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Amanda's Place |
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Frequently Asked Questions….
What is Amanda’s Place? Amanda’s Place is a Mommy and Me and Daddy and Me program ages birth through 36 months.
What do you do in the classes? Classes are 90 minutes long. They are broken into 30 minutes segments or there about. The first 30 minutes the classrooms are set up for the children to play and explore. The mat has activities that stimulate all the senses. You and your child might be rolling cars up and down a ramp, what happens? There is also an opportunity to do an art project. When children are very young the mother is doing the art, which might include your child’s footprints! As the children grow, they begin to take a more active part in the art process. The next 30 minutes you are involved in music. We do songs with a variety of props. You will sing our famous “Amanda’s Place” song while rolling or bouncing your child on a beach ball, next you may sing “BINGO” using puppets, or even sing “Ring Around the Rosie” and falling down with your child. This is a wonderful way to increase your child’s vocabulary, listening to and following directions. The last 30 minutes we are reading a story to the children, we want to install an early love of reading. We then move onto class discussions for the parents. We have a variety of topics that we offer for discussion such as “Public Image of Parenting’, ‘Winning Ways to Speak to Children’ and many, many more. If you are having a difficult time with something, please let your teacher know and we’ll try to help you. That’s our goal, to help you become a better parent.
What do I bring to class? All you need is a pair of socks for yourself and your child. If your child is in the 0 – 6 month class, please bring a blanket to lay them on.
Are there make-up classes? We do not offer make-up classes here.
Do class days and times ever change? No our class schedules stay the same.
Are classes prorated? No
Is there a sliding scale for payments? A sliding scale fee is in place for enrollment of students in Amanda’s Place. This is based on student’s income level. Students may qualify to have all fees waived or be charged the current registration fee and the lab fee. WAGES recipients, Food Stamp recipients, and WIC clients are eligible. Income verification including pay stubs or income tax returns will be needed. Please call for more information and family size income levels breakdown.
Can I bring guests? Yes, we ask that you let us know. They must also be 18 years of age or older.
I’ll be out of town, can Grandma bring my child? No, only the parents may bring the child to class. Grandma can come with you though.
What if I have to come late or leave early from class? That’s no problem, we just want you to come as you can.
I can only come 1 day a week, is that okay? Yes, we love to have you here!
When do you close? We follow Broward County School Boards schedule. If they close for a holiday, teacher workday or hurricane, we do too.
Are there any “extras” that you offer? Yes, we have our annual Halloween Party and Spring Picnic. We have the famous Mr. Al come and give a free concert to our parents and children. Don’t miss our 3 year olds as they graduate at the end of the year. We offer Car Seat Safety checks, guest speakers and play dates for you to go and meet your friends. “Parents Night Out” is our annual fund raiser.
Is there a waiting list? Yes, there is a waiting list. Please call and have us add your name so that we can get you into the program as soon as possible. We will need your name, child’s name and date of birth, phone numbers and classes that you would like.
How do I register for class? You need to call us and have your name added to our sign-up sheets. If there is room in a class, your next step would be to go to Dave Thomas Education Center and pay for your class.
My child is 10 months old and crawling, I want to move to the next class, a walking class, to be with my friends. Can I? No, we move children according to the developmental stage that they are at. It would not be safe for your child to be in the class with your friends.
Can I visit before I register? You are welcome to come and see our classrooms, but you CAN NOT bring your child with you. We are following Broward County School Board’s policy on observations.
Sibling Class Questions…
What is your Sibling program? We offer a fun, safe, loving place for your older child to go and play while you are enjoying your baby in a different classroom. This is a wonderful bridge to pre-school for your older child. How do I know that my Sibling is okay without me? We use radios to communicate between the classrooms. If you need to take your child to the bathroom or change a diaper, the teacher will call and let you know. Your Sibling is only a radio call away from you while growing in their own independence.
What does the Sibling do in class? The first 30 – 45 minutes are open play, arts and crafts time. Then they clean up and have snack time. From there they transition to Circle Time with interactive music with props. Winding down, it’s now story time. As they are waiting for mom to come, they receive their stamps and stickers for class.
How old does my older sibling have to be? They must be 2 years of age to start. The ages of children run 2 – 5 years of age.
When is the Sibling program over? When the baby turns 1 year of age or is walking.
Sibling Class Rules
Drop off routine – Open the classroom door and lead your child in. Please sign the class roster before leaving the room. This may be your child’s first experience being separated from you. To make this transition a positive one, give your child a quick kiss and reassure them that you will be back to pick them up in a short while. In the beginning there may be a few tears, but as you consistently come to class, you will find that the tears will soon fade and your child will enjoy their independence. During class time feel free to peek in the window, but please refrain from opening the door, as this will disrupt the children.
Pick up routine – Your infant room teacher will dismiss you five minutes early to pick up your sibling. Please stand in the hallway and wait until the teacher opens the door and dismisses the children.
Potty training – If your child is potty training, please stop at bathroom before coming to class. Our bathrooms are set up with potty seats, wipes and books to help your child feel comfortable. Please explain to your child that he must tell the teacher if he needs to use the bathroom. We have walkie-talkies so that the sibling teacher can contact you at any time to walk your child to the bathroom.
Personal toys – Please leave all personal toys in the car. If your child is having separation anxieties, the teacher may ask you to bring a favorite stuffed animal for comfort.
Snack time – our class has a small snack of juice and crackers or cookies. Please let the teacher know if your child has any food allergies or a special diet. If you want your child to have a drink other than juice, you may bring in a sippy cup with their name on it. We ask that each parent bring in one large snack item per session. When snacks are running low, the teacher will post a “Sibling Wishing Tree” at the door. Please feel free to pick an apple off the tree.