Otter
Creek Child Center
Children's Placement in Groups
Sea Pups: Infants and Young Toddlers
Otters: Toddlers and Twos
Tigers: Twos and Threes
Eagles: Preschoolers Three to Five
At Otter Creek,
we enroll children once a year in August. Children are placed in
groups not solely based on age, but also on factors such as where
a child is developmentally, social skills, peer interaction, and
prior experience in child care.
Once a child is placed within a group, that peer group stays together
and moves up to the next program each August. The teachers stay
with the youngest group of children for the first two years to foster
the attachment and bonds which are so important to their optimal
social and emotional development.
The changing dynamics of enrollment of each of the four groups year
to year also
plays a role in a child's placement. For example, placing an 18
month old as a Sea Pup or an Otter might depend partly on the range
of ages in the groups at that time. If most of the Sea Pups are
around 18 months old, the child might fit well in that group. If
most of the Sea Pups are under a year old, the child might be placed
in the Otter Program.
The
Sea Pup Room: DISCOVERY!
Learning through
their senses; Sight, sounds, touch, smell, and taste…The environment
is rich in experiences to support children's learning through exploration.
The teachers are trained and experienced in providing nurturing,
responsive care to our youngest children.
Otter Creek
provides the only program in Middlebury in which children who begin
their childhood together as infants grow and learn together until
their entrance into school. These early peer relationships provide
a strong foundation of social skills so important throughout life!
The
Otter Room: CONTINUED EXPLORATION!
In the Otter
Room, children are further developing their sense of identity and
independence. Ample opportunities are present for children to practice
emerging self help skills such as dressing themselves, expressing
their needs, and putting things away, contributing to a strong sense
of competence and confidence in their abilities.
Art materials are abundant and accessible to the children. The Otters
are learning to use materials to represent their thinking, so we
watch and listen closely to their ideas, theories, and interests
to plan supportive activities and changes in our learning environments.
The Tiger Room:
CURIOSITY
Why? is a frequently
voiced question by children of this age! The wonder continues as
children explore and generate all sorts of questions about everything
in the world around them. Peer relationships become increasingly
important to the children, as they make discoveries, practice their
negotiating skills, and learn together! The interests that emerge
from the children's play continue to guide the teachers in planning
activities, curriculum, and field trips to extend learning.
The
Eagle Room: CREATIVITY!
Eagles typically
spend two years in this preschool-age program further developing
their social skills, literacy skills (learning the foundations of
reading and writing), problem solving, and decision-making. Eagles
are constantly formulating their thoughts and then testing out their
theories about how things around them work. We support them in finding
answers to their questions and in learning to express themselves
through art, music, and storytelling. We strive to help them develop
their creativity and critical thinking skills, preparing them to
be the innovators and discoverers of tomorrow.
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