A Keystone 3 STAR Center

As a teaching daycare, Little People Day Care School of Columbia cares for the basic needs and security of your child - plus much more. The school acts on the growing understanding that early childhood education has an enduring, positive, and profound impact upon a child later in life.

When children in their earliest years are exposed to many and varied experiences, healthy social contacts, and skillful guidance, they will most likely enjoy the most desirable kind of overall growth. Little People Day Care School of Columbia's faculty is well prepared to work hand-in-hand with parents and guardians to ensure a good beginning.

Learning programs combine structured and independent activities, large- and small-group interaction, and educational curricula that are reviewed regularly for effectiveness. Each child is valued as an individual with unique abilities and interests and is presented with opportunities to learn in an environment that builds self-esteem.

Little People Day Care School of Columbia has established qualifications for its faculty that exceed those required by the Department of Public Welfare. The daycare school also provides a large selection of educational resources facilitated by the Director of Education for employee development.

The school's faculty includes certified teachers, one each for the three-year-old, four-year-old, and kindergarten programs. Other teachers are required to have at least an associate degree in early childhood, a certificate in child development from the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center or similar facility, or at least two years of childcare experience.

The administrators and faculty of Little People Day Care School of Columbia place a high value on keeping in touch with parents of children enrolled in the school. Parents are encouraged to visit often and to share their skills and talents at the daycare school.

Through regular communication, both verbal and written, the faculty keep you informed on your child's growth, emotional status, and general well being. Daily, weekly and bi-weekly written communication provides information about classroom activities and special events. Week-at-a-Glance postings in the parent information center describe the activities each day during the week. Formal evaluations and growth profiles are maintained for each development level and shared routinely with the parents.

An open door policy invites parents to share their positive feedback and discuss any concerns with the director. Each year, a Parent Satisfaction Survey is conducted.

At Little People Day Care School of Columbia, we recognize that positive discipline teaches and encourages the healthy development of a child's self-esteem. Our caregivers praise and call attention to appropriate behavior and act as good role models in order to influence and reinforce a child positively. Limits are set that are developmentally appropriate and consistently enforced.

The method of discipline used by Little People staff for our very young children is "redirection." For children ages 2 years and older, "1,2,3 - MAGIC" is the approach used. This method is a very positive approach which offers a child the opportunity to correct the inappropriate action without loss to his or her self-esteem. "1,2,3 - MAGIC" helps the child to gain self-control in a non-confrontational approach. Parents are encouraged to view the "1-2-3 - MAGIC" training video so the approach can be implemented at home if desired.