7:00am-8:30am Greet families, self-directed activities
8:30am-9:30am Breakfast snack
9:30am-12:00pm Personal care time (tooth brushing, toileting), developmental activities and experiences (creative arts, small motor, large motor-indoors and outdoors, dramatic play, science, math, language), group time
12:00pm-1:30pm Hand washing, lunch, personal care time
1:30pm-3:00pm Nap time, indoor or outdoor activities as children awaken
3:00pm-4:00 pm Hand washing, afternoon snack, personal care time, self-directed activities
4:00pm-6:00pm Developmental activities and experiences, departure

Infants

     Infant rooms provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for infants to explore throughout their day. Experiences with teachers, peers, language, movement, music, books, water, sand, art and dramatic play materials enhance children’s growth and development. Teachers design experiences based on children’s developmental needs and individual interests. These experiences are documented for families on the classroom Possibilities Plan. The infant room environment is planned to be safe and stimulating for all children in the group. One way we keep the room clean and safe for crawling infants is by maintaining a “shoeless” environment. We ask that all adults entering the room remove their shoes or use shoe covers provided by the program.

     While infants have many materials and experiences provided for them in the classroom, it is also important that some materials come from home. Please bring the following items for your child:

Toddlers

     Toddler rooms provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for children to explore throughout their day. Teachers design the environment and experiences based on children’s developmental needs and individual interests. Experiences with teachers, peers, language, movement, blocks, music, books, nature, water, sand, art and dramatic play materials enhance children’s growth and development. These experiences are documented for families on the classroom Possibilities Plan.

     Toddlers are encouraged to explore their environment independently. Because exploring with all your senses can be a messy process, we ask families to dress children with this in mind. In addition, children go outdoors in all kinds of weather, so it is important that families provide appropriate outerwear for each season.

     Mealtime is both a physical and social-emotional process. This is a time to try new foods, use developing language skills, engage in social interactions and practice self-help skills. Teachers make mealtimes a relaxed group experience and guide children to be as independent.

Preschool

     Preschool rooms provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for children to explore throughout their day. Teachers design the environment and experiences based on children’s developmental needs and individual interests. Experiences with peers and teachers, written and oral language, books, music, movement, nature, science and math materials, blocks and other construction materials, water, sand, art and dramatic play materials enhance children’s growth and development.

     Group experiences, long-term projects, child-directed and teacher-directed experiences are all part of the preschool curriculum. In addition, teachers align the children’s experiences with the Ohio Department of Education Early Learning Content Standards. Planned curriculum is documented for families on the classroom Possibilities Plan. Teachers document children’s experiences through the use of photographs, dictation, artwork and constructions. Teachers may also share your child’s experiences with you through phone calls, email, or notes in your mailbox. In addition, individual conferences and classroom family meetings are held throughout the year.

     Preschool children are encouraged to explore their environment independently. Because exploring with all your senses can be a messy process, we ask families to dress children with this in mind. Please provide an extra set of clothes to be used when necessary. In addition, children go outdoors in all kinds of weather, so it is important that families provide appropriate outerwear for each season.

     Preschool children often enjoy bringing something from home to share with their friends. Please help children choose materials that promote thinking and interaction (puzzles, games, books) or materials that promote imaginative play (vehicles, dramatic play props, dress-up clothes).

Kindergarten

     Children are eligible for kindergarten if they are five years old by September 30. Acceptance may be based on an informal assessment and preschool records. Programming is designed to meet the needs of each child and each year's class. The staff-child ratio (1-12) allows responsiveness to a wide range of skills and abilities.

     The Ohio State University Child Care Program, a department of the Office of Human Resources, provides quality childcare that allows families in the university community to participate in and fulfill their responsibilities to the university. Support for academic units is provided by offering opportunities for study and research by students and faculty. The Child Care Program is licensed by the State of Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Mission

     The OSU Child Care Program was founded on the belief that high quality early care and education benefits the growth and development of the youngest children in our University community, as well as their families.