleds, not tubes or disks, and that they be prevented from sledding in a head first position.

Skiing and snowboarding should be taught to your children by a qualified instructor in a kids program.

Never ski, sled or snowboard alone. Make sure you child has a buddy or is properly supervised.

When ice skating, make sure that the ice has been approved as safe before letting your child venture out. Never go out on ice that you are unsure of.

3. Health

Winter is known as the flu season because, according to statistics, that is when most flu infections occur. However, cold weather is not the cause of the flu. There do happen to be more flu viruses during the cold months, but the primary reason for infection is because we stay indoors longer and are exposed to other people’s germs more frequently than in the summer months. The best way to prevent the flu from spreading is to teach your kids the importance of frequent handwashing.

Another, often overlooked, winter safety tip for kids is the need to ensure proper protection from the sun. Snow and ice reflects sunlight and can easily cause sunburn on exposed skin in a short period of time. Make sure your child is properly protected from the sun’s rays.

Winter Safety at Noah’s Ark Childcare

Noah’s Ark Childcare Center is devoted to the safety of your child no matter the weather. Whether it is snow, sleet, ice, rain or a exceptionally hot day, the staff at Noah’s Ark are trained to spot the signs of possible safety and health issues resulting from weather. Contact us today for more info on our safety training and experience. We look forward to hearing from you!

As a parent, one of the things you may find yourself worrying about a lot is the health of your child. You are often overwhelmed by the constant reports of illnesses and “bugs” going around and want to find ways to prevent your child from becoming sick. Having a sick child can be stressful and scary. Seeing them suffer and knowing that they feel bad can be heartbreaking. As we move into the flu season, it is important to remember the most effective preventative health measure of child care: hand washing.

The Science of Hand washing

The importance of hand washing in preventing the spread of illness cannot be overstated. According to research from the Center for Disease Control,

Regular hand washing is the best way to prevent illness.

community hand washing education reduced the number of people who got a diarrheal illness by 31%. Hand washing education also reduced the number of diarrheal illnesses in people with weakened immune systems by 58%. Further, respiratory illness, including colds, were reduced by 16-21%.

The reason handwashing is so important in preventing the spread of illness is because your hands and the hands of your child can carry a lot of germs. Anytime you touch something there is a transfer of germs, especially if that object is frequently used by others, such as a doorknob. These germs can then enter the body from contact with the eyes, face and mouth.

While visible dirt on your little ones hands after a day of play is always a good sign that they need to wash their hands, even when their hands appear clean there can be bacteria lurking on them that can get them sick. Kids often tinker with dirty things and have a tendency to touch their eyes, nose and face more than adults. This increases the risk of germs getting your child sick. Children are also at a greater risk because their immune systems are not as fully developed as an adult’s. It is therefore very important that you teach your children when and how to wash their hands. Here are some tips to help make sure your child gets in the habit of hand-washing.

The When and How of Good Hand washing

When teaching your child to wash their hands, it is recommended that you do it with them.  Take the time to show them how to do it and tell them about the importance of hand washing. How many times have your kids asked a “why” question? When you can show them the why and the how, your child will be more likely to make this a regular habit.

Make sure you wash with the right technique.

To make sure you scrub all those germs away, follow these tips:

1. Wash your hands in warm water. You don’t want to make it too hot for your little ones hands!
2. Use soap, preferably antibacterial, and lather for about 20 seconds. Teach your child to wash in between the fingers and under the nails. Those are the areas that bacteria like to hang out.
3. Rinse and dry well using a clean towel.

You should teach your child to wash their hands before and after every meal, after using the potty, after blowing their nose or coughing, touching animals and playing outside.

The Importance of Hand washing in a Child Care Setting

When kids are brought together in a child care setting, such as preschool or daycare, the importance of hand washing is even greater. When playing and interacting, kids can share a lot of germs and the best way to prevent the bad germs from being spread around is to make sure that everyone washes their hands frequently.

