Happy Anniversary Carelot! 🎉

Wow! It's incredible to reflect on 26 years of Carelot and celebrate with such a heartwarming Family Night. Seeing all our families and children come together over pizza, cupcakes, and crafts fills us with immense joy. We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff and wonderful families for shaping Carelot into the nurturing community it is today. It's truly remarkable to witness former students now part of our Carelot family as employees!

As we gear up for St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, we anticipate the mischievous antics of "Lucky the Leprechaun" to bring some festive fun to our centers. Remember to don your finest green attire for the occasion!

March marks Youth Art Month, a time for our classrooms to delve into the world of artistry. From exploring different artists to experimenting with various mediums and terminology, our young learners will prepare for an exciting Art show scheduled for April during the Week of the Young Child.

With spring fever in the air, thoughts naturally drift towards summer. Our camp programs are underway with thrilling theme weeks in the pipeline, including the anticipation of field trips and engaging programming for our children.

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Now, let's delve into the importance of routines for our children.

Routines, though they may seem mundane to adults, are a cornerstone of stability and security for children. They provide a sense of safety, comfort, and control, helping them navigate their day with confidence. From morning rituals to mealtimes and bedtime routines, consistency fosters independence and responsibility in our little ones.

At Carelot, we prioritize maintaining daily schedules and routines to provide a reassuring environment for our children. By knowing what to expect and what's expected of them, they thrive in a structured setting that encourages growth and development.

As always, your feedback is invaluable to us. If you have any suggestions or ideas you'd like to share, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at holly@carelot.net. Your input helps us continually improve and tailor our offerings to meet your needs.

Thank you for being part of the Carelot family, where every milestone is cherished, and every day is an opportunity for growth and discovery.

We want to kindly remind you of our center's opening and closing times. Due to licensing regulations and staffing constraints, we are unable to accommodate children before our official opening time. The same policy applies to our closing time.

For instance, if our center closes at 5:30pm, we kindly ask that you plan accordingly to ensure that you pick up your child and exit the premises by 5:30pm.

Additionally, we'd like to emphasize that many of our staff members have families, second jobs, or schooling commitments. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation in respecting their time as well.

If there are any adjustments needed to your contracted hours or if you anticipate exceeding the agreed-upon time, we urge you to communicate with your program's site manager or director. All changes must be arranged in advance to allow us to make necessary staffing arrangements effectively.

Your understanding and cooperation in adhering to these procedures are greatly appreciated as they contribute to the smooth operation of our programs and the quality of care provided to all children.

Attendance

If your child is going to be absent or late, we ask that you call the center by 9am. This allows our teachers to be prepared for their day and allows for easier transitions or curriculum changes.

Bedding

We kindly ask that you are placing your child’s bedding on their own cots! Please help us meet this state requirement.

Handwashing: Help us out by washing your child’s hands each day when you drop them off to help eliminate the spread of germs.

The following ideas are of value to almost any sleeper, of any age. These tips can bring improvement not only in your child’s sleep, but also in her daytime mood and last, but not least – improvements in your own sleep and outlook as well.

1. Maintain a consistent bedtime and awaking time.

   Your child’s biological clock has a strong influence on her wakefulness and sleepiness. When you establish a set time for bedtime and wake up time you "set" your child’s clock so that it functions smoothly.

   Aim for an early bedtime. Young children respond best with a bedtime between 6:30 and 7:30 P.M. Most children will sleep better and longer when they go to bed early.

2. Encourage regular daily naps.

   Daily naps are important. An energetic child can find it difficult to go through the day without a rest break. A nap-less child will often wake up cheerful and become progressively fussier or hyper-alert as the day goes on. Also, the length and quality of naps affects night sleep – good naps equal better night sleep.

3. Set your child’s biological clock.

   Take advantage of your child’s biology so that he’s actually tired when bedtime arrives. Darkness causes an increase in the release of the body’s sleep hormone -- the biological "stop" button. You can align your child’s sleepiness with bedtime by dimming the lights during the hour before bedtime.

   Exposing your child to morning light is pushing the "go" button in her brain — one that says, "Time to wake up and be active." So keep your mornings bright!

4. Develop a consistent bedtime routine.

   Routines create security. A consistent, peaceful bedtime routine allows your child to transition from the motion of the day to the tranquil state of sleep.

   An organized routine helps you coordinate the specifics: bath, pajamas, tooth-brushing. It helps you to function on auto-pilot at the time when you are most tired and least creative.

5. Create a cozy sleep environment.

   Where your child sleeps can be a key to quality sleep. Make certain the mattress is comfortable, the blankets are warm, the room temperature is right, pajamas are comfy, and the bedroom is welcoming.

6. Provide the right nutrition.

   Foods can affect energy level and sleepiness. Carbohydrates can have a calming effect on the body, while foods high in protein or sugar generate alertness, particularly when eaten alone. A few ideas for pre-bed snacks are: whole wheat toast and cheese, bagel and peanut butter, oatmeal with bananas, or yogurt and low-sugar granola.

   Vitamin deficiencies due to unhealthy food choices can affect a child’s sleep. Provide your child with a daily assortment of healthy foods.

7. Help your child to be healthy and fit.

   Many children don’t get enough daily physical activity. Too much TV watching and a lack of activity prevents good sleep. Children who get ample daily exercise fall asleep more quickly, sleep better, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed.

   Avoid activity in the hour before bedtime though, since exercise is stimulating – they’ll be jumping on the bed instead of sleeping in it!

8. Teach your child how to relax.

   Many children get in bed but aren’t sure what to do when they get there! It can help to follow a soothing pre-bed routine that creates sleepiness. A good pre-bed ritual is story time. A child who is listening to a parent read a book or tell a tale will tend to lie still and listen. This quiet stillness allows him to become sleepy.

Work with these eight ideas and you’ll see improvements in your child’s sleep, and yours too.

Excerpted with permission by McGraw-Hill Publishing from The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers (McGraw-Hill 2005) http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth

February - "If you could describe Carelot in ONE word what would it be?"

We had only 2 responses to our question of the month contest! So it is a double win for these families!

Congratulations to: Narciss G. of Waterford (Isla) and Angela M. of Brooklyn (Rosalee)

It's easy to win by just emailing us an answer! $25 tuition credit!

It's easy to win by clicking below and submitting your answer!

Thanks for helping us make our programs better! Without everyone’s input, we are not able to effectively assess how our programs are doing! We appreciate you taking the time to help us assess our policies, procedures, curriculum, and more!

February was filled with so much learning about our community! The children learned about Drs, Nurses, Grocers, Chefs, Vets, Police, Fire, EMT and so much more! Talk to your child about the amazing people that live in your community!

Carelot’s Curriculum is designed for the children to develop each child as a whole. Lesson plans are developed using the Creative Curriculum aligned with the CTELDS and we use Focused Portfolios to assess your child’s growth and development along with the CT DOTS program.

Our Preschool Curriculum is designed to follow the state standards and enhanced with additional curriculum elements for the children to thrive and grow!

We are proud to teach your children daily when they are in our care!

• shaving cream
• paper plates
• gardening supplies
• old working iphones or ipads
• paper bags
• seeds
• egg dye kits

"Building Strong Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning"

Providing education to Children ages 3 months to 12 years!

Email: adminassist@carelot.net
Website: www.carelot.net
Location: 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT, United States
Phone: 860-739-1993
Facebook: facebook.com/carelotctr