Frequently Asked Questions

At most of our schools, infants can be enrolled in child care at 6 weeks (our infant classroom typically goes up to 1 year).

Enrollment is offered year-round based on each family’s needs and classroom availability.

Each day, your child should arrive with these items: - Three complete outfit changes (including socks!) - Enough prepared and labeled formula or breast milk - Jar food and infant cereal (when applicable) - Layers to accommodate indoor/outdoor temperature changes All items must be labeled with the child’s first and last names. Infant belongings (soiled clothing, used/unused bottles, etc.) must be taken home nightly and laundered or sanitized.

Infants should dress in comfortable clothes that will allow for movement.

Depending on each family’s routine, we use formula and/or breast milk. Breastfeeding moms are welcome to nurse during school time. For children not yet eating table food, please bring a day’s supply of meals, including prepared and capped bottles or jars labeled with the child’s name, date, and contents.

Most schools offer an all-inclusive diapering program to ensure children have all they need throughout the school day without requiring families to send in those supplies. If you prefer to use alternative diapers with a cloth or disposable insert, please see a member of management for possible options. Please bring enough prepared and labeled formula or breast milk for each day your child is with us. Infants will be fed in accordance with parent/guardian instructions.

Our Primary Caregivers connect with children on a deeper, personalized level to establish trust, comfort, and a consistent routine. This ensures that infants feel safe, secure, comfortable, and happy. All infant classrooms have an age-appropriate exploration area where problem-solving skills and fine motor skills are developed. We also provide a movement area to strengthen physical coordination and a cozy area where we develop and nurture a love of books.

Our “Active Infants, Safe Spaces” approach means everything teachers need to support infants is at their fingertips, so they can stay by your baby’s side. Toys and materials enable freedom of movement within safe boundaries, so children can explore, develop motor skills, and engage their senses for optimal physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development.

Talking with an infant and narrating various situations is beneficial for supporting the natural development of language. Mimicking an infant’s sounds will encourage more vocalizing and more interaction. We focus on nonverbal communication too by using gestures and eye contact to build a foundation for language. When an infant is making noises, we respond to them! We narrate what they are doing, ask open-ended questions, or make other sounds to support language learning.

Our Toddler program is for children between the ages of 1 and 2.

Enrollment is offered year-round based on each family’s needs and classroom availability.

Each day, your child should arrive with these items: - At least one complete outfit change (including socks) - Enough prepared and labeled formula or breast milk (if applicable) - Jar food and infant cereal (if applicable) - Layers to accommodate indoor/outdoor temperature changes All items must be labeled with the child’s first and last names. Used belongings must be taken home nightly and laundered or sanitized.

Toddlers spend the morning exploring the classroom through intentionally planned learning experiences. A morning outdoor time promotes physical activity and fosters a love of the outdoors. A midday healthy lunch is served followed by rest time for children to relax and recharge. The afternoon begins with a healthy snack, and then children engage in small group play and learning in the indoor and outdoor learning environments.

Dancing, fingerplay songs, outdoor gross motor activities, and indoor exercises are offered daily to support children’s physical development. Emotional growth is supported through activities that help children identify and name emotions, gain a deeper understanding of their feelings, and communicate their needs to others.

Social skills are at the core of our teaching in early childhood education. The environment is structured to promote small group learning for children to play and explore together. Children learn through interacting with and watching each other, and teachers model how to communicate needs and understand the needs of others.

Gross motor experiences such as movement games, dancing, and outdoor exploration support toddlers in developing balance and coordination. Daily fine motor experiences such as painting, mark-making, building, and fingerplay songs develop fine motor muscles through pinching, grasping, and encouraging hand and arm movement.

We know how important it is to ensure transitions feel as smooth as possible for your whole family. Our nurturing teachers plan for this important time to ensure each child feels at ease while maintaining their safety, so parents have peace of mind at drop-off each day. Trust us, it gets easier!

