Hamden Daycare - Carrot Patch infants toddlers preschool pre-k children, education, professional, creative, learning

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!

The holidays were a very busy time for everyone – including our preschoolers! As well as learning all about the different holidays that occur in December, we also learned and practiced what it is to share, give, and take care of other people. This December our class was busy sorting, counting, and matching our food drive collection while they watched it grow and learned where it would be going. We were also busy making gifts! Preschoolers made gifts with their teachers, and with many of our parents who volunteered their time in our classroom. We also completed our “Caring Cane!” At the beginning of the month the caring cane was hung in our room and we explained to the children that when they were “caught” doing something nice for their friends they would be able to color in a line on the cane. We filled all 18 lines in a few short weeks!

This month we will be learning about Penguins! It’s almost as cold as the Antarctic outside so we’ll start learning about our flightless, cold-loving bird friends (and the warm-loving ones too)! The preschoolers will discover that some penguins love the cold and some love the warmth, some are as tall as a toddler and some are bigger than a preschooler, some are blue and some are black, and some even have some orange! There are lots of things to learn about penguins, and lots of fun ways to incorporate math, science, and literacy skills! Continue to watch this space to learn more about the discovery-based activities our creative public-school certified head teacher has in store for this lucky group of children working in a 1:6 ratio!

The older Toddlers have now finished up their unit on exploring music, dance and movement from around the world and have switched gears to study 'things that go'. They have learned songs about cars, buses, and planes. Wagon wheel pasta was dyed black and became the 'wheels on the bus' for their yellow-painted styrofoam school buses. Their block corner has been taped off to create a city of roads, with parking spaces for each vehicle to wait its turn. Many more creative stories and projects await the 2-year-olds as they delve into this favorite study!

Our younger Toddler class has embarked on the study of another favorite toddler topic: winter. The focus so far has been on experimenting with snow and ice, theme-related art projects, creative movement, and cooking experiences. Even the youngest children are fascinated by their study of animal behavior in the cold weather, with a special focus on hibernation.

Infants, as usual, are enjoying the wealth of snuggling, tummy time, and exploration that our 2:5 ratio encourages. Currently, our entire Infant group has siblings in the Toddler and Preschool classes, so regular visits among the school community have been met with glee! Of course, we will continue the low teacher:child ratio in our cozy 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. Openings are extremely limited, but we do occasionally have the opportunity to welcome new babies into our group.

Click on the "Activities" Carrot for specific information on openings. Call us at 248-5433 or email carrotpatchkids@yahoo.com to arrange a personal tour. And to learn more about our daily activities and enjoy photos and videos of our various classes, be sure to ask for the web addresses of our teacher-made blogs.

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. Our professional music teacher and school nurse visit regularly to enhance the health and well-being of our kids. 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. Tuition rates for 2009-2010, 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 professional teaching staff. 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 teachers. A developmentally-appropriate curriculum is planned and posted regularly in each classroom. Children who complete the program are well-prepared for the expectations of the kindergarten 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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