The Discovery Center
Child Care and Preschool
The Discovery Center Infants
The Discovery Center offers care to infants aged 6 weeks through 18 months. We feel that in the early months and years it's very important for children to be held, loved, and played with as much as possible. When possible, each of our teachers is responsible for 3 babies of differing ages so that they can spend a maximum amount of time with each child. Teachers are not expected to do anything but care for your child and meet his/her needs and they try to do the best job possible.
We work with the children on various activities concentrating on the sensorial - seeing, hearing, and touch; language; motor development; and cognitive development. Teachers keep records on the children's feeding, diapering, and sleeping schedules as well as the activities they have done with them and/or observed them doing. At the bottom of this chart is a space for messages you wish to give the staff. These are sent home weekly. Additionally, teachers will be keeping observational notes and developmental records on each child which will be kept at school.
Infants' Daily Schedule
We will try to follow whatever schedule you and your baby have set up and keep you informed of any changes taking place as the child grows. Your baby's morning and afternoon teachers should be kept informed about what is going on in his/her life and they can let you know what has been happening at school. A large dry erase board is available for daily messages to staff.
Breast Feeding
Breast feeding is great for both mother and child. We welcome any mother who wishes to come in to breast feed her child during the day. We do suggest, however, that if you know your child will be starting school that you start him or her at 3 weeks with supplemental bottle feedings (can be breast milk) at least once every day and continue feeding at least 4 oz each day until your child starts school. Bottle feedings once or twice a week are NOT enough for a baby to get used to a bottle. This would also be a great time for Dad to get to know the baby and for Mom to have a rest. We have found that babies who have not become accustomed to the bottle from an early age refuse to take more than an ounce or so at each feeding while in day care and are miserable until they start on solid foods, usually around 6 months.
Growing Up...
A child who is enrolled in the infant area will move into the toddler program according to developmental indicators observed by the teachers. Children from outside the center are enrolled in the toddler program at the age of 18 months.
Please email discoverycenter@charter.net or call 269-372-0007 to set up a tour.