St. Theresa School wants to be partners with the parents who entrust their infants to us, and we seek to earn that trust. The Infant Program seeks to provide a nurturing environment for 6-week to 12-month old babies. This full-time program allows the infants to develop a sense of security with the environment.

The Infant Room has an individual plan for each child. Since you, as parents, are the best suited to make the decisions about your child’s day at STS we will support your decision and follow your directives. Working together as a team between home and those in charge of the Infant Room is of vital importance since the needs of infants are ever-changing.

Since babies learn at an amazing rate from birth, they are aware of their environment and respond to it. Therefore, we provide loving, qualified caregivers who respond to the child’s needs, interacting with the little ones throughout the day. Basic actions such as reaching, grasping, kicking, holding, pulling, crawling, climbing, etc. are encouraged. Cognitively, the infants learn objective performance, spatial relationships, cause and effect. Through adult-child conversations, reading, fingerplays, songs and music, the infants are immersed in a language–rich environment. Each infant’s day is full of diverse, developmentally appropriate activities designed for the different stages of development.

Each infant is provided with its own crib. At feeding-time the younger babies are always held when having a bottle. When the child is ready for solid food, they are placed in individual highchairs to introduce and encourage self-feeding. When parents decide that their child is ready for finger food, snacks and other foods are sent from home to assure allergy control and basic food choices.

We provide gentle care to meet the daily needs of diapering, feeding, and sleeping. By working diligently to meet the infant’s basic needs, we create a healthy and safe environment. Caregivers view diapering and other times as a special opportunity to interact with the child, using a quiet tone of voice and talking with the child to insure trust. Each family is to provide the diapers, wipes, powders and ointments that they wish to be used by their child. Each infant is changed every two hours or more often if needed.

Although you are away from your child during the day, you will know what their day was like through the report you will receive at the end of each day. This report lets you know about diaper changes, feeding, naps and what your child did during the day at STS. The daily report supplements the oral report with your child’s caregiver. Our caregivers try to be available either at drop off or pick up times. 

Toddlers are beginning to explore and control their world. They are developing self-help skills, including feeding themselves, using the toilet, drinking from a cup and dressing themselves. At STS tables and chairs, cubbies, cots and shelves are designed for toddlers. Toilets and sinks are child-sized. Toddlers are encouraged to put on their own coats, shoes, and clothing. We believe that through patience and using small steps most toddlers can learn appropriate independence. A consistent, developmentally appropriate program of activities helps to nurture a “can-do” attitude.
The Toddler Room has materials that promote language development such as alphabet, phonics and early math materials. Toddlers experience art through many mediums, including crayons, markers, paint, fingerpainting, clay, etc. Art activities are child-directed, allowing for the development of actual skills and experiences by the child, as opposed to copying adult produced prototypes.

Large and small motor skills are improved and refined throughout the program. Manipulatives such as large Legos and puzzles are always available for the toddlers. Movement activities take place at circle time helping in the development of the child’s large motor skills. Playground equipment is age appropriate, allowing the Toddlers to climb, jump, slide, run and ride safely, always under adult supervision. Weather permitting, two-year old Toddlers play outside twice a day.

In the Toddler Room snack and lunch are a group activity. Each day there will be a morning and afternoon snack provided by the child’s parent. Children will also bring lunch from home so as to control allergies and food choices. Children learn how to behave in a socially correct manner and clean up when they have finished eating.

Naptime is in the early afternoon shortly after lunch. Each child is provided with a toddler-sized cot. Families are encouraged to send a blanket, small pillow and a stuffed toy, if desired. Lights are turned down and quiet music is played to help the children to rest. Caregivers are happy to rub backs to help the Toddlers to fall asleep. After resting on their cots for thirty minutes, a child who does not want to sleep is allowed to choose a quiet activity until naptime is over.