FAQ
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Procedures
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Our preschool classes are set up as a combination of small and large groups, however each child is regarded as an individual needing special attention. At Safari Kid we understand the important brain research which informs us that providing a “serve and return” relationship for children is essential for proper brain architecture to develop. This means that when the child “serves” with a coo, a look, a gesture, a question, an adult is ready to “return” with a nurturing response. Our caring teachers are trained to make sure that your child’s needs are being met and that the center feels like their home away from home.
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No. It is not required for a child to be fully potty trained however this may affect program placement. We have a potty-training process which you may discuss with your child’s teacher or director.
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Teachers will communicate with parents through an app in which they will receive ongoing messages and photos. In addition, parents can talk to teachers informally at pick up and drop off. Quarterly, teachers will schedule parent conferences with parents to discuss formal evaluations that occur through classroom observations. Your child’s projects and artwork will be shared with you as well as invites to special performances and events. Parents should watch for a monthly newsletter to inform them of activities that will be happening in their child’s programs. Parents are encouraged to join our social media sites to get regular updates as well.
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Safari Kid programs are thoughtfully designed to build skill sets in a way that will feel natural to your child, while assiduously preparing them for kindergarten. We communicate with our parents at every step of this process, set up conferences to review growth, and ensure all measures are being taken to provide an optimal learning experience for the child. Our programs naturally lead to kindergarten readiness and cover the following:
- Social-Emotional Development
- Language and Communication
- Academic Skills: Number Sense, Phonics, Reading & Comprehension, Pre-Writing, Scientific Inquiry
- Gross & Fine Motor Development
- Listening & Self-Help Skills
- Health & Care Skills
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At Safari Kid we understand that young children are still acquiring language skills at this tender age. Not to worry, our teachers are well trained to nurture children who do not yet have English speaking capacity. Parents are encouraged to aid teachers with some pointers (language cues used at home) that will help to ease the transition. Through an environment filled with hands-on activities and social interactions with teachers and peers, your child will be immersed in rich language acquisition which will lead to English fluency in no time!
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Yes. Teachers will encourage and foster pre-writing skills among children when they are ready. This will begin with fun activities that feel like play, such as using their fingers to practice writing letters on a table covered in shaving cream. These skills will develop into traditional writing skills with pencil and paper.
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Yes. Safari Kid programs are designed with many opportunities for active play in which physical activities requiring both gross and fine motor skills are engaged. The physical domain is one of the five core domains for which we place equal emphasis, as we employ a whole child approach to learning. Play is an avenue to growth and development in the early childhood years, and we utilize many of its forms. Being active promotes health and well-being. Tabletop activities which promote fine motor skills are a part of the daily curriculum, integrated in a fun way such as stringing beads for a necklace or sorting pom-poms by color.
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Pricing varies by center, and we encourage you to set up a tour to meet with the center director to discuss this.
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Separation anxiety is absolutely normal for children at this age. Transitions are the most difficult, so we encourage parents not to linger too long if their child is experiencing anxiety during an initial drop off. Our teachers will devote special time to the child and find ways to make him/her feel comfortable and at ease. When ready we will slowly encourage the child to join in on group activities and meet his/her new friends.
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Overall, we believe that challenging behaviors can be prevented through appropriate care, attention, modeling, and positive reinforcement of good behaviors. When children are engaged in hands-on activities they enjoy and are guided with care by adults, they are far less likely to run into issues. However, if challenging behaviors arise, we have protocols in place to handle these situations such as positive redirections and cool down time. Our staff is trained to always react with empathy, acknowledging with the child that we all have difficult days in which big emotions can get the best of us, but we still have to remain kind to our friends.
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If a child is showing signs of sickness such as a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or complaints of an earache, we immediately call the parents to ensure the child can receive further evaluation. We then isolate the child until the child is picked up. A child must be 24-hour-fever-free and not dependent on medication for that amount of time in order to return to school. In case of communicable illnesses, the center will require a doctor’s note.
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Yes. Not only are Safari Kid centers open year-round, but we also accept registration and enrollment throughout the year (if space is available.) Please contact us to learn more about our convenient hours, summer camps, minimal closure dates, and other ways Safari Kid supports working families.
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Yes! Our center is open year-round, and we offer themed summer camp experiences which change each year but always find the right balance between summer fun and educational enrichment. However, space is limited so early registration is encouraged!
