Happy Tots Childcare | Cortlandt Manor | Serving Cortlandt Manor, Croton, Peekskill and Garrison

Programs

Overview

We provide a safe, nurturing, loving and warm environment for each child. Our goal is to achieve security, stimulation, basic trust and to meet the developmental needs of the young child. You child’s happiness and well being is our utmost concern.

Our programs offer complete care along with educational activities appropriate to each child’s age and interests. We strive to continually create programs which foster optimal growth and development through opportunities for the exploration of individual interests and the stimulation of curiosity to motivate the desire to learn. Activities are directed towards the full, well-rounded development of the young child.

We provide six separate, quality programs tailored for children aged six weeks to five years old. We are open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., twelve months a year, closed only for major holidays.

Infants (six weeks – 9 to 12 months)

Emphasis is placed on providing a completely safe, secure and healthy environment where your child will receive appropriate stimulation along with quality care from loving and conscientious caregivers. Activities will include texture play, exercise, music, finger plays, story time and many more age appropriate activities. Our Infant Program is very flexible to meet the needs of the individual child.

The Center provides infants with cribs, carriages, swings and carriers. Parents must provide the Center with diapers, bottles, food, formula, wipes and any topical ointments or powders which must be applied. Happy Tots maintains a daily chart of food consumption, diaper changes (including bowel movements), naps (including quantity and duration) and our daily observations of your child’s general behavior, personality and physical development.

Infants I (9-12 months to 18 months)

A continuation of the Infant Program which emphasizes basic trust and independence. Age appropriate activities will be introduced to help promote gross and fine motor skills such as water and texture play, use of large crayons, rolling balls, dancing and soft climbing. Children also participate in a weekly session of music and movement with our visiting instructor.

Cribs, carriages, swings and other equipment important to their daily routine is provided by Happy Tots. Parents must provide diapers, bottles, food, formula, wipes and any topical ointments or powders. As the child reaches the age of twelve months or older the introduction of a school lunch is optional. Happy Tots maintains a daily chart of food consumption, diaper changes, naps and our daily observations of your child’s general behavior, personality and physical development.

Toddlers & Pre-Tots (18 months to 24 months)

Emphasis is placed on developing basic trust between the child and caregiver while early social skills are developed. Activities include painting, coloring water and sand play, musical games, exercise, story time, ball play, name recognition, block play, puppet play, texture play, verbal stimulation and more. In addition, our staff works with all Pre-Tots to teach and encourage basic hygiene including washing hands and face before and after meals and brushing teeth after meals.

The Center provides Toddlers and Pre-Tots with cribs or cots (as appropriate), carriages, walkers and all toys, snacks and drinks. Parents must provide the Center with diapers, bottles, wipes, and any topical ointments or powders which must be applied by the Center as well as lunch (or request the Center to provide lunch for a nominal fee). Happy Tots will chart, on a daily basis, food consumption, diaper changes (including bowel movements), naps (both quantity and duration) and our daily observations of your child’s general behavior, personality and physical development, including fine and gross motor skills.

Tots (two to three years old)

Emphasis is placed on enhancing social skills, verbalization and communication while allowing for the exploration of individual interests and motivating curiosity. Activities include circle time, arts and crafts, story time, musical games, dramatic and puppet play, exercise and movement games and many other activities which will help enhance both fine and gross motor skills. In addition, our staff will work with all Tots to teach and encourage basic hygiene including washing hands and face before and after meals and brushing teeth after meals.

The Center will provide Tots with mats for naps, all toys, snacks and drinks. Parents must provide the Center with diapers, bottles and wipes if your child is not yet potty trained or still in the process. Parents also must provide lunch (or request the Center to provide lunch for a nominal fee) and any topical ointments or powders which must be applied by the center. Happy Tots will maintain daily charting of food consumption, naps and diaper changes along with progress in toilet training (if required). We will also chart on a daily basis our observations of your child’s behavior, personality and emotional development which will include peer interaction and child/caregiver trust. Physical development will also be charted daily and will include fine and gross motor skills. Tots will also be introduced to the computer with age appropriate activities.

Pre-Kinder Tots (three to four years old)

Emphasis is placed on enhancing the development of physical, intellectual, emotional and social growth of each individual child. Activities include learning centers, circle time, arts and crafts, computer activities, music, creative movement, story time and many other activities which will help enhance fine and gross motor skills.

The Center will provide Pre-Kinder Tots with mats for naps, all toys and learning equipment, snacks and drinks. Parents must provide the Center with lunch (or request the Center to provide lunch for a nominal fee), a change of clothing a smock, sun screen for warm weather and a blanket or sheet for nap time. In order to be accepted in the Pre-Kinder Tots program all children must be potty trained.

Kinder Tots (four to five years old)

Emphasis is placed on school readiness through learning activities developed to enhance writing, alphabet recognition, shapes, colors and patterns. Each child is provided with their own container which includes writing instruments, a notebook, scissors and glue which they maintain to help develop their individual responsibility. Activities include learning centers, circle time, arts and crafts, computers and both indoor and outdoor gym activities to develop gross motor skills.

The Center will provide Kinder Tots with mats for naps, all toys and learning equipment, snacks and drinks. Parents must provide the Center with Lunch (or request the Center to provide lunch for a nominal fee), a change of clothing, smock, sun screen for warm weather and a blanket or sheet for rest time.

Special Programs

Campers (summer only)

An extension of our regular program, Campers are former Happy Tots graduates or siblings. The summer program places an emphasis on fun while learning in a relaxed environment. Water play takes center stage along with trips to the local library and businesses for “field trips”.