At Noah Ark Child Center, we take the health and well-being of your child very seriously. When you leave you child in our care, we ensure that your child and the other children in their class regularly wash their hands before and after eating, using the bathroom or any other activity that might cause your child to come into contact with germs.

We look forward to providing a fun, safe and healthy environment for your child to learn! Contact Noah’s Ark Child Center today!

Starting Preschool is an exciting yet intimidating time.

For both parents and their children, starting preschool is an exciting milestone that brings great joy and pride. But, for both parents and children, the first day can also arrive with some anxieties. The start of preschool is likely the first time parent and child have been separated for any real length of time. Naturally, there are some worries, doubts and concerns that come along with this.

If you are a parent of a child who is starting preschool, you may be just as nervous as your little one about the big day. You may be even more nervous than your child, especially if this is your first time sending a child to preschool. You may be worrying about whether your child will make friends and behave, how they will do academically and whether they are prepared for all the new things they are about to experience.

To help you and your little one navigate the butterflies of starting preschool, here are some tips that you can use to help make sure the first day of preschool is a positive and happy experience.

For a Nervous Child Starting Preschool

At first, a child starting preschool may not show very much anxiety about the first day. Children usually don’t become nervous until the realization sets in that they are going to be separated from you for a good portion of the day. This anxiety is very common and sometimes it causes parents a great deal of anxiety as well.

To help keep you both calm, here are some tips to make the transition easier.

Talk to you child before the big day

Before starting preschool, talk to your little scholar about your experiences in preschool. Tell them about what to expect and how much fun it was for you, about all the neat things you learned and all the friends you made. Letting them know that you have been there too is a great way to relieve some of the anxiety your child may experience. Having this conversation with your child while allowing them to pick out a new backpack ad get other supplies reinforces the positive message.

Give them something of yours to hold onto

If your child is expressing worry about you leaving, give them something of

yours that they can hold onto for the day. It can be anything you like. To them that you are giving to them for safe keeping until you get back. This gives them something to focus on assures them that you will come back to get it.

Arrange play dates with the children in your child’s class

Arrange a play date with your child’s classmates!

If your child already knows someone in the class before starting preschool, the transition from home to preschool will be much smoother. Before preschool begins, get in touch with some of the other parents who have children in your class. Arrange a few play dates and foster a new friendship before preschool even starts.

Remember, even after doing some of these tips, your child may still be anxious and unsure about starting preschool. This is normal. The separation experience is a process that may take your child – and you too – some time to feel comfortable with.

For the Nervous Parent Starting Preschool

The process of starting preschool can be just as nerve racking for parents as it is for children. As the parent, you may also experience some of the same separation anxiety as your child. After being with your little one for so long and tending to their every need all the time, it can be emotional difficult to let go.

On top of that, you may feel hesitant to leave your child under the supervision of someone you may not know that well.

Here some tips to help you cope with the process of starting preschool.

Talk to The preschool Teacher and Director.

These anxieties are all very normal and preschool teachers are experienced and trained to address your concerns.

Before your child starts preschool, get to know the teachers and preschool directors. Ask them about their experiences and training. Try to get to know them on a personal level, too. Preschool teachers are naturally very friendly and gentle and will happily share who they are with you. Talking to the people who are going to be supervising your child on this level will turn them from strangers to trusted friends.

Take some time for yourself

While your child is at preschool, take some time for yourself that you would otherwise not have. Do something for yourself. Treat yourself to a massage, lunch with friends or start reading that book you have been trying to get to for the last couple of months.

Develop new friendships

Talking with and getting to know the parents of other children in the class is a great way to relieve the anxiety of starting preschool. They may be sharing some of your same feelings. Having someone to talk to who is experiencing the same thing can really help the both of you. You never know; a shared concern may become a great life-long friendship.

Starting preschool can be hard for both you and your child, and while these tips are not exhaustive, they are a good start to ensuring that starting preschool is an exciting, positive and formative milestone for you and your future scholar. At Noah’s Ark Childcare Center we strive to make sure that preschool is an inviting, warm, fun and creative space for your little one to develop their potential. We can’t wait to share the first day of preschool with you!