Early Beginnings

Infants grow from helpless newborns that spend most of their time asleep, to toddlers who crawl, then walk and talk. The changes during those first months are very exciting. Since we have the opportunity to watch and guide these changes, we do our best to give infants as many experiences as possible. By supporting their efforts, we help them grow and feel more secure in the world around them.

The Center Provides

  • Cots/Cribs

  • Linens (Crib sheets, sleep sacks, bibs, and wash clothes are laundered at the Center for daily use.)

  • Sippy cup for milk

  • Wipes (Wipes are hypoallergenic, alcohol-free, and fragrance free.)

  • Serving utensils and dishes

  • All food and milk (Whole milk is required to be served to students under age two; 1% or skim milk is required to be served to students two years of age and older.)

The Center Provides

  • Two changes of clothes and one pair of socks brought in daily a one pocket bag  (If your child soils any clothing, the Center will bag the item and send it home with you upon pick up. We will not rinse any item that is soiled.)

  • Diapers (Only one “sleeve” will be stored on site.)

  • A/D ointment, Desitin or similar ointments/creams, as a preventative.

  • Sunscreen and/or bug spray (A permission form must be completed.  Please see your child’s teacher to sign the permission form.)

  • Reusable water cup with lid labeled with your child's full name (Water will only be given to students one year of age and older.)

  • Formula and expressed breast milk, if not using Center provided formula

  • Expressed breast milk and formula should arrive at the Center in clean, sanitary, ready-to-feed assembled bottles labeled with your child's full name, date of collection, if applicable, and contents. Caps must be labeled with first and last name.

  • Blanket (No pillows, stuffed animals, toys, or sleeping items are permitted to be brought to the center. Blankets must be child-sized and will be sent home every Friday to be washed and should be returned the following Monday. Blankets may be sent home more often if soiled.)

**Daily items should be brought to the Center in a simple, one-pocket bag.  Please no diaper bags.**

Things to Remember

 

Daily Reports

This report, generated through Brightwheel, gives important facts about your child's day.  It also lends itself as a way for you and your child's teachers to communicate.  Our teachers use also use it to give you updates about your child's developmental progress, specify which items your child needs for the following day or remind you about upcoming events at the Center.  Parents of students enrolled in the Early Beginnings classroom will receive a report every day.

 

Shoes Free Zone

Please remember that the Early Beginnings classroom is a shoe-free zone for all adults.  No one is permitted to wear their shoes inside the classroom.  Either place booties over your shoes or remove your shoes.    

 

Doorbell

The doorbell is located at the entrance door.

 

Intake Form

Upon an enrollment, each family will complete an Intake Form that will highlight specific information about your child. Some questions include, What is their nickname?, What is their potty process?, and What is their bedtime routine?. This information will help your child’s teachers guide them through the transition to a new classroom, whether from another center or from one classroom to another within Little Jungle.

Brightwheel Application

You can download the Bightwheel app or go to mybrightwheel.com!  Brightwheel allows you to message your child’s teachers, view the classroom calendar and learning activities, as well as access pertinent documents. You can utilize Brightwheel messaging  to notify your child’s teachers about absences and late drop offs. You can view pictures and videos of your child sent from your child’s teachers and view past daily reports.  If you want to disable the two-factor authentication, log into your Brightwheel account and select Profile.  Scroll down to 2FA and toggle it to disable.  You can change that option in the future if you would like.

 

Tadpoles Application

If you have a smartphone, you can download the Tadpoles app for parents! This app allows you to input notes regarding drop-off/pick-up, personal items and/or notes about their time spent at home directly to your child’s daily report…all from your phone! Our teachers are able to read these notes through the teacher interface and more aptly care for your child throughout the day with your helpful notes. You can add notes, view pictures and videos of your child sent from your child’s teachers and view past daily reports. Download it today! 

 

Visit A New Classroom

Based on your child’s age, they may be eligible to visit another classroom. “Visiting” another classroom has many benefits in a child’s development. Children learn new processes, make new friends and are challenged developmentally by either embracing a leadership role within a classroom and OR learning from their counterparts by mirroring positive attributes they see. As parents, you can help your child with visiting by talking positively about the “new” classroom and teachers, preparing your child for meeting new friends and learning new things by having open conversations with them and keeping open communication with both sets of classroom teachers. Teachers will also keep you abreast of your child’s progress during this time with updates via Brightwheel and face-to-face conversations at drop-off and pick-up.