At Chickadees Childcare, we provide exceptional care in a family home setting. We pride ourselves on our adaptability and commitment to excellence in every aspect of our service. Explore what we have to offer and how we can contribute to your child's development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you describe a typical day for a child at Chickadees Childcare?
When each child arrives, they will be greeted warmly and invited to choose an activity to start their school day. All materials are available throughout this daily "work cycle" - whether they want to water the plants, figure out a puzzle, do some yoga stretches, sit quietly with a book, etc., they may follow wherever interest pulls them. Whenever they wish to move on, they simply put that material away and can choose another.
Outside of the work cycle, each day will include a circle time. Circle time is an opportunity for the whole group to gather to check in with one another, the calendar and the weather of the day, read stories and sing songs.
The major educational work of the day happens in the morning, followed by lunch, nap, and unstructured play in the afternoon. Weather permitting, we will go outside at least once a day.
What makes your childcare services stand out from other daycares in Edgewater?
We offer a low child-to-teacher ratio to better address the needs of each child. Additionally, we do not require children to be toilet trained before enrollment. Instead, we follow each child's lead, and when they show signs of toilet training readiness, offer patient guidance to help them in mastering this major life skill.
What is your approach to discipline?
For young children, behavior is a form of communication. When they cannot communicate their needs and feelings in words, they will use whatever tools are at their disposal to get their point across. Sometimes this takes the form of yelling, hitting, throwing things, etc. My approach to such behavior is to acknowledge their feelings, remind them of the expectations at school, and then offer the child safe alternatives.
The goal is to equip children with their own problem-solving skills, so that they learn how to navigate difficult situations, relate kindly with others, and check on each other if they hurt one another.
When is Chickadees open?
Our hours are Monday-Friday from 7:30AM-4:30PM.
Additionally, the program operates on the Jefferson County school year schedule, so we are open from mid-August until June 1. Being closed for the summer is ideal for families in which one parent is a teacher or school district employee, as well as those who have older children, as they're already operating on a school year schedule. Some families however need childcare coverage year round, and we will do everything we can to help them in finding alternate care. This year several families will be collaborating to find summer coverage through a nanny share.
What are the most important things parents should know about your childcare approach?
From the moment they enter Chickadees, your child will be attended to with compassion, patience, and respect. Being licensed from the state of Colorado ensures that we provide the highest level of safety, and our attention to early childhood education research keeps us up to date on how best to support each child's development.