Our language-rich classrooms offer opportunities for children to communicate, think, speak, and listen. Adults lay the foundation for language every day, when they point out objects, read, and play with children. Both verbal and sign language are used in the classroom to support children’s developing communication skills.

Consistency is key when it comes to preparing your child for school. Establishing a daily routine that mirrors the schedule they will follow in the classroom can help ease the transition. This includes waking up, eating meals, and napping at similar times each day. As children grow, creating visual schedules that include realistic images or photos can help support visual cues to signify transitions. Kids feel more secure when they know what to expect.

Yes! Accidents and spills happen at any age. To help us keep your child happy, safe, healthy, clean, and comfortable, please provide at least one complete change of clothes. Write your child’s first and last name (in permanent ink) on each article of clothing and all personal items.

Our Twos program is for children between the ages of 2 and 2.5 years.

Enrollment is offered year-round based on each family’s needs and classroom availability.

To help us keep your child happy, safe, healthy, clean, and comfortable while in our care, please bring at least one complete change of clothes. Accidents and spills happen at any age. Remember sweaters and/or jackets to accommodate indoor/outdoor temperature changes. Write your child’s first and last name (in permanent ink) on each article of clothing and all personal items. d

If your child is able to sleep on a cot, please provide us with a blanket for nap time. Keep in mind the small size of your child’s cubby, which keeps us from storing larger bedding items.

Our daily classroom routine features independent learning opportunities driven by children’s innate curiosity encouraging each child’s unique development.

We will be sensitive to cues by asking the child to use the toilet, assisting the child on scheduled visits to the bathroom when they are most likely to need to use the toilet, giving frequent verbal reminders during the day, posting pictures of sequenced potty routines, and communicating with you to establish consistency between the school and home. Children will be assisted, as needed, when using the bathroom. Children will flush the toilet and be assisted with washing their hands with soap and water. All efforts by the child will be positively acknowledged and encouraged.

Our Early Preschool program is for children between the ages of 2.5 and 3 years.

Enrollment is offered year-round based on each family’s needs and classroom availability.

We encourage investigation and emerging skills such as matching, sorting, and pattern identification. Making friends and working together is an essential element of learning at this stage. The foundation is also set for their development of writing skills.

To help us keep your child happy, safe, healthy, clean, and comfortable, please bring at least one complete change of clothes. Accidents and spills happen at any age. Remember sweaters and/or jackets to accommodate indoor/outdoor temperature changes. Write your child’s first and last name (in permanent ink) on each article of clothing and all personal items.

Morning Meeting begins the day as children and teachers discuss classroom work and plan for the day. Children then spend the bulk of the morning exploring learning centers, where intentionally planned learning experiences target all areas of development. Small group work builds social skills and allows teachers to individualize learning. A morning outdoor time promotes physical activity and fosters a love of the outdoors. A midday healthy lunch is served followed by rest time for children to relax and recharge. The afternoon begins with a healthy snack, and then children engage in small group play and learning in the indoor and outdoor learning environments.

That won’t be necessary! Most of our schools provide healthy meals for breakfast and lunch, as well as morning and afternoon snacks. Unless otherwise noted, outside food will not be permitted. Exceptions may be approved if a child is unable to eat what is being served due to religious reasons, special dietary needs, or severe allergies. Vegetarian options are available at every meal.

The Early Preschool curriculum invites children to be curious and ask questions about the world around them. Through inquiry, children learn how to discover answers to their questions. Purposeful classroom routines support children’s growing independence and self-regulation preparing them for both preschool and life.

Our Preschool program is for children between the ages of 3 and 4 years.

Enrollment is offered year-round based on each family’s needs and classroom availability.

To help us keep your child happy, safe, healthy, clean, and comfortable, please bring at least one complete change of clothes. Accidents and spills happen at any age. Remember sweaters and/or jackets to accommodate indoor/outdoor temperature changes. Write your child’s first and last name (in permanent ink) on each article of clothing and all personal items.

