Group Daycare

The Clubhouse offers full-time daycare in our Early Years Programs, for children from 12 months until they start kindergarten.

Children are full of wonder and curiosity, with unique and creative perspectives and an incredible capacity to learn through play.  With this philosophy and theory in mind, we offer our daycare children time, space, choices, access to a natural environment, wholesome options and opportunities to participate in everyday processes and activities to build connections and confidence to learn and apply.

When children are provided space in a natural environment to explore, and time to make independent choices with limited disruptions, they develop a clear sense of self.  This sense of self gives the child self-assurance, self-control and confidence which are essential skills for maturing into people who contribute to the world around them.

“Participating in the process teaches children to recognise opportunities to contribute to the World around them”

Nature-Based Program – The Clubhouse offers unique outdoor experiences at Clubhouse Farm and Treehouse Forest Programs for the daycare program.  As soon as they are toilet trained, the daycare children head out for field trips twice every week, right throughout the year to one of our outdoor programs.  Each program focuses on incorporating children into everyday activities like cooking, gardening, building, and leading.  We invite all new families to tour our nature-based programs before their child starts in our program.

Literacy Program Name Tags – Children have a natural attachment to their names.  Their names are important to them, and each daycare child and Staff at Clubhouse is given an individual name tag which pairs with their name and a picture starting with the same letter, and sound, as their name.  As children use these name tags to identify themselves, their friends, and Staff, they begin to develop an understanding of letter recognition skills, letter-sound correspondence, letter/word writing, and vocabulary.  These name tags are used by Clubhouse Staff to create fun and engaging literacy activities which strengthen early literacy development.

Ages and Stages Questionnaires – At the Clubhouse, programming for our early years programs focuses on the unique needs and assets of each child.  We strive to offer the best programming possible to support and encourage each child’s development and ensure that their play includes opportunity for learning and growing.  As part of getting to know your child better the Staff use the ASQ.  As parents know their child best, each family will complete two questionnaires covering a child’s development in areas of communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem solving, personal/social skills and social-emotional development. 

Lunch Time –  is a special time for our Staff and Children to come together.  The tables are set just like you would set your table in your home, with a placemat and the Literacy Name Tags – both lovingly hand-made by volunteers from our community.  This is a calm time, after a busy morning of play, for children to feed their bodies and share with their friends.  At Clubhouse Farm and Treehouse Forest, the children have a picnic style lunch with vegetables picked at Clubhouse Farm in season.

Nap Time / Rest Time – After a busy morning, and a nutritious healthy lunch, all children in our early years programs have a nap time.   Nap time is an important part of the special care we provide for all children.  As they grow and develop, naps give their bodies and minds time to rest and recharge.  All children are given the opportunity to nap in a comfortable, quiet area.  Children are provided with a mattress, cot, or crib and a fleecy blanket and pillow.  Bedding is laundered regularly.  Some older children may outgrow the need for a regular nap.  They are encouraged to lie on their beds and rest their bodies.  Once they are rested, they will engage in quiet activities such as puzzles and looking at books.