Your Child's Day at UHP
Your child's day begins with an hour and a half of free choice time.
Each week the teachers thoughtfully set up 4 to 5 spaces within the classroom for children to engage in art, sensory play, scientific investigation, imaginative play and more. Teachers constantly engage with the children as the children choose what and how they will explore and use these tools and spaces.
Research shows that in play, children develop complex problem solving skills, alongside math and language. Play is also crucial to learning to navigate complicated social and emotional situations.
Following Free choice time, the children and teachers work together to clean up the classroom and transition to snack time. Snacks are served family style. Children are encouraged to serve themselves from a variety of healthy options.
After snack time has finished, the teachers lead children in songs and stories during a brief circle time.
Your child's day concludes with outdoor play. We go outside during all kinds of weather, as long as it is safe for the children. We set up an outdoor classroom for the children to continue exploring through a play based environment. When it's 50° F or warmer, we enjoy our outdoor classroom full time!
Hands on Learning with Family-Style Snack
Snack time at UHP is where we, the children, teachers and parent helpers, sit together at a table, serve ourselves from shared snack trays, and eat together. There are many benefits to family style snack, both for children’s development and for creating a positive mealtime atmosphere.
Benefits for Children
Social Skills Development: Children learn to take turns, share, and communicate with their peers and caregivers during meals. It fosters cooperation and encourages polite conversation.
Independence and Self-Regulation: Serving themselves helps children practice decision-making and portion control, promoting independence. It also helps them listen to their bodies’ hunger and fullness cues, learning to regulate their own eating habits.
Fine Motor Skills: Using tongs and serving food require motor coordination, which improves hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Language Development: Mealtime conversations enhance language skills as children engage in dialogue, hear new vocabulary, and participate in discussions about the food, flavors, and experiences.
Healthy Eating Habits: Family-style snack exposes children to a wider variety of foods, encouraging them to try new things in a relaxed, non-pressured environment. Teachers and other children model healthy eating behaviors, which children are likely to imitate.
Additional Benefits for a Positive Food/Snack Time Atmosphere
Building Community: Sitting together fosters a sense of community and inclusivity. It allows children and caregivers to bond over shared experiences, creating a warm and nurturing environment.
Learning Opportunities: Mealtimes become an educational experience, where we discuss nutrition, cultural traditions, where food comes from, and more.
Responsibility and Routine: Children take responsibility for getting their water bottle, serving food and cleaning up afterward, which helps them understand routine and responsibility in daily activities.
Positive Role Modeling: Teachers demonstrate healthy eating, patience, and respectful communication. This creates a positive food culture, which extends into children’s family life.