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Philosophy
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At Safari Kid, we believe curiosity is the spark for the flames of learning, and we are here to fan that spark. Safari Kid’s WISDOM Learning Path reflects how we believe children learn best. Through a sense of wonder about their environment, through opportunities to use their imagination to play, pretend, and create, through the nurturing of mentors who give them a strong sense of security, and through discussion and observation. All of this leads to a focus on whole child development in which the five domains of learning are equally attended to: physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language & literacy. We go beyond these five core domains with an extra area of learning – health and care, in which children learn to become self-aware of their needs and how to manage them, (i.e., learning how to regulate their bodies and appropriately responding to stress through activities such as intentional breathing, mindfulness, and yoga.) They then learn how to extend care and kindness to others and the environment. Through this journey their growth and learning extends from inward to outward, micro to macro, self to others and the world at large.
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We prefer to use the term 'behavioral guidance,' rather than discipline. Classroom expectations will be clearly spoken about and reinforced daily, so children are aware of what is required behavior. Children who are making good choices will be given praise to positively reinforce the behaviors we like to see in the classroom. When a “bad” choice is made, positive redirection will be the first course of action along with strategies such as cool-down time for regulating the body or mind as needed. Children’s emotions will be acknowledged and discussed, and teachers will show empathy as children experience the ups and downs of a typical day.
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Safety
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We use janitorial services for the daily cleaning of equipment, classrooms & bathrooms. We also ensure the disinfecting and sanitizing of our toys and learning materials. Toys put in the mouth are removed, disinfected immediately, and washed.
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The director of the center is usually your first point of contact and is ready to address any concerns you may have. We have an open-door policy for parents, and they are encouraged to contact us via email, phone messages on the school number and/or by dropping in during office hours.
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The decision to allow for a child’s picture to be taken at a Safari Kid facility is at the discretion of each family. Some families allow pictures to be used strictly within the classroom (i.e., to share in the parent app), some allow pictures to be used both internally and externally (i.e., for our center-wide website, social media), and still others do not allow pictures of their children to be taken at any time - no exceptions. Whatever you choose, we will respect your decision.
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Cameras are used as a safety tool that helps us keep a keen awareness of the premises. Web cameras are very beneficial in helping each center monitor what is going on inside and outside of the center.
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All children have to pass an informal visual daily health screening. If a child presents a demeanor of sickness or an unusual marking, we follow up with further questions and/or health checks.
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Yes. The safety of the children in our care is our highest concern. Safari Kid maintains stringent hiring practices and criminal background checks on all teachers and caregivers in our centers are conducted by the state.
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This is up to the discretion of our parents. We respect their decisions.
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In addition to our entrance and exit safety measures, our furniture and equipment is also carefully selected. Furniture does not have splinters or screws. The staff has daily checks on toys, materials, and equipment to check for hazards. All supplies, materials, and toys are age appropriate.
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As guardians of children, nothing is more important to us than your child’s safety and protection while they are in our care. Safari Kid has a series of security protocols and procedures to help guard against any threat to the safety of children. Emergency bags are ready in each classroom and our staff performs safety drills on a regular basis such as evacuation drills, regular lockdown drills, and "shelter in place" exercises. Our staff is trained regularly in First Aid and CPR as required by the state. We do regular reviews on safety policies and procedures to ensure our teachers and all staff are well-trained to protect children in case of an emergency.
Access to the center:
- Center policies prohibit families and staff from holding the door open for others they do not know.
- Parents/guardians are responsible for physically checking their child into and out of the center each day. This ensures that each child is safe and supervised at all times and encourages daily communication between families and staff.
- Notice is required before releasing a child to someone other than those adults authorized at enrollment. That person will need to show state issued identification such as a driver’s license.
Emergency Communication:
- In the event of a center emergency, severe weather closure/delayed opening, or an emergency in the community near the center, you will receive updates through the app.
- As new information is available, the center administration team will continue to provide updates through the notification system.
- In certain instances where the center administration team is unable to provide ongoing updates, family members will be asked to call the Safari Kid Office.
Injury Prevention:
Teachers stay alert and are trained to look for hazards for injury that may occur. For example defective equipment is removed or repaired to prevent injury. Small toy pieces or other objects that could pose a choking hazard to infants and toddlers are not allowed.
Weapons Policy:
Firearms, explosive devices, and other weapons are not permitted on Safari Kid premises, regardless of any valid permit to carry such weapons.
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Gloves are used during diaper changes and when any food is being served.
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Yes. We encourage parents to take a tour of our beautiful centers.
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