Preschool features age-appropriate instruction in a stimulating learning environment, designed to fully prepare your child for kindergarten. With research-based curriculums and learning tools, this classroom helps them become problem-solvers and lifelong learners. Your child will develop language, physical, social, and cognitive skills that provide a strong foundation for their future.

The Preschool curriculum encourages children’s natural curiosity to guide their learning. Hands-on learning experiences introduce academic skills in context to help children transfer and apply what they learn to many different scenarios. Children learn how to work as part of a community through communicating and listening to others in small group learning.

All necessary school supplies are available in the classroom. Families may be asked to provide special materials on occasion for certain projects.

Preschool builds children’s academic and social skills in preparation for kindergarten and beyond. Children build self-esteem and confidence through working as members of a classroom community. Communication skills are fostered through opportunities to share ideas with others. Hands-on learning experiences encourage children’s natural curiosity so they can become active constructors of knowledge.

Tennis shoes or other closed-toed shoes must be worn at all times; flip-flops, sandals, or open-toed shoes are not permitted.

Our Pre-Kindergarten program is for children between the ages of 4 and 5 years.

Enrollment is offered year-round based on each family’s needs and classroom availability.

To help us keep your child happy, safe, healthy, clean, and comfortable, please bring at least one complete change of clothes. Accidents and spills happen at any age. Remember sweaters and/or jackets to accommodate indoor/outdoor temperature changes. Write your child’s first and last name (in permanent ink) on each article of clothing and all personal items.

Pre-Kindergarten prepares children to be both academically and socially ready for kindergarten and life. Hands-on learning experiences invite children to explore academic concepts and develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Learning centers give children opportunities to lead, which helps them build self-esteem, leadership skills, self-regulation, and self-direction.

At our schools, Preschool is designed for 3-year-old learners, while Pre-K is designed for 4- and 5-year-old learners during the year before they enter elementary school.

Our Junior Kindergarten program is for children between the ages of 4.5 and 6 years.

Enrollment is offered year-round based on each family’s needs and classroom availability.

To help us keep your child happy, safe, healthy, clean, and comfortable, please bring at least one complete change of clothes. Accidents and spills happen at any age. Remember sweaters and/or jackets to accommodate indoor/outdoor temperature changes. Write your child’s first and last name (in permanent ink) on each article of clothing and all personal items.

Our Junior Kindergarten program is dependent on children’s birthdays, their completion of Pre-K, and their specific needs. The Junior Kindergarten program features nationally recognized and award-winning kindergarten curricula aligned with state standards and adapted to meet the developmental needs of older 4-year-olds and young 5-year-olds.

In this program, students use the nationally recognized McGraw Hill MyMath and Wonders Literacy kindergarten curricula. Students develop the academic and social-emotional skills necessary for kindergarten success, such as self-regulation, sustaining attention, following complex directions, and effective communication.

No, Junior Kindergarten is not required. It is an option for those who are not quite ready for kindergarten or who do not meet the age cut-off for your school district.

Junior Kindergarten offers an additional year of preparation for elementary school for older 4-year-olds and young 5-year-olds who do not meet the age requirement in their school or who might want an additional year of skill development before entering kindergarten.

In accordance with state requirements, the students in our Private Kindergarten classroom must meet the entrance age for kindergarten determined by the state and district in which they reside.

Enrollment is available year-round, however the Private Kindergarten program does align with the calendar school year.

Our Private Kindergarten program is taught by a teacher who holds a degree. The class also has a lower teacher-to-student ratio, which provides more time for individualized instruction. This program features nationally recognized and award-winning curricula aligned with state standards for kindergarten. We balance structure and academics with child-directed learning centers, free-choice times, exploration, and outdoor play.

Students will participate in a variety of activities in the subjects of Literacy & Language, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Self-Help & Social Skills.

