Childcare South Bend - Read Our FAQs | Growing Kids Learning Center

What are the ages and hours of care?

The specific services offered and operating hours vary by location. To confirm what services and hours of operation of the Growing Kids center you are interested in, call the school or check out the Find a Center page. All Growing Kids centers provide care Monday – Friday, every week of the year. Services generally include care for children 6 weeks old through after-school age (about 12 years old).

Do you have an educational program?

Yes, we have an educational program in place for every age child enrolled at Growing Kids, including infants and toddlers. We have professionally developed curriculum materials available for the classroom teachers to prepare weekly lesson plans. The goal is to help the children realize their full potential at every stage of development, understanding that every child is unique. We believe, as most experts do, that early childhood education is a balance between child-directed and teacher-directed educational experiences. This is different than some “academic” programs where there are more teacher-directed activities and less child-directed ones. We are happy to show you our Educational Philosophy and sample lesson plans.

How will Growing Kids teach my child?

Learning for a young child looks a lot like play, because that’s what it is. Active play activities, under the supervision and guidance of our trained teachers, foster a child’s natural sense of curiosity, independence, and self-confidence. With an interesting and engaging lesson plan, the children naturally want to see what is happening, figure it out, and then try it themselves. Without even knowing it, they have made an observation, problem-solved, and reinforced a new skill or behavior.

What will my child learn?

This depends on the age and developmental stage of the child. Each child is unique and develops at his/her own pace across the different areas of development – physical, social, emotional, and cognitive. We use generally accepted expectations of child development to guide our lessons and activities.

What is Growing Kids “Main Street?”

Besides being a lot of fun, Main Street is a Growing Kids exclusive learning environment. It is a large room with child-size storefronts, an upper deck, a slide, and a ball pit. Main Street plays a key part in our educational program where children learn through hands-on play activities. While the kids are running and playing, they are really learning on many levels – including physical development, role-playing, pretending, problem-solving, and social development. Unlike the tubes you often see at fast food restaurants where the kids run around for a while and then get tired of it, Main Street is an open ended learning experience that grows in complexity with the development of the kids and they always have fun (even big kids like mom & dad).

How will you keep my child safe?

Growing Kids exceeds the highest state safety requirements and we continue to improve our safety measures. While the complete list is very long, here are some examples. We build safety into our buildings, including limited access and a locked front door, all classrooms have interior windows for parents to look in, all classrooms have closed-circuit audio / video cameras, all classrooms have telephone / intercoms, all playgrounds have safety surfacing and are completely fenced in. Our staff and procedures improve safety, including all staff trained in CPR, First Aid, Universal Precautions, and Child Abuse / Neglect Detection. Teachers work in 2 person teams to reinforce each other’s strengths. A full-time Director and full-time Assistant Director are available to provide the teachers and parents with any needed support. Student immunizations are kept current and our sick policy is enforced.

What are the teachers’ qualifications and experience?

First and foremost, we look for people who enjoy working with and relate well with young children. We look for teachers with education and / or experience with young children. We provide on-going training for all staff members and encourage our teachers to continue their formal education with a CDA (Child Development Associate credential), an Associates or Bachelors degree. To find and keep good teachers, we use specialized methods like the Scheig Hiring and Assessment System, which compare our teachers’ performance to the highest national standards for preschool teachers. Our employee benefits program is very competitive in the industry, including health insurance, life insurance, paid vacation, paid sick, paid holiday, flexible scheduling, financial planning assistance, and a variety of supplemental insurance plans.

What would a typical day be for my child?

It depends on the age of your child. All classes (including infants and toddlers) have a specific class schedule, posted in the classroom. In general, the schedule for the day is planned to provide your child with time for group and individual activities, and provide a variety of settings (classroom, Main Street, outside playground, etc).

What if my child does not like to nap?

We are required to provide a quiet time during the day after lunch for the children to rest (Preschoolers and younger). Many kids are tired after a busy morning and lunch. After we encourage them to rest for a while, the children who aren’t napping are provided quiet activities while their classmates sleep.

What if I am not sure right now?

Take your time. It is important for you to feel comfortable in your decision. We are available to answer your questions about Growing Kids or childcare in general. Please understand that enrollment availabilities can change quickly. We are unable to hold an enrollment position open while you decide. This is not meant to pressure your decision, but to help you understand your options.

Can I come in for a tour and then come back later?

Sure. You can tour the school as often as you like. Some parents prefer to re-tour with their spouse, a friend, grandparent, their child – It’s OK with us. Or, perhaps this is not the best time to change providers, and you would like to reconsider a little later. That’s fine, too.

How do I enroll my child?

Please call the center of your choice to talk with the director. And click here to get an enrollment application form.

What if I want to enroll, but there are no openings at this time?

If you want to enroll your child, but the director has told you there are no openings when you want to start, we will place your child’s name on our waiting list. We’ll do everything in our power to have an enrollment spot available when you want to start.

How much does it cost?

Growing Kids rates and fees are clearly explained on the Tuition Agreement form. No hidden charges for so-called extras (like breakfast). We believe in one simple price that covers just about everything so that is it simple and fair for parents. If you have any questions about our charges or payment policies, please ask.

FAQs