Our little Angels Overview
From birth, infants are marvelous learners and immediately investigate the sights, sounds and flavors of the world. Our teachers have been trained to respond quickly and appropriately to your baby’s needs while providing stimulating activities to enhance their development. Areas of emphasis in the infant classrooms are:
Ensuring health, safety and comfort needs are met.
Building trust in the environment.
Forming bonds with caregivers.
Encouraging exploration of the environment and self.
Developing gross motor skills (sitting up, crawling, walking, etc…).
Raising awareness of people, objects, sounds and smells.
Infant Program
Our infant program is designed to capitalize on the vast learning ability of infants in our loving and safe environment. Children participate in several activities during their awake periods to help them learn about our world.
During story times, teachers read books to children individually and as a group.
Once infants can hold themselves up, the arts & crafts period gives them an opportunity to explore different materials (paints, objects, foods..).
Light weight rides give infants an opportunity to explore the world outside the classroom twice per day.
Exercise periods aid muscle development.
During music time children enjoy sounds or sing songs with their teachers.
Picture book time provides the opportunity for infants to start recognizing objects and patterns.
Infant Communication
We recognize the great trust it requires to place your infant in the care of another person. To help provide your family the best possible experience:
Daily Reports, generated by the teacher, are sent home each day informing you of foods eaten, diaper changes, naps taken, medication administered, activities performed, and any other information you request, so you can know all the details of your child’s day.
Infant rooms, as well as all our classrooms, are equipped with telephones allowing you to connect directly with your teacher.
Medical issues and significant changes in mood are responded to with prompt phone calls to you, so you can make a decision based on the most immediate information available.
Typical Day @ Our Infant Edutainment Centre...
Eat.....Play......learn.....Sleep....Eat....Play.....Sleep
Daipers are checked every hour and changed if needed. (Diapers are also changed on an as needed basis.)
Skype calling is available for parents at a convinienced time depending on the schedule time.
You are welcome to visit and spend as much time with your infant as you can possibly stand!
Daily Reports, generated by the teacher, are sent home each day informing you of foods eaten, diaper changes, naps taken, medication administered, activities performed, and any other information you request, so you can know all the details of your child’s day.
Classrooms have been equipped with telephones allowing you to connect directly with your teacher.
Medical issues and significant changes in mood are responded to with prompt phone calls to you, so you can make a decision based on the most immediate information available.
Parent teacher conferences are organized twice a year or at your request.
Schedules have been arranged to give you a better chance of seeing your teacher or assistant teacher each morning or afternoon.
"Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right."
Proverbs 20:11
Toddler Overview
Children between 12 and 24 months of age participate in our exciting toddler program. Although some children start earlier, it is when many children begin walking, talking, using “sippy cups” and begin the journey towards independence and confidence building. We place a special emphasis on helping our toddlers explore their world and find new ways to communicate all the wonderful things they are learning about.
Toddler Program
Toddlers start each day with breakfast, but quickly move into activities that are designed to expand vocabulary, develop fine and gross motor ability and social skills.
A few of the activities designed for our toddlers include:
Arts and crafts projects to encourage the development of fine motor skills.
Story time to help develop language skills and model the joy and value of reading.
Music time to encourage expression and allow children to play with instruments or dance with colored pompoms.
Materials time to allow children to explore the sensation of touch and use of different items (water, sand, clay, etc…).
Matching activities to aid object and pattern recognition.
Free play to encourage the development of both social skills and values like sharing and gentleness.
Toddlers also begin to experience a more structured environment as they follow the daily group schedule for the class. Children eat breakfast, lunch and snacks at a table as a group and participate in an after lunch nap time. The afternoon is then filled with snack and more acitivities and fun! These changes may take some time to learn so we coordinate with you to make this transition as successful as possible. Below is a typical day in the life of a Toddler at First Steps Academy:
In addition to the classroom activities, children also participate in weekly specialty classes:
Kindermusiek: Age: 18 months – 6 yrs
Monkeynastix
Typical day @ Our Toddler Edutainment centre...
