From our Frequently Asked Questions:

I understand that you have an emphasis on literacy, even in the Infant Classrooms. How can you teach an infant to read?

Acquisition of literacy skills is an important function of any high quality early childhood education program and one that we believe in so strongly that we emphasize this in all of our classrooms—even our Infants!! By creating this literacy contiuum, all of our children acquire, practice and master reading skills as they progress from one classroom to the next. Our staff in turn, create a supportive literacy environment whereby they strengthen their own professional development in this vital learning/content area.

A. The 1-2-3 Read Virginia curriculum used in the Dreamers, Lambs and BBBs programs is into the children’s daily lessons. It is designed to build emergent literacy in children birth to age three through carefully planned set of experiences that lay the foundation for reading and writing success. It has proven to result in significant, measurable gains in children’s language and cognitive delevlopment.

B. The Cubs staff introduce math and literacy concepts using materials developed by the same publisher as the OWL program, which is used in Butterflies. Read Together Talk Together uses the research-based technique of dialogic reading to expand children’s language and emergent literacy skills. The program helps parents and teachers to have conversations about books with children. By having conversations about books, children’s language expands and literacy skills begin to emerge.

C. Opening the World to Learning (OWL), used in our Butterflies room, is a comprehensive, integrated curriculum that helps children develop foundational language, academic and social skills in all domains of learning. Family literacy is a critical component of healthy families, schools and communities.

Our Daily Programs Make Learning Fun!

Fun & Friends provides developmentally appropriate programs for children from six weeks to six years of age. We stress rich learning experiences that stimulate children intellectually and give them an opportunity to master skills while having fun. Children participate at their own level, during both structured activities and free playtime. Early childhood literacy development is emphasized in every program, Infants through Preschool. Programs are geared to meet the physical, social, emotional and educational needs of the individual at his or her own readiness level, taking into consideration each child's particular stage of growth and development.

Programs for Infants and Toddlers

Fun & Friends' specially designed Infant and Toddler programs emphasize:

Learning through curiosity, the sense of self and relationship
Early literacy for infants & toddlers using the 1-2-3 Read! Virginia program (www.cdrhelpdesk.org/123READ)
Eye, hand, motor coordination through games, music, movement (Toddlers receive weekly, specialized movement classes)
The use of naturally occurring daily activities and routines to guide learning experiences
Self-help to foster independence and self mastery
Loving interaction with skilled educators and caregivers

For Preschoolers and Pre-kindergarteners

Our Early Childhood Education programs focus on individual readiness, self mastery and building of positive self image in an atmosphere of acceptance and affection. Our preschool programs incorporate the use of integrated curricula from Pearson Education Publishing Co. The Pre-School--Cubs program uses Read Together/Talk Together and our Pre-Kindergarten--Butterflies program uses Opening the World to Learning—OWL which is aligned to the Virginia State Standards of Learning (SOL) so that our graduates are ready to excel in their local public schools. These programs also include:

Pre-Reading and Pre-Math Skills leading to mastery of basic skills
Science Centers that encourage exploration and problem solving
Spanish introduction classes using materials designed especially for this age group
Large muscle development through climbing, tumbling, and movement, yoga and dance
Self help and mastery skills in personal hygiene
Dramatic Play
Arts & crafts, painting
Artists-in-Residence, Story telling and classroom library time
Seasonal & Holiday Celebrations
Computer play and computer games
Intergenerational Activities with the Senior's Center

Parents want...and need...to be involved!

Parental involvement is a key ingredient in programs at Fun & Friends. We understand that working parents need to meet career demands and still be a part of their child's daily activities. Our convenient location near the workplace enables parents to be both good employees and to share in their child's day.

Parents are encouraged to drop in for visits, share lunchtime or snack time with their child, or participate in the lessons. We also keep parents informed of their child's progress through daily reports, regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences and evaluation sessions.

Our special programs make total child care a reality:

Full-time early childhood education and child care for Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
Drop-in care based on space availability
Art, music, and exercise
Special child-centered programs...artists-in residence, birthday celebrations, holiday celebrations, etc.