The Day Nursery provides full-time quality childcare in an educational setting for children ages 2.5 to 6 years old whose parents are working or in training to maintain a stable home environment for their families. Every aspect of the Day Nursery program focuses on directly preparing children to learn by providing them with a safe and secure environment, by providing nutritious meals and snacks, and by assessing children and identifying any special needs and providing the families the resources to address these needs. The Day Nursery also gets children ready to learn by: - Utilizing a recognized early childhood curriculum taught by an educated and trained staff; - Allowing children to play and interact with their peers; - Teaching them to be independent; - Maintaining open and constant communication with families; and - Providing families with the information and resources they need to be actively involved in their children's development and learning. The Day Nursery is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and by the Oak Park Health Department to provide childcare for up to 77 children, ages 2.5 to 6 years old. The Day Nursery's program is located in an 8,000-square-foot building built in 1926 specifically for the Day Nursery and its program. The building has five classrooms, an industrial-sized kitchen, a large dining room, several restrooms, an indoor playground, a large outdoor playground, a parent resource room, and administrative offices. This large building allows the children to be separated into small, age-related groups with a teacher-student ratio of 1 to 7. All classrooms use an age-appropriate, recognized, play-based curriculum. All children receive a hot breakfast and lunch, a daily nap, and a mid-afternoon snack. curriculum The Day Nursery uses the Creative Curriculum that aligns with the Illinois Early Learning Standards as defined by the Illinois State Board of Education. This curriculum emphasizes learning through play, hands-on activities, and teacher-supported activities. Literacy enrichment occurs in every aspect of the classroom environment throughout areas divided into dramatic play, blocks and building, art, music, puzzles, books, math and science. The curriculum is supplemented by an outside consultant in Spanish language and culture. A monthly reading and story time is provided by the local children's librarian. The Day Nursery supplies three major field trips each year (a fall farm trip, a winter hands-on children's museum trip, and a summer zoo trip). parent program The Day Nursery believes that a parent is a child's first teacher and, as a result, a Parent Program is offered to all parents whose children attend the Day Nursery. This program includes monthly education sessions where parents receive information on parenting issues such as guidance and discipline, developing literacy skills, kindergarten readiness, and how to strengthen the family bond. Parents and children also participate in social events including holiday decorating, craft nights, and a summer end-of-term picnic. Finally, the Parent Program Coordinator is a licensed social worker who meets on an individual basis with those parents who may need individual instruction or social service referrals. persons with disabilities The Day Nursery accepts all children, including those with disabilities, provided it is able to accommodate their individual needs. The Day Nursery can accept children with limited physical disabilities as its building is handicapped-accessible except for two classrooms located on a lower level. The Day Nursery also works with children with behavioral and emotional problems. The Day Nursery recognizes that behavioral and emotional problems can start at the early-childhood level. As a result, the Day Nursery will work with local public school districts to help families identify such problems and will work to provide early intervention services for these families. After obtaining early-intervention services, the Day Nursery assists families to implement the techniques that work best with their child. The Day Nursery also has the capability to screen and work with children who may be identified as being at risk of future academic failure. nutrition While at the Day Nursery children receive a hot breakfast, hot lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack. The Day Nursery's philosophy is that children should be offered a variety of nutritious foods, prepared with minimal preservatives, and with many different textures. As a result, meals are prepared with a variety of appealing and colorful foods, including ethnic dishes and even liver and onions, as well as many fruits and vegetables. Children eat family style and are encouraged to try the many different foods offered. The Day Nursery's head cook, and the person responsible for all menu planning and food procurement, has an associate's degree in food service and has completed classes in nutrition and child development. As a result of cooking and serving food to the children, the Day Nursery is inspected annually by the Village of Oak Park's Health Department. The Day Nursery has consistently received high marks for kitchen cleanliness and food sanitation.