Hamden Daycare - Carrot Patch infants toddlers preschool children

Welcome to the Carrot Patch! Nicole and I are delighted to bring families in the Hamden-Cheshire-North Haven area a first-rate early learning center where children will thrive in a safe, fun, nurturing and creative environment year-round. My daughter and I bring our passion for education and our love of children to every detail and every decision we make. We have been working hard with some of Connecticut's top talent in the early learning field and we know you'll love the result!

Now that spring has arrived, at least officially, the Toddler classes are hard at work learning about plant growth. Parents provided tulip bulbs for the children to plant around the Carrot Patch sign. Toddlers compared the bulbs to the flower seeds they planted, and will be tracking the growth of both. Continuing nature walks provide opportunities to discover signs of spring--chirping birds, sprouting flowers and new buds on the trees--and watch the many changes that are occurring all around us.

The pre-school has just completed their study of foods and nutrition, and are moving on to learn all about rabbits. Our own bunny, Tucker, is back after an extended stay at the Cheshire Nursery School (where the children had created an animal hospital). The children are able to observe Tucker in his two-story bunny "condo" and learn about domestic bunny behaviors. The library is well-stocked with bunny books, both fiction and non-fiction. Pre-schoolers are planning to build a bunny burrow. They will be growing carrots to feed Tucker, as well as to feed each other (carrot cake) and to create their own art (carrot greens painting). A bunny "taste test" is also in the works, where children can investigate what healthy foods rabbits like best.

The pre-schoolers are ready to start the extremely popular "Stories In Motion" project. The process comes from the work of Vivian Gussin Paley, a prominent early childhood educator and theorist. Whenever our preschoolers have an idea for a story, they are encouraged to dictate the story to a teacher who will write down their words in a special story portfolio. On Monday afternoons, the children's stories are first read aloud, then as a group we identify the characters and determine which students will play the roles.

Turn-taking, team-building, self-confidence, and expression, as well as literacy skills, are inherent in the process. The students have really embraced this activity; they are equally excited to act out their friends' stories as they are to have their own ideas heard. Stories In Motion allows the students to become authors just like the published authors we celebrate in our classrooms!

We are continuing the 2:5 ratio in the Infant Room because we believe this level of care is necessary to give our smallest "students" the loving attention they deserve. Our program is small, homey, and features a thoughtful focus on early child development. We accept no more than five infants, with two mature and well-qualified teachers to provide their care and encourage their development.

Our new Carrot Patch Annex will be opening in time for the start of summer! This will allow us to enroll additional pre-schoolers, for both a younger class and an older pre-k group. Limited transitional toddler, and older toddler spaces will also be available at the end of June. Click on the "Activities" Carrot for specific spaces. Call us at 248-5433 or email carrotpatchkids@yahoo.com to arrange a personal tour. And to learn more about the daily activities of our various classes, be sure to ask for the web addresses for our teacher-made blogs.

Given our limited openings, we also welcome you to explore the newer childcare center we opened in July. The Community Children's Center is located right down the road at the Alice Peck School. This is a separate program, opened initially to serve the child care needs previously met by the YMCA. The program is growing fast, but there are still limited spaces available. If you have questions, please view the website at www.hamdendaycare.com or call Deanna there at 281-7473. Please don't call the Carrot Patch regarding the new program, though, as we are already quite busy keeping 'The Patch' running smoothly!

And by the way, if you are looking for a half-day program for pre-k or kindergarten-aged children, either morning or afternoon, our Cheshire Nursery School may be just the thing! We also offer a summer-only program there for children aged 3-7. Find out more by visiting www.TheCheshireNurserySchool.com or call Jan at 272-5435.

We think our individualized approach, professional college-educated teachers, and focus on "play with a purpose" creates the ideal happy learning environment for your child! We enjoy showing off our fully-renovated Center and our architect-designed playgound where we have plenty of inviting space for biking, gardening, and all-out kid-style fun. Our nurturing, experienced and committed professional staff are on-hand to answer questions and discuss our fun-filled child-centered creative curriculum. Watch for opportunities to visit and bring your family to see for yourself why our desire to be the best early learning center in the area has led to something really special!

P.S. Rates for 2007-2008, and current openings can be found by clicking on the "Activities" Carrot. And don't forget to learn more about our impressive teaching staff by clicking on the "Staff" carrot.

Preschool Program:

The preschool program at the Carrot Patch Early Learning Center balances structured activities that allow children to learn new skills with free play that fosters creativity and individual expression. Our Staff Developer has over 35 years of experience in early childhood education and works closely with our teachers. The curriculum is theme-based and includes daily experiences such as dramatic play, blocks, early math and science, puzzles and books, incorporating literacy learning throughout. Building skills such as negotiation, cooperation and communication are encouraged and modeled by our sensitive, caring staff. A developmentally-appropriate curriculum is planned and is posted regularly in each classroom.

Infant-Toddler Program:

Developing secure and trusting relationships is a primary task for infants. Teachers foster this trust through frequent physical contact, sensitive responses to infants' signals (cries and smiles), and mutual delight in interactions. Infants are provided visual and tactile stimulation and opportunities for gross motor activity. Daily activities for toddlers include experiences such as simple art projects, dramatic play, and free play that encourages manipulation, imitation and exploration. Social skills such as empathy, caring and sharing are also emphasized with toddlers through interactions with warm, responsible and encouraging caregivers.

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