Our Philosophy

At Mt. Ararat Day Care Center, our greatest priority is the happiness and safety of our children. Great care was taken in designing our classrooms so that our children will feel at home and have a great deal of fun as they are learning. Every toy, structure, costume, and instrument was hand-picked to provide an opportunity to learn through exploring. When you visit Mt. Ararat Day Care Center it becomes very apparent as your child walks in that they immediately are comfortable in our environment and make themselves at home.

We offer age-appropriate lessons and learning experiences throughout the day, free play that encourages children to learn as they are having fun, and a variety of structured class times that develops their knowledge of science, art, music, language and reading. They are also encouraged on a daily basis to exercise through playing. There is available on premises both an outdoor and indoor play area where they can run, bike, and work their muscles.

Our daily schedule includes nap time and 2 snacks and 1 hot meal. The meals provided to the children are prepared by a certified child nutritionist and meet the daily nutritional requirements for children. Menus are provided to parents in advance.

Curriculum

The children at the Center are assessed and taught using the Creative Curriculum model. The Creative Curriculum enhances social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. Goals and objectives for each of these developmental areas are organized into The Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum for Ages 3-5.

Knowing Infants, Toddlers, and Twos describes the social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development of children. It also discusses the characteristics and experiences that make each child unique, including temperament, life circumstances, dual language learning, and disabilities. It presents our goals and objectives for children and the Developmental Continuum, a tool for observing children's development and following their progress in relation to the 21 objectives.

For more information please visit www.creativecurriculum.net.

Spanish Classes

Children in our preschool classes spend some time during their class time learning Spanish as well as English words. This helps to enhance their vocabulary and is great exercise for their minds. Our Spanish language teacher works with the children in a small group teaching them greetings and several words. The children look forward to their time in this class and greet their teacher daily with a Spanish greeting.

Words of Wisdom

*The Charter for Illinois Children, Voices for Illinois Children, 1999

Childhood is a sacred time that should be nurtured, celebrated and preserved.

Children’s basic needs are family, safety, education, health, economic security, and arts, recreation and culture.

All children need to know they belong to loving families and caring communities.

Just as families must support children, communities must support families, and government and business must support both.

All children deserve safe homes, safe schools and safe communities.

Our children’s sense of hope and possibility requires equal access to appropriate resources.

Children are prepared for the future when we teach them and they learn to honor and respect diversity.

As children mature, we must seek their voices, engage them and recognize the freedom they need to shape their destinies.

Children can learn from their mistakes. They deserve systems that give them that opportunity.

Each child is unique.

Every child is entitled to respect.

We must never give up on any child.

Mt Ararat Daycare Center * 6514 W Higgins* Chicago * IL * 60656