enlightened-play-preschools

Nature Everyday

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:40:14 GMT

At our Caring Connection Children’s Centers, we are thrilled to have each season to

build enrollment and develop our curriculum

and teachers’ skills.

We are always surprised in the the way each day unfolds for each child it’s a new experience. That is what our goal is to give each child his or her

own personal experience in a community of their peers.

Whether learning about the cycle of the butterfly

or experiencing the beauty of colors

and spring light. All learning in every season cracks open new ideas, new wonders, new questions and contemplation. With each question comes a storm of new language to introduce. With each discovery comes answers and conclusions to developing critical thinking.

Even during our meals, we are creating

science and art and exploring simple things

in new ways. We are understanding the importance of nutrition for our body, learning how to develop our palette to new tastes and ideas. We are understanding that I am not the only hungry child, but so are me peers, the boy to my left and the girl to my right.

While building skills and filling the room with scent

…more awareness and discovery.

Light, color and the blending of

these things keep minds growing

and hands working.

As our campuses moves through this season

and the children move forward into the next season of their young lives,

we are so grateful to have shared this time with them.

A Safe, Kind & Clean Story to Share

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:34:32 GMT

Little Scarlett Riding Hood,

A girl of five years old,

Lived deep within the forest,

In a cottage trimmed with gold,

She loved her mom she loved her home,

She loved her dear sweet dad,

But then one day she got a call,

That made her very sad.

It was her Grammy who lived in town,

She had caught the flu,

“I’m sorry dear I meant to come,

And spend the day with you,

Alas I’m here home in bed,

The doctor thinks it best,

The woodsy walk is much too long,

And I must get some rest.”

Little Scarlett thought and thought,

A plan began to stir,

“If Grammy cannot come to me,

Then I will go to her.”

She baked some treats and packed them up,

The kind that Grammy liked,

Put on her cloak and off she went,

To set out on her hike.

Not long had passed but on her way,

A crying could be heard,

She looked up high and saw it was,

A little captured bird.

Scarlett knew what she must do,

The bird was in a bind,

Like her teachers taught at school,

Be clean, be safe, be kind.

She climbed the tree and freed the bird,

Who thanked her with a tweet,

“Why I must say dear hooded girl,

That was very sweet.”

Sometime later on her way,

Down further on the path,

She saw a bug stuck in the mud,

In big need of a bath.

She scooped down low to pick it up,

A fragile little thing,

With her cloak she rubbed the mud,

Off both its tiny wings.

“Oh my! I’m free!” It said with joy,

Whizzing to and fro,

“My thanks to you for I am late,

And really have to go”.

Further still she came across,

A river deep and wide.

“Oh no!” She cried for the crossing bridge,

Had snapped on either side,

“What will I do?” She said with woe,

“How will I get across?”

And then she saw them red and white,

Toadstools in the moss.

Safely she grabbed the biggest cap,

And set herself afloat,

She bobbed across to the other side,

In her clever little boat.

Finally she saw the house,

She ran and burst inside,

Grammy hugged her little dear,

And smiled oh so wide.

They shared the treats, they laughed and talked,

Long into the night,

And Scarlett spoke to Grammy,

Of her bravery and might,

At last they heard the midnight bell,

That chimed from Tower Square;

Grammy tucked her into bed,

And kissed her lovely hair,

“Goodnight sweet girl.” She said to her,

“Sweet dreams to you I send.”

Until your next adventure,

I’m afraid this is…

The End

(This story is an edited version of a story written by Rose Sathe Alm, Assistant Director and Teacher at Caring Connection, Midtown)

www.caringconnectionchildrenscenter.com

Dedicated to Scarlett B. who leaves for kindergarten 2015

A Mixed Blend

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 23:20:02 GMT

A Mixed Blend: Montessori, Reggio, Waldorf, Nature Play-Based and More!

As parents, you’ve heard the names: Montessori, Reggio Amelio, Waldorf and Nature Based just to name a few. They imply prestige, the ivy league of preschools or just a distinct vibe that you may relate to your parenting style. So why on earth would we mix them up? Are we confused? Hedging our bets? Unclear about our principles? Not at all. So why do we incorporate them all?

It’s the same reason you would not teach your child 10 letters of the alphabet and expect them to read well. It’s the same reason you would not serve only meat to your children, they require a balanced diet for a healthy body. Without beating this point too hard, at Caring Connection Children’s Center we marvel in the uniqueness of many styles and philosophies of teaching young children.

But we more marvel at the need for children to find their own style, their own pace and what will bring their personal learning and desire for learning to the highest level. That’s what we want, that’s what we believe parents want. We all want to find the right opportunities for our children to fully become themselves and feel at ease doing so.

So learn more about how we “mix it up” at Caring Connection Children’s Centers

Waiting Lists….What’s the Deal??

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 23:15:58 GMT

It must be so infuriating and so nerve-wracking to be a parent who needs to work (or go to school) and they cannot find a preschool or child care center that has an opening for their precious child. I know that many preschools use expressions like, “we have a six year waiting list”. At Caring Connection we find this expression really silly. Parents need to work NOW, need to find alternate care NOW, have moved from another state and need a preschool home NOW…or at least in a reasonable period of time.

