Learning through play!

Truett is learning all about new toys. His special instructor introduced him to pegs, stacking cups, and a cool art project (circle turkey) during her session. Way to go Truett!!

Happy Hallowen

The Toddler Class and the Young Preschool Class enjoyed going Trick-or-Treating today!

Pajama Picture Day

In order to have them ready in plenty of time for the holidays the children took Christmas pictures today. It was a holiday pajama theme. The children had a great time participating.

Thank you United Portrait Studios for visiting our center.

Video of the action!

The Young Preschool Class

Read for the Record

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Older infant classroom

Toddler classroom

Today was read for the record day. The Children's Arc Daycare participated by reading the book in the classroom. The HOPE Early Intervention Program participated by incoorportaing the reading of the book into instruction and therapy sessions as appropriate.

Therapy at daycare

Jaquavious is enjoying his day at The Children's Arc Daycare. He has his occupational, physical, and speech therapy scheduled today. His therapy is integrated into his day at the daycare. The therapists join his class or take him into the hallway to work on his goals. His friends help provide peer models for him. He is learning so much!!

Service Coordination

Service coordination is a part each child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The service coordinator provideds this service in the home or any other natural environment. Charlotte is enjoying exploring toys while her coordinator speaks with her mother. Her mother then joined her in her play.

Group Therapy in the Older Infant Classroom

Hannah has recently started attending group therapy at The Children's Arc Daycare. She enjoyed working on her goals in a group setting with other children. Her special instructor, Dad, and a second special instructor were on hand to assist.

HOPE Program Special Instruction

Micah has recently enrolled in our HOPE Early Intervention Program. Here is a video of him during his special instruction session. Micah also receives speech therapy.

Jaquavious is another child in our program. This is a video of him during his special instruction session. He is working on using his fine motor skills to pull apart the playdough.

We are so proud of both of these little guys and the hard work that they are doing!!

HOPE Program - Jackson

Jackson is a child enrolled in our HOPE Early Intervention Program. He will be turning three years old soon and graduate from our program. Here are some pictures of Jackson working with his special instructor during an individual session and also in his classroom.

Vision Screening

UAB's School of Optometry will be coming to our center on Wednesday, August 12. They will perform free vision screenings for children ages 2 to 5. Be sure that you get your permission slip returned to your child's teacher. If we do not have the permission slip signed, your child will not be able to take advantage of this valuable screener!

If you have any questions, please ask Ms. Louise for more information.

I Scream, You Scream ...

We all Scream for Ice Cream!!! Each Friday during the summer, the ice cream truck comes to the daycare. Our classes enjoy being able to go out and pick out a cool treat. Here's some pictures from this past Friday ...

Trinity and Marcus enjoy eating.
Young Preschool class is excited to open their packages!

Preschoolers enjoy their frosty treats.

Malik thinks his ice cream tastes great!

Makayla loves the cold treat!

These friends are enjoying themselves.

HOPE Physical Therapy Services

In the HOPE Early Intervention Program, we provide various therapies and services to children with special needs. Christian is enrolled at the Children's Arc Daycare, but she also receives physical therapy services through our program. Here she is receiving physical therapy. All of our early intervention services are provided in the child's natural environment. In this case, her classroom at school! She is working hard to climb up the slide!

Yah! You made it to the top ... get ready to slide down! Great job Christian!

Evan's Birthday Fun

Happy Birthday Evan!!

Last week, Evan celebrated his 3rd birthday at school with some of his friends. He had cookies and fruit for his friends to enjoy. Evan is in Mrs. Cheryl's Young Preschoolers Class.

Water Play

Our Pre-toddler class participated in water play today. Here are just a few pictures from this activity. I have several others to add once we have permission from parents.

This is a picture of Bailey. She likes to dip the water out of the water table and pour it on the ground! It looks like she's washing dishes!



This is Eliot. She is enjoying playing on the splash pad.

Happy Monday!

Hopefully, everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend! I will have photo-releases in your boxes this afternoon to sign. We need to have these on file before your child's picture can be put online!

In the event of bad weather today, rest assured that your child is taken care of. We do not close or shut down during bad weather.

Until your photo releases are signed ... here is a picture of my child in her July 4th outfit! Have a great Monday!!

Closed on Friday

We are closed tomorrow (July 3) for the Independence Day Holiday! Enjoy the day with your kids and have a safe weekend. We look forward to hearing about your weekend on Monday!

HOPE Program

The H.O.P.E. (Helping Others through Parent Education) Program is an early intervention program which serves infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. As a team, parents or caregivers and professionals work together to help each infant/toddler to develop the skills needed for his or her next environment based on the developmental model, and to assist our families with the total care necessary for their child.

Based upong the recommendations of the HOPE staff, children enrolled in the program may receive special instruction, speech-language therapy, social-emotional therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Psychological services are also available. The most appropriate environment for therapy services is determined by the HOPE staff based upon the individual needs of the infant/toddler and family. Service environments may include in-center, home-based, visits to daycare centers and other medical facilities. Children may be seen individually or in small group sessions.

In Alabama, a child is eligible for EI services if he/she is under the age of three and has at least a 25% delay in any of the five major areas of development -- physical, social, adaptive, cognitive or communication skills. A child is also eligible if he/she has a diagnosis of a condition that likely will result in a delay of development.

If you know someone that may need early intervention -- please see a HOPE staff member (Jennifer, Beth, Susan or Quatar) or encourage them to call the Alabama Child Find number (800-543-3098) to be connected with service providers.

Welcome!

Welcome to our blog! I hope that you will enjoy looking at this and catching up on what is going on with your child's classroom and the events of the daycare. We have a lot of great kids and teachers here and something fun is always happening!