EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

 Happy Harbor provides quality early care and education for children three months through five years of age.  Having Infant, Toddler & Pre-Kindergarten programs within one center provides the continuity of care crucial to the optimum development of a child in his or her early years.

Our Early Care and Education is based on developmentally appropriate models, using currently accepted thought in the field as guidelines.  We are also committed to keeping this setting affordable to the working families we serve. 

Our goals are to provide a safe harbor for the children in our care, to provide a variety of educationally sound experiences, to help develop their bodies with nutritious food and appropriate levels of exercise, to help develop social skills and build a strong sense of self-esteem.

Our child-centered curriculum is balanced between structured and unstructured periods during the day.  (Example:  serving children breakfast, lunch and two snacks each day; mealtimes are structured activities.)  The “circle” times for toddlers and pre-k children are kept short and appropriate to their ages and interests.  Our activities are planned to bring new information, increase self-esteem, increase a sense of competence, develop fine and gross motor skills and increase language acquisition.  We read regularly to toddlers and pre-schoolers.  We speak to toddlers in words that give language to all of their actions.  And we try to keep all of the above on a positive note.  It is our goal to give children many ways to succeed.

A home-like atmosphere with a feeling of warmth, caring and a relaxed pace is our goal for the overall atmosphere of Happy Harbor.  We believe that if all children had a safe harbor, none would be at risk.

HAPPY HARBOR CHILD CARE CENTER

95 BROADWAY

HASTINGS ON HUDSON, NY  10706

914-478-4175