Child Care Program
SKCDC operates Early Care and
Education programs in Southern Kennebec County. Each program provides
comprehensive early education, health, nutrition, and family services
to enrolled children and their families. We believe children learn through
play. We encourage children to explore the world at their own pace, with
the loving support and guidance of parents and teachers. Our programs
offer a child-centered curriculum which reflects the lives and interests
of children and families. Teachers work together with families to provide
activities and materials that reflect family backgrounds and cultures
and are designed to foster the healthy development of self esteem, social,
physical, and intellectual skills, as well as skills of effective communication.
We recognize and respect the individuality of each child and family, and
we strive to provide a learning environment within which each child and
family can feel successful.
All programs are developmentally,
culturally, and linguistically appropriate and include all areas of growth:
physical, language, social, emotional, and cognitive.
Our Early Care and Education
Programs are designed to provide quality education and care for each enrolled
child aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
SKCDC Child Care Centers are
certified by the State of Maine, Department of Human Services as Quality
Centers.
Quality Learning Environments
Our classrooms reflect total
learning environments for children. We believe that children learn through
their play and through what they see and experience all around them. Every
classroom holds a variety of fine and gross motor activities, language
and literacy activities designed for readers and pre-readers, creative
arts and opportunities for a child’s imagination to be engaged and
expanded. Our Teachers are all certified with a Child Development Associate
Credential, Associate Degree, or Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood
Education.
Health and Safety
We believe that a child’s
health effects a child’s learning so staff work to ensure that children
receive well child check-ups, dental check-ups, and height and weight
assessments.
Good Nutrition Supports Children’s
Learning
Nutritious meals and snacks
are included in all of our programs. All programs participate in the USDA
Child and Adult Food Program. Meals are served family style with caregivers
and children coming together at meal time for conversation and quality
time. Promoting healthy nutrition habits and allowing children to experience
new foods are important aspects of our nutrition program.
Parents are Respected as
the Primary Teachers of Their Children
Parent involvement is one of
the cornerstones of our program. Parents report a sense of belonging and
an appreciation for having the opportunity for meaningful involvement
at all levels of their child’s program. Parents are invited to participate
in training programs, as volunteers in their child’s day to day program,
on governing bodies and as active partners in curriculum planning.
Licensing and Staff Credentialing
All of our programs are fully
licensed through the State of Maine Child Care Licensing Division. This
includes annual inspections by both the State’s licensing agent and
fire marshal.
Following the national mandate
of the Head Start program, all SKCDC teachers either have or are in the
process of acquiring an Associate or Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood
Education. For those not yet holding degrees, a minimum of a Child Development
Credential (CDA) is required. CDA is the only major national effort to
improve child care by evaluation and recognizing the skills of individuals
providing care. The first credential was awarded 25 years ago, and now
46 states, plus the District of Columbia include CDA in their child care
licensing regulations. Every candidate for the CDA credential is observed
working with young children and families by an early childhood professional,
and must demonstrate the ability to implement programs for children based
on best practice in a safe and healthy learning environment.
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