About Us

Your Child Is in Great Hands

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

CURRICULUM

Busy Bees uses the Nationally recognized Experience Early Learning curriculum.

Because every child is capable, valuable and deserves to reach their full potential, it is our mission to provide tools and resources that empower the children to experience learning through creative expression, play and open-ended discovery.

INTEGRATED SKILLS

Experience Early Learnings integrated curriculum system uniquely weaves 33 research-based skills into playful games and discovery projects.

The cross-disciplinary model supports a child’s on-going social-emotional, physical, language and cognitive development.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL

Social-emotional development refers to a child’s ability to identify feelings, self-regulate and build relationships.

High-quality relationships correlate to positive outcomes for young children (Shonkoff, 2004). Brain research verifies that emotional and cognitive development are interrelated (Bell & Wolf, 2004). Young children who have strong social and emotional development are more likely to have good academic performance in future schooling (Cohen, 2005). Therefore, Experience Early Learning integrates a social-emotional component into each lesson plan.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Physical development refers to a child’s gross and fine motor skills. To increase strength, muscle control, and coordination, the child requires adequate nutrition and fitness levels.

Physical development in children follows a directional pattern. Large muscles develop before small muscles. Experience Early Learning curriculum actively engages a child’s mind and body through multidisciplinary activities that invite children to touch, climb, crawl, and manipulate objects in their surrounding environment.

SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Science skills include a child’s ability to inquire, predict and evaluate observations. It supports a child’s ability to explore everyday life, physical properties of matter, and to make sense of concepts such as weather, natural habitats, and technology.

Similar to learning to count or read, learning how to “do” science is a process. Metacognitive skills develop as children describe what they see, ask questions about it, repeat the experience, and then think about how it connects to what they know about their surrounding environment (Ashbrook, 2003). Experience Early Learning includes science-based projects and processes throughout the curriculum because science discovery serves as an ideal conduit for supporting children’s learning across different domains (French, 2004).

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Creative development is the ability to respond to experiences by expressing ideas and imagination through music, dance, dramatic play, and art.

Children who score higher on tests of imagination and creativity develop stronger problem-solving strategies (Brown, Sutterfy & Thronton, 2008). Mother Goose Time is an arts-infused curriculum that allows children to take creative risks, make connections, and explore their curiosity in meaningful ways. “Play is a safe place where children are exploring the expression of emotion with no attending consequences” (Gaskins and Miller, 2009).

MATHEMATICS AND REASONING

Mathematics and reasoning skills include a child’s ability to count, understand number sense, manipulate objects, create patterns, sort, compare and measure.

Research on children’s learning in the first six years of life validates the importance of early experiences in mathematics for lasting positive outcomes (Bowman, Donovan & Burns, 2001). Through Mother Goose Time curriculum, children develop the ability to reason mathematically and become increasingly sophisticated in the ability to recognize and analyze the mathematics inherent in the world around them (Baroody, Bajwa & Eiland, 2009). Children’s early mathematical experiences play a significant role in the development of their understanding of mathematics and serve as a foundation for their cognitive development (Tudge & Doucet, 2004).

SOCIAL STUDIES

Social Studies skills refer to a child’s ability to understand oneself in relation to the world. It includes the exploration of roles, responsibilities and cultural traditions.

Children live within many different communities: family, school, church, city, nation, etc. Within each community are different social norms and traditions. Understanding social systems sets the stage for a child’s lifelong dispositions about people, cultures and how he or she belongs in these systems (NCSS, 1988).

Experience Early Learning embraces the research that it is critical to invite children to explore diverse communities, which enables them to integrate commonalities between them and increase respect for differences (Morrison, 2008).

Health & Safety

Statement of Intent:

It is our mission to provide children with a healthy, safe and stimulating environment in which to learn and play. If good health habits are developed early in life, they are likely to be continued throughout life. It is our intention to promote healthy eating habits, socialization skills and healthy meals/snacks. Busy Bees Natural Learning Center has a no smoking policy.

