Harbor Child Care is one of the most in demand child care providers on Long Island, especially when it comes to caring for infants. We take pride in offering an enriched educational environment at each one of our locations where loving and skilled teachers greet their small charges every day.
Parents who place even the youngest children in our care quickly come to see the benefits. After a brief adjustment, infants become more alert by interacting with other children and learn social cues at a much earlier age. Infants grow very quickly, so the more they are stimulated by their surroundings, the sooner they can begin to enjoy the world around them.
Our infant education program is open to children ages 3 months to 18 months and provides a relaxed curriculum program specifically designed to meet the needs of children in this age group. We work with parents who are considering this early stage care and happily offer tours so they can see our thriving centers and the specific area where the infants reside.
A Day In the Life
Infants respond best to routine, so our staff make it a point to consistently talk with parents and caregivers to keep abreast of what is going on at home in terms of sleep patterns and other information that may be of use when caring for the child during the day. We also provide many updates on what their baby experienced during the day so parents can feel comfortable and confident that their child is in great hands every step of the way.
Arrival and Departure
We know that drop off time can sometimes be hectic for parents or caregivers, so we make sure that our staff provide a warm and leisurely greeting during the hand off. Infants quickly come to learn that even though their parents are leaving them here, they are now placed with loving and trustworthy people who will smile with them throughout the day and keep them safe until their parents return. Some parents even establish a special little ritual so it provides a non-verbal signal to the child that it’s time for them to leave.
At departure time, the same type of exchange takes place. While infants are of course relieved to see their parents, they also experience the pleasant and friendly good-byes from their teachers who will look forward to seeing them again the next day!
Feeding and Mealtime
Babies quickly learn to communicate when they are hungry. For infants, bottle time is not just about feeding, but also a time to experience the comforting arms of a teacher and a great opportunity to experience close physical contact with an adult who is solely focused on them and their needs. As an infant matures, mealtime quickly becomes an adventure where there are new tastes, smells and textures with their food. This is where we begin to introduce self feeding with fingers, spoon and eventually a cup.
Keeping Clean
As anyone who has cared for an infant knows, the daily routine is filled with diaper changes, dressing and washing. Our staff keep a sharp eye out for this and ensure that infants are attended to regularly.
Napping
Naps provide the sleep and rest that is necessary for children’s growth and development. At our centers, naptime in an infant program occurs both on demand and when a child expresses they are tired. The great thing about taking naps in a child care setting is that babies quickly learn how to sleep through all kinds of noise around them.
Time to Explore
When infants are in a child care setting, they are routinely exposed to many forms of age appropriate stimulation. Throughout the day, infants are provided with sustained blocks of time where they can explore books, toys and other materials. This is also a time when they can learn how to interact with other children. As they further develop, we add opportunities for more advanced exploration and play. Many of our parents have expressed how pleased they are with the range of stimuli available for each age group and comment on how much better behaved their children are in social situations since they have already experienced being around other children and adults on a regular basis.
Are you interested in discussing a child care option for your infant at one of our many convenient locations? If yes, please contact us today and we would be happy to answer any questions and of course arrange a tour for you and meet your child.
