Parents Page

        I have twins that have just turned four. I have had a sitter in the home until four months ago. Like many parents, I am very protective of them. I knew that they needed structure and socialization. I enrolled them at Humpty Dumpty Learning Center and I have realized that they are getting so much more. While our sitter was amazing, I realize how valuable the structure, organization, and routine has been for the kids.
     They are learning so much more than numbers and ABC's. From the first day I was impressed that the teachers gave them responsibilities. Additionally, they reinforce what we, as parents, have tried to instill in them at home, as far as manners, sharing, responsibility, etc.
        I have seen a noticeable difference in their vocabulary and comprehension in just 3 ½ months. I definitely feel that this will prepare them for elementary school. HDLC has been doing this for a long time and it shows! They know children and how to nurture children's development. And equally important, my kids love it there!

Shawna Fiorentino- mother of Enzo and Arianna

I had to return to work when our daughter, Lily, was just 10 weeks old. Needless to say, I was experiencing tremendous anxiety about this for a number of reasons, but mostly because I was going to have to leave my little girl, my brand new baby, with virtual strangers. I was a wreck! My husband and I had originally arranged to take Lily to an in-home daycare; however, at the 11th hour those arrangements fell through. Now I was REALLY worried! But after randomly seeing a photo in the newspaper announcing that HDLC was opening a second nursery one morning, I decided it was worth a phone call. Well, let me just say that to this day it was the best phone call I ever decided to make. The administrative staff was a blessing and worked double-time to figure out a way to make room for Lily in one of their nurseries for five days a week care. That was it - childcare problem solved - Lily was set to attend Humpty Dumpty. I was still a nervous wreck!

To make a long story short, Lily began at Humpty Dumpty at age 10 weeks. She is now 10 months, and everyday has been wonderful. She loves her teachers and her friends, and she is thriving in the center-based environment that HDLC offers. Being the crazy first-time mother that I am, I still religiously call to check in on her everyday at lunch, and the staff is always more than willing to give me an update on her day - something that not many other places would likely continue to do. But that's the difference - they understand that I'm a new parent, and that I love my daughter more than anything in this world, and that I worry about her. Constantly. But they make it easier for me to worry just a little less from 7-4, M-F, while she's in their care.

All I can say to those parents out there struggling with the plethora of issues that surround childcare is this - Humpty Dumpty is amazing; the facility, the staff, the other families - they are all amazing. I truly wish some days that Lily could continue at HDLC until her high school graduation!

Mia Cross

Being the parent of a 1 and 3 year old is such a joy -you don't want to miss a minute. I found Humpty Dumptywhen my 1 year old was just 10 weeks old. My daughterspent her first 2 years with just grandparents and alittle bit of certified home daycare. I was so nervous toput my baby in a pre-school setting so young, but puttingour son in those wonderful women's care was one of thegreatest decisions we've made. While I still missed himeach day, the report I got at the end of the day is such arelief. I immediately felt so secure that my precious babywas loved and nurtured in addition to taking care of hisbasic needs. Their careful attention to what parents needas well as the children is second to none. We put ourdaughter in Humpty Dumpty within a few weeks of startingour son there - and they both absolutely love it and arejust growing leaps and bounds in ways we never imagined.My husband and I expect and demand the best for ourchildren - their days should be filled with FUN, learning,and encouragement in a safe, clean environment - bothindoors and out. Wouldn't dream of sending our kidsanywhere else!
Samantha and Darren Isom

Developmental Needs

    I often receive emails, articles, books with interesting, and sometimes controversial, information that I have wanted to share with staff and parents. I thought our Parents' Page might be an appropriate venue to share this information with you, our HDLC Parents and with parents who are surfing the web for quality care/education for their child(ren). So, here goes!

    Carol Copple, author of Growing Minds: Building Cognitive Foundations in early Childhood, describes a young child's developmental needs/stages as such:

         "Young infants (birth-9 months) seek security.   Mobile infants (8-18 months) engage in exploration, and Toddlers (16-36 months) form their identity …."

     As you can see, the ages overlap because children develop at different rates. Her assessment matches our philosophy at Humpty Dumpty Learning Center, which manifests in our divisions of Nurseries based on developmental stages.

     Being a psyc major, I am brought back to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.

The basis of Maslow's theory of motivation is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs. Needs must be met from the bottom up. He also acknowledges that "esteem" and "self-actualization" are not sharply divided, but are inter-related. (Abraham Maslow- Motivation and Personality- 1954).

    At HDLC we focus on meeting each child's basic needs (physiological and safety for Maslow/Coppler's security) so he/she can move onto fulfilling the next level- social needs. Our "wee ones" do this through exploration (Coppler). Toddlers and PreSchoolers engage in play on the road to meeting their social needs.

     The importance of play cannot be under-stated. Play will be my next topic. Feel free to provide feedback through our "contact us" button that connects you to email.

Ms. Dalene