6:00am – 8:00am Drop-off
8:00am – 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am - 9:30am Recess
9:30am – 11:00am Morning activities
11:00am – 11:30am Snack Time
11:30am – 1:00pm Recess
1:00pm - 2:00pm Lunch
2:00pm – 3:00pm Nap Time
3:00pm – 3:30pm Snack Time
3:30pm – 4:30pm Afternoon Activities
4:30pm – 5:00pm Afternoon Recess
4:30pm – 5:00pm Afternoon Recess
5:00pm – 6:00 Pick-up
Daily Reports, generated by the teacher, are sent home each day informing you of foods eaten, diaper changes, naps taken, medication administered, activities performed, and any other information you request, so you can know all the details of your child’s day.
Classrooms have been equipped with telephones allowing you to connect directly with your teacher.
Medical issues and significant changes in mood are responded to with prompt phone calls to you, so you can make a decision based on the most immediate information available.
Parent teacher conferences are organized twice a year or at your request.
Schedules have been arranged to give you a better chance of seeing your teacher or assistant teacher each morning or afternoon.
"Most people say that is it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character"
Scientist, Albert Einstein
Our Adorable Two's
Children officially begin following our preschool schedule and curriculum when they enter the two year class. We place emphasis on gaining independence, potty training and building the necessary foundation for learning the pre-writing and pre-math skills they will develop in the three year old class. Children will have usually turned two before entering the program although some may turn two shortly after starting.
Program
Independence and Self-Help Skills
The main goal of our two year old program is to support children in their natural desire to gain independence. The teachers and environment encourage children to interact with everything from cubbies to the toilet. Even sinks are placed at a height that is reachable to most two year old children. We encourage them to start doing things for themselves, including washing their hands, putting things away and taking things out.
Potty Training
The majority of children will become potty trained in this classroom. We work with you as a team to encourage potty training and make the experience fun and rewarding. We find many children become excited to start using the potty when they see their friends using it too. Every milestone along the way is a chance for a celebration. We may give stickers or small rewards when a child has used the potty or when they can come to school in “big kid underwear”. Although this can be challenging time for some children, we do our best to make it as fun as possible.
Academics
The two year old classroom is a flurry of activity. Below is a sample of the types of activities children may experience throughout the day:
Fine motor skills are further developed by using scissors, glue, paint and markers.
Gross motor skills are improved by using trikes, parachutes, and merry-go-round on our playground.
Letter and number recognition is learned as well as sorting items based on color, shape and other characteristics.
Two year olds also participate in our formal specialty classes:
Swimming
Kindermusiek
Soccerstarz
Dance Mouse
Monkeynastix
Field Trips
Two year old’s also start participating in monthly field trips to places like the Lori Park, Local Farm and local Playgrounds. For a full list of places we enjoy visiting, consult our Admin.
Typical day @ Our Two's Edutainment Centre
6:30am – 8:30am Drop-off
8:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am – 10:30am Morning Activities
10:30am – 11:00am Snack Time
11:00am – 12:00pm Extra Murals
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:00pm Nap Time
2:00pm - 2:30pm Recess
2:30pm – 3:00pm Snack Time
3:00pm – 4:00pm Classroom Activities
4:00pm – 5:00pm Evening Snack
5:00pm – 6:00pm Pick-Up
Daily Reports, generated by the teacher, are sent home each day informing you of foods eaten, diaper changes, naps taken, medication administered, activities performed, and any other information you request, so you can know all the details of your child’s day.
Classrooms have been equipped with telephones allowing you to connect directly with your teacher.
Medical issues and significant changes in mood are responded to with prompt phone calls to you, so you can make a decision based on the most immediate information available.
Parent teacher conferences are organized twice a year or at your request.
Schedules have been arranged to give you a better chance of seeing your teacher or assistant teacher each morning or afternoon.
I am not a teacher, but an awakener.
Poet, Robert Frost
Our Cute Three's Overview
Our three year old program is designed to develop early social, pre-writing and pre-math skills. Children will have usually turned three before entering the program although some may turn three shortly after starting.
Program
Academics
Academically the children develop their fine motor skills to practice writing. Many children can write their name by the end of their time in this classroom. It is also a year where many children will name their first friends and we start seeing them really play together, not just next to each other. These social interactions are very important, so we make sure the children have time in free play to build those skills. The teachers will also direct play by setting out specific centers to provide both a social time as well as a skill building activity.