The student-to-teacher ratio in our Private Kindergarten classroom is 1:12. That’s one teacher per 12 students, maximum.

Our schools provide healthy meals for breakfast and lunch, as well as morning and afternoon snacks. Unless otherwise noted, outside food will not be permitted. Exceptions may be approved if a child is unable to eat what is being served due to religious reasons, special dietary needs, or severe allergies. Vegetarian options are available at every meal.

We offer back to school incentives to help you welcome a new season of learning with trustworthy, reliable support in the morning and afternoon. However, you can enroll anytime throughout the school year to meet your family’s scheduling needs during any season.

If your child is here in the morning, students get a healthy breakfast to fuel their bodies and minds before school. In the afternoon, children receive a snack to energize them and keep them going until pick-up. They will have the space and resources they need to unwind, play outside, connect with peers, do homework, try new activities, and more. Families will receive updates via SproutAbout, our exclusive family communications app.

At participating schools, our before- and-after school program is for elementary students (ages 5 to 12) who need wrap care in the morning and/or afternoon. Count on us to set them up for success before school and give them a safe place to hang out after class before they head home for the day.

The school-age classroom includes a dedicated area for homework and your student will have daily access to educational resources.

Our school-age program for older students and families offers an innovative approach to before-and after-school programming focused on the ever-changing needs of elementary students. We support each student’s success and personal growth by beginning and ending each day with a focus on goal setting and reflection, while offering abundant time for both structured and free play, dedicated time and space for homework, and engaging STEM activities and materials to explore.

School-age students are usually already arriving with their backpack, coat, water bottle, etc. On a typical school day, they are not required to bring anything else. We provide a safe place where they can store their supplies until school each morning or each afternoon until pick-up.

Transportation may be provided for children at least 4 years of age AND 40 pounds or more. Ask your school director about transportation options to and from your child’s elementary school.

Summer camp is designed for toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age students (up to age 12). We provide tailored experiences for every age group to foster growth, hands-on learning, and lots of fun throughout the summer months.

Summer camp enrollment starts after the first of the year, giving families plenty of time to plan their child’s summertime adventure. Depending on where you live, the program runs from May to August. Our Wondercamp schedule coincides with the local school calendar so summer vacation dates line up for school-age students in each community. Schedule a tour to learn more and see a schedule of themes and dates.

We let imagination and curiosity lead the way at Wondercamp! From hands-on, project-based exploration to outdoor adventures and field trips, our summer camp is designed to provide children with engaging, fun-filled experiences they’ll remember all year long. Our early education teachers are experienced camp guides and customize the experience for each child based on age, skills, and interests.

Our summer camp nurtures children’s growth by blending educational themes with hands-on activities that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in a fun, engaging environment. The Wondercamp experience includes 10 unique weekly themes known as Wonder Weeks to keep things fresh, exciting, and interesting. This method keeps children engaged and eager for each new exploration.

At every school, safety is always our top priority. We follow strict protocols, including trained staff supervision, secure facilities, and adherence to state licensing requirements to ensure your child’s well-being during every activity. That includes extra safety measures to minimize risks on our playgrounds and matching Wondercamp shirts for field trips (which may be part of the summer camp experience for older children).

Make sure they have a labeled water bottle for personal use each day. It’s also a good idea to keep an extra set of clothes on hand, just in case! Accidents happen and we love to make creative messes as we explore various topics and themes. Your school will notify families of any additional items needed for special summer camp days. We provide healthy, delicious food for your child to enjoy during the full-day experience, so there’s no need to pack.

Plan to dress your child in comfortable, weather-appropriate play clothes. When you enroll in Wondercamp, we provide two branded T-shirts so your child can attend summer camp in style (and match other students during potential field trip opportunities). To ensure safe play, children must wear closed-toed shoes such as sneakers. Open-toed shoes, sandals, or flip-flops are not permitted.

Yes, families must complete a consent form to provide sunscreen and insect repellent for their children. Talk to your Director for more information.