Cactus Blossom Child Care, Benson

Curriculum/Activities: Some of our activities include: Seasonal gardening (weather permitting) with the basics of: Digging and creating placements in soil Planting seeds/plant starts Spacing seeds Watering and checking in on growing seedlings Correct harvesting methods for different vegetables and fruits. No screen time. Encouragement of daily outdoor activity Daily music time with singing and dance/movement. Ambient Classical music during mealtimes. Daily story-time Scheduled morning and afternoon "quiet time"/nap-times Education-driven crafts: Intro to various culture: music, art and food. Intro to food prep. Intro to textiles. Process art and product art. Encouragement of guided "free-learning" Introductory science. Introductory math. Fun team-building and collaborative crafts and activities. Encouragement of sanitation and establishment of good hygiene habits through daily hand-washing before and after meals, using the restroom and diaper changing. Meals: Here at Cactus Blossom Childcare, we believe that food has a substantial impact on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of your child. And its because of this conviction that we strive to provide high-quality, home-cooked, non-GMO and gluten-free foods every day. When available, we make an effort to source our foods locally and organically: from our own family's grass-fed and finished beef and pastured pork to locally raised free-range chicken and farm fresh eggs and available organically grown fruits and vegetables.. We serve two full, home-cooked meals per day (included in the price) Breakfast from 8:30am to 9:30am Lunch from 12:30 pm to 1:30pm. We also have plenty of healthy snacks and drinks on hand and encourage healthy choices by providing a variety of fruits, vegetables, protein and fiber for your child. Berkey-filtered water is provided and accessible at all times. Additionally, we encourage fun and comfortable "family-style meals" and will guide children in basic table etiquette, passing food dishes, setting the table for meals, and correct utensil usage. While this style of dining may extend the duration of meals by another 1/2 hour or so, children love this method of eating meals, and they become prepared and their self-confidence increases at a young age for situations like this in their futures. Facility: Indoor carpeted open floor plan with high visibility from one room to the next and providing lots of space for little ones. Non-wifi environment (electronics are simply hardwired to minimize low-level radio-frequencies to young children and infants) No harsh chemical cleaning agents. Solutions are all-natural and free of synthetic fragrances. Monthly steam cleaning to continue to provide a sanitary play/learning area. Separate craft room with supplies for art, crafts, textiles. Dining area with kid-sized table, benches and high chairs for family style meals. Wide variety of toys and educational material suited for the different ages of young children to encourage gross and fine motor skills and a love of exploration. Separate infant room with individual cribs (with firm mattresses to reduce the risk of SIDS) w/ amenities for breastfeeding mothers--as well as refrigerated storage for breast-milk/infant formula bottles. Each toddler will be supplied with his/her own sleep mat with bedding which is kept clean and washed weekly. Individualized cubby storage bins for each child's shoes, and outerwear. Outside Facility: Outdoor deck and play area over 2000 sq. feet, complete with gated and secure fence. Coming soon: Outdoor climbing equipment, toys and jungle gym! Teachers: Louisa Foreman Daycare Provider and Event Coordinator Possessing a passion for childcare, Louisa enjoys providing a fun and nurturing environment for young children and a safe and gentle atmosphere for infants. An avid music-lover and holistic health enthusiast, Louisa feels privileged to be able to work with children and create a place that encourages learning, exploration and growth. Grace Foreman Assistant Staff Member and Activities Coordinator Grace's fun-loving nature and high energy enthusiasm makes her a perfect fit for older toddlers and pre-K kids, as well as an exciting leader in physical activities like dance and movement, large-motor skills, sports, outdoor exploration and free-play. Some of her favorite pastimes include volleyball, guitar, physical fitness, fashion and early child-hood development.