In addition to the classroom activities, children also participate in weekly specialty classes:
Kindermusiek
Soccerstarz
Dance Mouse
Monkeynastix
Build em Brix
Kindy Drama
Ballet: Age
Field Trips
Three year old’s also participate in monthly field trips to places like the Museums, Local Farms, Lori Park and local Playgrounds. For a longer list of places we enjoy visiting, consult our Admin.
Typical day @ Our Three's Edutainment Centre
6:30am – 8:30am Drop-off
8:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am – 10:30am Morning Activities
10:30am – 11:00am Snack Time
11:00am – 12:00pm Extra Murals
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:00pm Nap Time
2:00pm - 2:30pm Recess
2:30pm – 3:00pm Snack Time
3:00pm – 4:00pm Classroom Activities
4:00pm – 5:00pm Evening Snack
5:00pm – 6:00pm Pick-Up
Daily Reports, generated by the teacher, are sent home each day informing you of foods eaten, diaper changes, naps taken, medication administered, activities performed, and any other information you request, so you can know all the details of your child’s day.
Classrooms have been equipped with telephones allowing you to connect directly with your teacher.
Medical issues and significant changes in mood are responded to with prompt phone calls to you, so you can make a decision based on the most immediate information available.
Parent teacher conferences are organized twice a year or at your request.
Schedules have been arranged to give you a better chance of seeing your teacher or assistant teacher each morning or afternoon.
"It is our character that supports the promise of our future"
W.J. Bennett
Our Curious Fours Overview
Our four year old program is designed to improve writing and math skills while starting pre-reading development. We also place an emphasis on supporting the growth of confidence that many children naturally begin to develop at this age. Children will have usually turned four before entering the program although some may turn four shortly after starting.
Program
Academics
Four year olds are introduced to more structure and opportunities to explore. Children work more regularly on their writing skills including capital and lower case letters. They also spend a significant amount of time learning about phonics since it teaches the fundamental building blocks of successful reading. Math?
At this age, children start to become aware of their own talents and begin recognizing how they compare to other children. This is an important year to build confidence by making sure each child feels supported to try every activity, even if they perhaps do not always get the answer right the first time. Although the children still have free play time, it is usually planned in the afternoon.
Children participate in the following weekly specialty classes:
Kindermusiek
Soccerstarz
Dance Mouse
Monkeynastix
Build em Brix
Kindy Drama
Ballet
Field Trips
Four year old’s also participate in monthly field trips to places like the Natural History Museum, Cox Farm and local playgrounds.
For a longer list of places we enjoy visiting, consult our Admin.
6:30am – 8:30am Drop-off
8:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am – 10:30am Morning Activities
10:30am – 11:00am Snack Time
11:00am – 12:00pm Extra Murals
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:00pm Nap Time
2:00pm - 2:30pm Recess
2:30pm – 3:00pm Snack Time
3:00pm – 4:00pm Classroom Activities
4:00pm – 5:00pm Evening Snack
5:00pm – 6:00pm Pick-Up
Daily Reports, generated by the teacher, are sent home each day informing you of foods eaten, diaper changes, naps taken, medication administered, activities performed, and any other information you request, so you can know all the details of your child’s day.
Classrooms have been equipped with telephones allowing you to connect directly with your teacher.
Medical issues and significant changes in mood are responded to with prompt phone calls to you, so you can make a decision based on the most immediate information available.
Parent teacher conferences are organized twice a year or at your request.
Schedules have been arranged to give you a better chance of seeing your teacher or assistant teacher each morning or afternoon.
"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built"
Eleanor Roosevelt
Our Pre-School Overview
We offer days packed full of activities. All of our activities help the social and academic development of children. Kids learn best when they are having fun! We tailor our lessons to each child's unique learning style. Whether your child is a visual, auditory, or Kinesthetic Learner, our activities will engage and inspire your child to excel in learning and good behavior that is a key foundation for them to build on and succeed in life.
Program Academics
Kindergartners have the most structured routine of all the age groups in the school. The children work on projects, read books, listen to stories, complete worksheets and collaborate on assignments in each of the subject areas listed above. Instead of taking a nap, children have a quite time where they can participate in a activity of their choice; many choose to read a book or work on an art project at their desk.
