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About
the program
How
to Enroll
What’s
an average day like
Classes
Our
Staff
About the program
Being a parent is an incredible joy, but it also can be exhausting,
that is why St. Thomas Kid’s Day Out was developed, to
offer an extra hand. KDO provides a ministry to the church family
and community parents who could use a few hours alone while
their kids play in a safe and fun environment. It is a Christ-centered
program for children ages 6wks-5years. St. Thomas has two Kid’s
Day Out Programs. Each is a two-day-a- week program from 9a.m.-2p.m.
You may choose to enroll your children on Wednesdays and Fridays
in Kid’s Day Out 1 or Mondays and Thursdays in Kid’s
Day Out 2. With fall, spring, and summer semesters, we operate
nearly year-round. Classes are staffed by loving, experienced
caregivers. We provide a quality educative experience for the
children in a nurturing environment designed to bring out the
best in each child. Our child care approach is more than baby
sitting.
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How to enroll
Before your child is admitted, we must have the following complete
and on file:
Registration/
Medical Release Form
Copy of Child’s Current Immunization Record
Copy of Insurance Card
Enrollment Fee
Children are placed by their age before August 15th.
We invite you to come take a tour and see our facility in use.
Call 479-750-3342 to make an appointment.
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What’s
an average day like
Our children are having fun while learning of Christ’s
love. Parents can rest assured that their child is socially
interacting and being intellectually stimulated in a loving
environment. All classes, except the nursery, have a structured
schedule. We teach a curriculum that includes a Bible story,
craft, songs, and preschool learning using finger plays, songs,
puppets, creative play, story time and other activities. Their
day also includes recreation, snacks, rest time, free play in
centers, such as home living, and manipulative including Play-doh,
blocks, and games. Kid’s Day Out also issues monthly newsletters
highlighting upcoming activities and events and maintains a
parent communication bulletin board. We invite you to experience
the joy in watching your children gain an understanding of the
Bible and begin to build their own relationship with Christ.
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Classes
Nursery
This program is designed for infants from 6 weeks to approximately
12 months old. Our smallest "students" receive loving,
nurturing attention in a separate area offering tranquility,
stimulation and curiosity. Our nursery is a safe, secure, Christian
environment where your child can learn, play and grow. Our staff
works with you to help your child make a smooth transition into
our program. In the nursery your child receives nurturing personal
care. Age-appropriate toys, games and music are provided to
stimulate development. Your children are encouraged to play
and explore with others their age to promote interest and curiosity
as your children grow and develop cognitive and motor skills.
As in all classes, you will enjoy regular communication with
teachers, including daily notes, so that you are informed about
your child's day.
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Early Toddler Class (ages 1-2)
At approximately 12-24 months babies take to their feet. It
becomes a whole new world. They walk, they talk, eat table foods
and they begin to develop relationships with each other. Our
fun and colorful toddler class is the perfect setting. It includes
times for art and sensory play and physical development. Music
and a variety of interactive learning tools expand horizons
even at this early age. While individually nurturing each child,
the teachers in this class spend much of their day singing,
laughing, and playing with your children, helping them explore
indoors and out. Toddlers love activities that involve the senses
and the use of manipulatives like blocks and Play-doh. At this
age most children begin to learn basic words and numbers and
can play simple games. We devote many of our activities to linguistic
and social skills. Daily group activities allow your child to
practice cooperation, sharing and taking turns. Our classrooms
and equipment are designed for toddlers to safely explore as
they and improve coordination. Our outdoor play areas allow
for nature study, climbing, sliding and riding. This class enjoys
their Bible story time along with simple crafts. Our teachers
listen and make sure that your child is happy and having fun
while learning of God’s Love. As in all classes, you will
enjoy regular communication with teachers so that you are informed
about your child's day.
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Two’s
Two year olds are constantly on the move and need an environment
that keeps their busy fingers and minds engaged and happy. Children
at this age are terrific learners. They are learning more and
more every day. They are beginning to understand group play
and become better at communicating their thoughts. Our curriculum
emphasizes language development to help children turn their
ideas into words and sentences. Your child will have plenty
of group activities to practice social skills, such as cooperation,
sharing and taking turns. We play word games, sing, and teach
with picture books and puppetry that involve word repetition
to boost language and communication skills. Our classrooms and
equipment are designed for your child to safely explore as he
or she builds motor skills and improves coordination. Our outdoor
play areas allow for running, swinging, climbing and game playing.
This class gets to participate in Chapel every week in order
to learn of God’s love in a fun and interactive yet slightly
more formal setting. Each child receives a balance of nurturing,
playtime, and learning through the day and will stay stimulated
with monthly themes and a rich array of daily activities and
crafts. As in all classes, you will enjoy regular communication
with teachers so that you are informed about your child's day.
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Three’s
A preschoolers’ world opens up in new ways. Preschoolers
are eager to learn. They are improving coordination, beginning
to combine ideas and learning more complex games, all while
learning about themselves and each other. This class participates
in Chapel weekly and learns and discusses daily Bible stories.
Children explore basic science concepts using simple materials
and experiments. They predict outcomes, discuss results and
explore concepts, such as cause and effect, using materials
including water, sand and seeds. Our teachers also provide plenty
of individual attention to support your child's unique needs.
Kid’s Day Out provides an environment where children are
encouraged to explore and challenged to learn, while making
friends and developing self-confidence. They strengthen their
cognitive skills with fun memory games where they match objects
that share similar characteristics. We use monthly themes, weekly
topics and daily activities to keep the curriculum focused and
fun. We teach reading readiness through alphabet letterforms
and sounds, music, rhymes and stories. They also practice coordination
skills needed for writing, drawing, cutting and other activities.
Art, music, dramatic play and social interaction help each preschooler
explore creativity and build self-esteem. Important concepts
such as proportion, balance, size, shape and patterns come to
life with classic wooden building blocks. Gathering together
for stories, songs, music, dance and other learning activities
fosters listening, creativity and social development. Learning
continues outdoors with nature study and physical development
(climbing, sliding and running.) As in all classes, you will
enjoy regular communication with teachers so that you are informed
about your child's day.
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Pre K
Our Christian, nurturing environment supports your child's
development socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually
to prepare them for kindergarten, all while your child is having
fun. Daily instruction is focused on age-appropriate literacy
objectives, including letter recognition, letter sounds and
emerging writing skills. Children engage in the exciting world
of numbers as they sort, construct, classify and match. They
also learn how to count and measure. Children participate in
creative arts and music experiences with an entire semester
class especially devoted to these topics. Monthly themes, weekly
topics and daily activities keep the curriculum focused and
fun.
A quiet time to read or look at picture books encourages language
skills for beginning and advanced readers. During group time,
children learn to listen, share, take turns, cooperate, demonstrate
and give and receive feedback. These skills support their ability
to flourish in a classroom environment, giving them a chance
to demonstrate what they are learning. Learning continues outdoors
with nature study and physical development. Children develop
their large motor skills, such as running, jumping, throwing
and kicking.
This is an important time in a child's life to prepare for school
and to develop a love of learning and a love for Christ. We
make the transition smoother by helping children become more
familiar with an organized environment. Plus we focus more on
group play to develop social skills, such as listening, sharing
and cooperation. Our teachers have a passion for what they do
and consider it a privilege to partner with you during this
special time in your child's life. You will enjoy regular communication
with teachers so that you are informed about every factor in
your child’s education.
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