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!

Starting kindergarten is a big deal! It is the first day of “big kid” school and your child’s first steps into classroom learning. But starting kindergarten may bring with it some nerves. And as a parent you want to be on top of all the things that your child may experience on the first day. Keep reading for some starting kindergarten tips to help both you and your little scholar start off on the right foot.

Visit the Classroom before School Starts

Get your child ready for kindergarten with these kindergarten readiness tips.

If your little one – or you, for that matter – have some butterflies or nerves about starting the first day of kindergarten, the best way to calm them down is to go and visit the place that is causing them. If it is possible, and very often it is, take your little scholar to meet their new teacher and visit their classroom. Doing this will show them – and you – that there is nothing to be worried about. Meeting the teacher will make the first day less foreign and more familiar.

Talk and share with your child

Let them ask questions and share positive memories that you have about school, the fun you had, the teachers you enjoyed, the friendships you made. Take time to answer your child’s questions, validate their concerns, and remain positive and enthusiastic about their upcoming experiences.

Hit the books.

But not school texts. Go to the library with your child and check out stories about the first day of school. Discuss the feelings outlined in the stories and answer questions your child may have.

Plan for a smooth first-day experience by preparing the night before.

Help your child pick out their “first day of school” outfit, pack their lunch, and set out their backpack.

The first day is just the first day

Don’t stop checking in with how your child feels about transitioning to kindergarten after Day 1. It is important to check in with your child and communicate about their experiences throughout the year.

Kindergarten Readiness Programs

It is important to start your child down the path of transitioning into kindergarten early. The best way to assure that your child is prepared for kindergarten is to enroll them in a preschool or other type of kindergarten readiness program. Preschool offers a transitional bridge between home life and formal classroom learning; you know, big kid school.

Starting Kindergarten at Noah’s Ark

At Noah’s Ark Reno, your child will get the robust and professional kindergarten readiness programs they deserve. Kindergarten readiness at Noah’s Ark provides your child with the knowledge and social skills necessary to make a smooth transition to kindergarten and beyond! Our caring and professional staff are dedicated to ensuring that your child is safe and secure while learning and growing. Come check out our programs and contact us today!

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!

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!

Academic research and studies into healthy child development has continued to record the positive impact that preschool programs have on the development of children. The developmental benefits are not just academic. Preschool programs have been shown to impact nearly every area of a child’s life, learning and development, even many years into the future. And the benefits are seen across the socioeconomic spectrum.

The benefits of preschool education programs for children from low income families are especially remarkable, leading to the creation of a number of state and federal programs designed to increase the enrollment of low income children in preschool.

So you might be wondering about some of the details. Keep reading for an introduction to some of the benefits of preschool programs on child development.

Preschool prepares your child for social learning.

Academic Benefits of Preschool Programs

The academic benefits of preschool programs have been well studied and documented. According to a report on the effectiveness of New Mexico’s Pre-K initiative released by the National Institute for Early Education Research, four year old participants showed increases in math, early language and literacy skills.

Another study of Oklahoma’s preschool initiative reported that the study results “provide solid support for the benefits that such a program can have on the test scores of young children of differing ethnic and racial groups and from differing socioeconomic backgrounds.” The authors of the study go on to say that “the program appears to have its largest effects on the Letter– Word Identification subtest, which assesses pre-reading abilities; followed by the Spelling subtest, and finally the Applied Problems subtest.” Because of these statistically solid results, the authors conclude that “our research supports the proposition that a universal pre-K program financed by state government and implemented by the public schools can improve pre-reading, prewriting, and pre-numeracy skills for a diverse cross-section of young children”

Click the link for more information on the benefits of preschool.

Socialization Benefits of Preschool Education

It should be noted that preschool is first and foremost a bridge between unstructured and structured learning. From

Preschool Programs teach your child about learning with others!

birth to preschool age, your child has been learning a ton about the world and developing verbal and large and fine motor skills. These skills are generally acquired naturally during the course of normal family socialization.

But just because they appear to be easy developments doesn’t meant that they are. In fact, the first years of life are some of the most rigorous and rapid periods of intellectual and emotional growth human beings ever undergo. By the time they are ready to start preschool, children are already well adapted learners.

The role of preschool is to guide learning in a more structured way and to ensure that age appropriate social skills are developed and reinforced.In preschool, children are exposed to learning that is both hands on and gropu oriented, allowing them to develop a sense of a social self. This development in preschool gives them a head start on the type of learning they will be doing in kindergarten.

Preschool Programs at Noah’s Ark Child Center

The preschool programs at Noah’s Ark Child Center are designed to give your child a boost before entering kindergarten. The professional and caring preschool faculty at Noah’s Ark is dedicated to making learning a fun and engaging experience for your child. At Noah’s Ark Child Center, your child will learn about the world, themselves and others in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment. Come visit us or contact us online today!

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!