Precious Moments Private Childcare

ABOUT PRECIOUS MOMENTS PRIVATE/HOME CHILDCARE

Hours Of Operations: Monday-Friday 730am-5pm (other days/times available upon arrangements)
Childcare Available For: All Ages Needed (infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school age)
Costs: ONE CHILD $25 per day/ $125 a week TWO CHILDREN $40 per day/ $ 200 a week SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN (Summer/Full Days) $20 per day/ $100 a week (Mornings715am & AfterSchool till 5pm) $15 a day/$75 a week (Only Mornings or Only AfterSchool) $10
***Receipts Available Upon Request

WHY CHOOSE A PRIVATE/HOME DAYCARE?
One of the advantages of using a private/home childcare is that your baby or child will be one of a small group, and the caregiver can therefore offer plenty of individual attention.
Private/ Home daycare usually have mixed age groups, which closely mirrors family life and may help your child learn to feel comfortable around older and younger children. It also makes it easier to care for all the children in a family, from babies to school age children. Often, caregivers look after children from babyhood through to secondary school, giving them a great sense of security and continuity.

Many parents like this family-friendly interaction, and often what starts out as a childcare arrangement becomes a strong friendship that lasts for years.

Taking your child to a home daycare can be the next best thing to your own home. If you're lucky enough to find a good caregiver close by, so much the better; your child will feel even more at home.


PRIVATE/HOME DAYCARE OFFERS FLEXIBILITY

From a practical viewpoint, caregivers can often be more flexible about pick-up and drop-off times. This extra flexibility may mean that you don't have to organize back up care as often and is particularly useful if you work shifts.

PRIVATE/HOME DAYCARE IS RUN BY PARENTS (usually)

Most caregivers are parents themselves, so you know you are leaving your child with someone familiar with the basics of baby and child care and who probably has a healthy dose of the parenting instinct as well as training.

ABOUT ME AND MY HOME

My name is Amanda. I am a mom of two. A beautiful healthy 2 year old boy and his recently new brother. I am a CERTIFIED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR and a former employee of Maggie’s Place. I recently moved to Amherst in 2013. My home is a cozy, child safe bungalow; with a fenced in back yard. I am a 2 minute walk from dickey park (which is equipped with plenty of open green grass, a splash park in the summer and an outdoor skating rink in the winter), the arena, and just up the road from Spring Street Academy. I look forward to providing you and your precious bundle of joy(s) with affordable, safe, and qualified childcare. As a mom, I know the stress of finding a safe and comfortable place for you to leave and trust your child is under safe care and guidance. I have a very warm and caring personality. I have been working in the childcare field for 10+ years. I know the importance of one on one interaction and look forward in supporting you and your child with as I help you with transitions, and your child, feel comfortable, explore, and grow into the unique and beautiful individuals they are. I look forward to hearing from you and answer any questions you may have. :)

PHILOSOPHY OF PRCIOUS MOMENTS PRIVATE/HOME CHILDCARE
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 730am-5pm (other times available upon arrangements)
“Are we forming children who are only capable of learning what is already known? Or, should we try to develop creative and innovative minds capable of discovery from the preschool age on through life" - Jean Piaget

We find Piaget's child-affirming theory to be enlightening, mentally challenging and well worth our attention. We know we can never teach everything that is known. Success in our rapidly changing world depends on being able to think creatively. My goal in the early years is to prime the child for a love of learning- to give the child the disposition to learn, and to engender the habits of being successful. These are the essential elements for nurturing the child as a learner.
90% of the brain is developed by age 5. Children need activity in order to keep their brains open to learning. Play provides children with the opportunity to actively explore, manipulate, and interact with the environment. Children learn best by doing, playing, trying out, and initiating. I believe it is okay for children to take appropriate risks and explore boundaries in a safe environment so they can experience everything life has to offer. I believe that children deserve the best care and learning opportunities to grow into healthy unique individuals.
My private home childcare is committed to providing support to children and families, enabling parents to contribute to the economy and ensuring the learning, care, and developmental needs of children are met. Through my day-to-day work, I as a qualified early childhood educator make a significant contribution to the development of children, and to the well-being of families and society.

Precious Moments goal is to enhance learning and development in children. By doing so, I expect the children will grow up to be independent and responsible individuals who respect themselves and are respectful and considerate of others; who have self-confidence to face the many challenges in life; and who will use their curiosity and creativity to experience life.
The greater community is vital to a child's development. Through local field trips and other community resources children can explore and experience other cultures and ideas of the world. It is through this sharing of ideas and problem solving that children will continue to grow into healthy adults.