Types of Early Childhood Programs Chapter 2

Vocabulary Terms Family child care home Child care centers Custodial care Montessori approach Head Start School-age child care programs Checking-in services Parent cooperatives Laboratory schools Universal pre-kindergarten (UPK) Accredited

Use pie graph on pg 37, 2-2

In addition… Family child care homes Child care centers Child care provided in a private home with a small number of children Child care centers Facilities that offer full day children’s programs Most popular type of care and education Some centers simply provide custodial care, care focusing primarily on child’s physical needs

In addition… Kindergarten First Kindergarten opened in 1837 by Frederick Froebel in Germany. Stressed play First American Kindergarten opened in Watertown,WI in 1856 3 basic scheduling patterns: ½ day, full day and full day/alternating Emphasizes the growth of the whole child Basic objectives to develop positive feelings about school, develop independence, develop positive self-concept

In addition… School-age Child Care Parent Cooperatives Provide care for children before and/or after school Sponsored by schools, houses of worship or child care centers An alternative is checking-in services, where workers call home to see if child arrived safely. This option is only for mature children who can take care of themselves until parents arrive. Parent Cooperatives Formed and run by parents who wish to take part in their children’s preschool experience Parents make administrative decisions Fees are often less here than at other programs Parents serve as classroom aides

In addition… Laboratory Schools High School Child Care Programs University and college affiliated programs Located on a college campus Serve as a study group for research Most have a highly qualified staff, well-planned curriculum and up-to-date facilities High School Child Care Programs Help train future child care professionals High school students plan and present the curriculum under supervision of a teacher

In addition… Universal Pre-Kindergarten Sponsored at the state level High quality, literary rich environment is provided. Designed for 3 and 4 year olds.

Montessori Schools Maria Montessori Developed the theory that children learn best by being active Montessori Approach Children “learn how to learn” Children were allowed to explore materials that were meant to instruct Stressed independence Teachers provide little help

Head Start Nutrition Many do not receive nutritious meals at home At least one snack and one hot meal is provided each day Food is served that reflects the child’s ethnic and cultural preferences. Designed to help children make healthy food choices and develop good eating habits. Developed in the late 1960s by the federal government Designed to overcome the negative effects of poverty on young children One of the most successful preschool and family support programs in the country Curriculum Designed to build self-esteem Variety of learning experiences to meet the children’s needs in all four areas of development Parental involvement is at the heart of the program

Head Start Health Parental Involvement All children given a total health plan Dental, medical, mental health services provided for Children who have not had childhood immunizations prior to enrollment are given them Parental Involvement Recognizes the parent as the child’s first teacher Parents are encouraged to help recruit new children, assist in the center, and take part in policy meetings

Sponsorship in Early Childhood Centers Public Sponsorship Funded by federal, state or local governments Some funds come through school districts Federally funded example: Head Start State funded example: laboratory school, high school child care program

Sponsorship in Early Childhood Centers Private sponsorship Rely on parent fees to cover most of operating expenses May be operated by a house of worship, hospital or charitable organization

Sponsorship in Early Childhood Centers Employer sponsorship Reduces conflict between family and work responsibilities Several options company-owned on site care contracting out to childcare chains or firms vouchers

Selecting a Child Care Program Find a program that welcomes the child and promotes all areas of the children’s development Cost Location Quality What are the program’s goals, activities and schedule? Variety and balance Child to teacher ratio Training and experience of staff Staff turnover rates Safe Environment Security system Smoke detectors Fire extinguishers Evacuation plans Clean Well maintained As a teacher, your role will be to give parents the needed information to make an informed decision Staff turnover rate – children need a predictable environment

Center Accreditation Being accredited certifies that a set of standards has been met by an early childhood program. To be eligible, a center must: A self-evaluation on 10 categories A validation visit conducted on-site by trained professionals A decision by a team of experts representing the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs

Chapter 2 Review Describe one aspect of each type of program Know about Montessori and Head Start Give one example of each sponsorship What are factors to consider when choosing a child care program? What is center accreditation? Study your vocabulary terms