The materials and lessons for the class are mostly provided by the Social development, however the teacher will supplement or adapt the lessons based on the needs and abilities of the students. We find that children who have attended First Steps Academy for a couple years, tend to be at least one year ahead of similar aged children by the time they leave us to enter the public schools in the area.
Students participate in the following weekly specialty classes:
Kindermusiek: Age: 18 months – 6 yr
Soccerstarz: Age: 3 – 6 yrs.
Dance Mouse: Age: 3 – 6 yrs.
Monkeynastix: Age: 12 months – 6 yrs.
Build em Brix: Age: 3 – 6 yrs.
Kindy Drama: Age: 3 – 12 yrs.
Ballet: Age: 3 - 12 yrs.
Swimming: Age: 12 months – 12 yrs.
Piano: Age: 8 yrs. – 12 yrs.
Guitar: Age: 6 yrs. – 12 yrs.
French: Age: 6 yrs. – 12 yrs.
Responsibility
PreSchool is the first classroom where the children have their own desks and keep track of their own supplies. They also have responsibility for caring for our school pet, Hop, by cleaning his cage each week and they are proud to fulfill the duties of their weekly assigned jobs (door holder, weather helper, line leader, etc…).
Typical Day @ Our Preschool Centre
6:30am – 8:30am Drop-off
8:30am – 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am – 10:30am Morning Activities
10:30am – 11:00am Snack Time
11:00am – 12:00pm Extra Murals
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:00pm Nap Time
2:00pm - 2:30pm Recess
2:30pm – 3:00pm Snack Time
3:00pm – 4:00pm Classroom Activities
4:00pm – 5:00pm Evening Snack
5:00pm – 6:00pm Pick-Up
We recognize the great trust, it requires to place your child in the care of another person.
To help provide your family the best possible experience:
Weekly Reports – generated by the teacher, to give you an overview of how your child has excelled both academically and behaviorally in the past week, including ways you can help at home.
Shutterfly – a weekly overview of the activities and focus of the classroom during the past week and reminders for the next week.
The classrooms are equipped with telephones allowing you to connect directly with your teacher.
Medical issues and significant changes in mood are responded to with prompt phone calls to you, so you can make a decision based on the most immediate information available.
There is a lead-qualified teacher in each of our classrooms.
Each classroom is assisted by a teacher assistant who works alongside the teacher in providing for your child.
We look for teachers that have that special blend of attention to detail and love of children.
And finally, we look for teachers that we would want our daughter to be safe with, learn from, and loved deeply.
"In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings"
Ann Landers
Night Care Overview
Our Care for night is open for newborns to 9 year olds. We always emphasize to the parent to bring the child before dinner to give us a chance to bond with the child. Our caregivers are experienced nannies and Baby Castle expect only the best quality care from all their night staff.
Program
upon arrival, depending on time, its TV time on kids shows, dinner, bed story and Sleeping time.
Typical Night @ Our Baby Castle
After Care: TV show
After an Hour: Dinner
After an Hour: recess
after 30 minutes: bed time story
After 30 minutes: sleeping time
" May the light of a thousand stars shine upon you...May the Love of a thousand Angels now surround you...May the trials of today be far behind you...May the deepest, sweetest sleep find you" Our prayer
Weekend Care Overview
Parents we all know how expensive it can be to live in South Africa, especially in Midrand. More and more parents and single parents are working 2nd if not third jobs just to make ends meet. Now you can with our extended hour's care program available for you.
We give you piece of mind knowing that your child is safe and secure in a loving and learning environment while your working to achieve your families goals. Worry no more, work that good paying night job, or simply enjoy a night out on the town. What ever your childcare needs maybe Baby Castle is here to serve you and your loved one's.
Baby Castle offer these services from New born babies - 10 year old Primary schoolers.
Program
we have tailored this programme to accomodate the child not to feel like its another school day, we focus more on fun activities than academic.
an hour of homeworks or any school assignment will definately apply.
Typical Weekend @ Our Baby Castle
On arrival: bonding with caregiver
1 hour: breakfast
30 minutes: recess
1 hour: homework
30 minutes: snack time
1 hour: play time
1 hour: lunch
1 hour: TV shows
30 minutes: snack time
30 minutes story reading
30 minutes: dinner/supper
" You dont need a cape to be a hero, you just need to care" Kids President