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Local Business of the Month |
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More Than Just A Day Care Center By Kellie Vining |
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“We care. Our children know we care. Our parents know we care.” Ann Jackson, director of Tender Hands Day Care Center smiled as she talked with the parent and grand parent of three children who may quite possibly be Tender Hands first enrollees of 2002.
Located at 1030 E. Second Street, on the eastside of Monroe, and arguably the best alternative the community has in childcare, Tender Hands Day Care Center first opened its doors in June 1999. From the outset, Mrs. Jackson and her staff envisioned a facility that would be more than your run-of-the-mill day care center. “We attempt to provide an atmosphere which promotes spiritual (‘We pray here. ‘), physical, mental and social growth”, Mrs. Jackson explained. In making the Tender Hands vision a reality, the facility’s operation is specifically designed around the needs of the community it serves. Children arrive at Tender Hands as early as 6:30am and, some stay as late as 11:30pm.
Mrs. Jackson was quick to point out Tender Hands sense of responsibility to those served. “Even during the school year, many of our children spend the majority of their waking hours here at the center. These groups of children spend close to twelve hours with us. We at Tender Hands feel we owe it to all our children, and their parents to begin the teaching and learning process while they are in our care.”
Teaching is indeed a major focus of the Tender Hands program. Structured academics begin promptly at 8:30am each morning. All the children, including infants as young as 2 months, gather in a “reading square”. Stories are then read to and by the children.
Amber Ford, a Tender Hands staff member explained the dynamics and importance of the reading square. “We sit the children in a square. Staff members begin reading and each toddler is given a turn to read. Even if the child has not learned to read yet, they look at the pictures on the page and tell the others in the square what is going on in the story. This helps them to grasp the fundamentals of reading. It also builds retention skills, positive self-esteem and a love for reading”
Reading each morning is only the beginning of a day filled with fun, excitement and learning. Gross motors skills, as well as color and shape recognition are developed using building blocks of all sorts. Fine motor skills, number and letter recognition, and phonics are taught using writing and coloring work sheets, finger puppets and singing games.
Tender Hands quite often is also the place where toddlers are first introduced to computers. Using software from Dr. Seuss and Sesame Street, children as young as eighteen months navigate educational games designed to teach colors and numbers, counting, phonics, animal recognition, thinking skills and sentence structure.
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When I express reservations about a toddler’s ability to navigate computer games Miss Ford quickly came to their defense. “You’d be surprised. Our three and four year olds have no trouble at all. It is not unusual for one of them to correct a staff member while attempting to go through the game. And most times, they are absolutely correct.”
Tender Hands also has an outdoor playground area where the children can run, jump, slide, and throw balls. Of course this is a favorite with the children, though not the only time the children venture outside.
You may have seen these little ones as they take their daily walks. Some days they just walk, learning to travel as a group and cross busy streets. Other days you’ll find them taking walking trips to the Navarre Branch Library, Arthur Lesow Community Center or, the Monroe County Historical Museum.
All the efforts of Tender Hands are not toward directly working with the children. Staff, under the guidance of their director, meet monthly with parents. Mrs. Jackson called these meetings two-way streets. “We give the parents a progress report on their child’s development. When necessary, we direct parents to agencies within the county that will assist in meeting a need or concern that has surfaced. We also disseminate information pertaining to immunization requirements, proper nutrition and positive nurturing.”
“The other side of the street is the 'parent feed back' side. We solicit ideas and input from our parents that will help us better serve them and their children. This has helped tremendously. Because we listen and implement ideas given by the parents, our parent turn-out rate for special functions is quite high. Whether it is a Christmas party or a need for chaperones for a field trip, we can count on our parents.”
Tender Hands Day is currently licensed to care for fifty children, space is limited. There are currently around forty children enrolled at Tender Hands. With only a few openings still available, anyone interested in having their children cared for at a facility that is more than a day care center needs to make an appointment for an interview immediately.
You can call 242-0270 to set an appointment or, stop in at 1030 E. Second Street and see for your self.
Tender Hands Day Care Center 1030 E Second Street 242-0270
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Have a computer and a phone but no internet access? Get yours today FREE. Call 242.3714 Today! |
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