Let’s face it, in six years that child is no longer on the long waiting list – they are in elementary school!

So, what we do is to:

1. Meet the needs and change requests within our centers first;

2. Contact those who have called or put their names on our online waiting list.

3. But, a hungry bird gets fed first. What I mean by that is, parents who return calls, keep us posted, visit and tour….are going to be responded to faster.

When we have a space available, it may not even be the schedule that a parent wants – it is offered- then we move on to the next person. We are a very small center and we can only accommodate a few children in each age group. Children and their groups are not static. Children’s ages, development and readiness are fluid. The parents in our schools are served first, so if a current parent’s schedule changes they will get the space faster, alternatively their schedule change reflect an opening in a new group. We have to allow for outgoing children and incoming young children to maintain a balance of ages in our center, too. As I said, our enrollment is a living organism, like our center.

We ask that parents and visitors understand that when we call you for a potential opening, there are no guarantees until your child is enrolled.

And as I write this, I realize…their are no guarantees in life.

So, let’s all take a deep breath and know that it will all work out okay.

A VERY LIVING TRIBUTE TO MY MENTOR, NANCY AITKEN

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 23:10:50 GMT

There comes a time when you consider the most important people in your life. It is currently during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 Virus that I write this tribute to Nancy Aitken. Take my advice and think of who you owe a debt of gratitude to.

I want to make sure that I devote a blog to my Mentor: Nancy Aitken.

Nancy Aitken has been the owner of Busy Bee Nursery School in Sacramento, CA since 1968. Nancy drew me into her inner circle by seeing my budding potential. While I was speaking at an event to launch an entrepreneurial idea for a substitute service for preschool teachers, Nancy saw me as a good fit as a Director in her preschool. Although I was flattered, I was not qualified as a Director only a teacher.

As my Mentor, she gave me a ‘creative title’ and allowed me to work in that position while I finished my qualifying units and learned to become a Director, under her wise and supportive wing. She even let me continue to operate my substitute service from the desk in her office. No opportunity lost!

Nancy had already carved out a clear niche for her preschool style and beliefs and actively worked on relative legislation when I started working for her in 1982. For three years I worked hard for Nancy and for Busy Bee. She taught me how to treat children, how to allow them to learn on their own, how to relax and let them get messy. She taught me how to appreciate staff members and respect parents. I taught her how to organize a program, to manage full-time equivalencies and I brought strength to staffing expectations which balanced her empathy and commitment.

I was, however, still a free thinker – an entrepreneur- and hungered to develop my own program and be the leader of my own preschool. Nancy was with me! As I devised my own discipline philosophy (EnlightenedDiscipline.com) Nancy was there. She supported me in each attempt to open my own schools, one after the other. I opened three preschools under one company name – after great success, I made a few bad moves, then faced financial collapse. My dreams were lost. Those schools were ultimately closed or sold. But life moves on.

After a year of working outside of my beloved Early Education field. I was truly miserable. Nancy suggested me to a family member who owned a failing preschool location in a nearby community that I could start from scratch, once again. She said, “If anyone can do it, Julie Jenkins can!” That was 24 years ago. I once again opened MY program in a completely empty building, under a new business name. It was a dicey location, but Caring Connection Children’s Center opened in West Sacramento in 1996. With Nancy’s undying support I have been operating that location for nearly a quarter-century. Since then, three other Caring Connection locations have opened. Nancy has always been by my side for a visit, a quick lunch, a phone call or to prospect a possible new location. We have shared the aggravations in business, coffee at conferences, swapped toys and books; and discussed fears and worries of the childcare field. Even now, amid COVID-19, she and I are wondering together by phone how this will shake out for ECE Professionals and the families we serve.

We joined our Caring Connection staff with Nancy’s Busy Bee staff and surprised Nancy by celebrating her career and devotion to the ECE field at a combined Staff Training day in 2018. This was a tribute to her. Although our event was not public, it was important to me and incredibly touching to her. Nancy has since had to semi-retire and although she is nearby, does not have daily contact at her beloved Busy Bee, due to health issues.

Nancy gave me my first full-time manager’s salary at $900.00 per month – I was astounded! Nancy supported me when I didn’t have a car by letting me drive hers. She invited me to dinner when my husband was working nights, introduced me to Brie cheese, French roast coffee and to massages. Nancy paid for groceries for my first Caring Connection before revenue was consistent. Nancy gave me monetary and emotional support, in small and immeasurable ways that I endeavor to pass on to others. Most of all, she never relinquished her relationship with me. Through two divorces, bankruptcy, real estate conflicts, school closures, and tax debts…Nancy never gave up on me. Nor I her.

They say we never may know how you have affected someone in this life. I know and I will tell her: Nancy Aitken you have absolutely changed the course of my life. I am forever grateful. Be well, my friend. You are a hero to me!