Procedures:

Safety Precautions: Fire Drills are conducted once every 30 days. (See fire Evacuation Procedures located at our parent board.) Lockdown drills are performed 4 times a year. All drills will be recorded and fire equipment checked and serviced as required. All staff have regular training with the correct procedures in the event of an emergency occurring and have pediatriec First Aid and CPR training. All staff holds this certificate for 2 years at which time certification is renewed.
Emergency contact telephone numbers are posted at every exit and each staff carries a list with them during practice evacuation.
Outdoor Safety: All outdoor areas will be checked and cleaned before the children use them. Parents/Carers must inform our staff beforehand if someone other than the authorized person is coming to collect a child and produce photographic ID.
Indoors: The activities on offer will meet the needs of the group, providing the children with challenge and the opportunity for success. The rooms will be bright, cheerful and well ventilated, providing a safe stimulating environment. Equipment and materials will be accessible and within all children’s reach, including children with special needs. All table top toys, play equipment and supplies will be washed regularly. Dress up clothes, blankets and pillows will be washed regularly. Children will be encouraged to respect their environment and the equipment provided. Children helping to tidy away at the end of the session can promote this skill. Staff and children will wear suitable clothing and footwear when in a group. Parents are requested to refrain from having jewelry when in the childcare setting.
Kitchen: The kitchen area and work surfaces will be kept clean and wiped daily with disinfectant. Any food required for children will be stored in clean dry cupboards or refrigerator. It should be kept at the required temperature and foods stored separately to prevent cross contamination.
Hygiene: Staff must use good frequent hand washing techniques and encourage children to wash their own hands especially after using the toilet and before eating. One time use hand towels are provided and placed in receptacle for launder.
Attendance of Sick Children: We have a clear policy on the limitation of attendance.
If there is an outbreak of head lice or any infection that is contagious all parents will be informed, and the necessary precautions taken.

All staff at Busy Bees Natural Learning Center must have regular First Aid Training and hold a valid First Aid Certificate. There is a designated First Aid Person assigned to our building. All accidents and incidents are recorded promptly in our injury log.

All staff at Busy Bees Natural Learning Center must have regular training in Fire Safety and participate in monthly Fire Drills.

First Step to Nutrition

First Step to Nutrition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of children. First Step To Nutrition has sponsored Family and Group Daycare Providers in the state of Pennsylvania since 1989. They are a state approved sponsor of the Child and Adult Care Food Program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. First Step To Nutrition services 35 counties in Eastern and Central PA.

Busy Bees Natural Learning Center is proud to have First Step to Nutrition as our sponsor for the CACFP.

Nature Explore

Nature Explore is a national nonprofit program of Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, which works collaboratively with a network of organizations throughout the nation. Our goal is to help nature become an integral, joyful part of children’s daily learning. Nature Explore provides research-based workshops, design consultations and resources created to support programs as they continue to connect children and families to the wonders of nature.

In June 2020, Busy Bees completed all necessary requirements to become certified as a Nature Explore classroom.

Our goal with the Nature Explore program is to:

To create a nurturing, nature-based outdoor space
Attend Workshops & Conferences to share effective, inspiring ideas for enhancing children’s learning with nature
Introduce Natural Products for Outdoor Classroom,
Have Family Resources available to inspire nature connections at home

You can find more information on https://natureexplore.org/about-us/

Keystone Stars

Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). A QRIS is a continuous quality improvement systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs. Keystone STARS is a program of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).

Guiding Principles

Keystone STARS is a responsive system to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs in Pennsylvania. Our system is guided by three core principles:

A whole child approach to education is essential to meeting the holistic and individual needs of each and every child and family.
Knowledgeable and responsive early care and education professionals are essential to the development of children and the support of families.
Building and sustaining ongoing positive relationships among children, families, early care and education professionals and community stakeholders is essential for the growth and development of every child.

We believe inclusion, diversity, equity and respect are foundational values embedded in these principles.

Keystone STARS has four primary goals:

To improve the quality of early care and education.
To support early care and education providers in meeting their quality improvement goals;
To recognize programs for continuous quality improvement and meeting higher quality standards; and
To provide families a way to choose a quality early care and education program.

Keystone STARS – Improving the quality through:

Standards
Training/Professional Development
Assistance,
Resources and
Support

Busy Bees Parent Group

BBPG

(Busy Bees Parent Group)

The BBPG (Busy Bees Parent Group) is a group of like minded parents who coordinate to assist in forming/shaping new policies, planning of field trips/parties, establish fundraisers and organize special events outside of the typical program.