Infant 1 is for children 6 weeks till around the time they start getting mobile. While meeting the basic needs like feeding, napping and diapering remain the top priority, our Infant 1 teachers are already working on helping your child to learn. The infants “practice” simple gross motor skills like holding their head up, rolling over, sitting up, etc. They also work on fine motor skills such as holding a bottle and passing toys from one hand to the other. In addition to these skills, the infants are also learning through play. They are starting to learn the basics of cause and effect—if they push a toy, it moves away from them; if they pull a toy, it comes closer. Toys as simple as rattles and shakers help the infants to hear different sounds, which is an aspect of emerging literacy; other toys let them feel different textures or to see different colors and patterns.

Children are in Infant 2 from around the time they start being mobile till they are about one year old. Meeting basic needs continues to be a priority, but as infants get older, there are new things to learn. Older infants begin to be exposed to art, which not only allows them to begin expressing creativity, but it also continues the learning process: the texture of paint, the cause and effect of pressing a crayon to paper, etc. Our Infant 2 teachers continue developing the children’s vocabulary though interactions. They continue labeling items, which becomes even more essential as the children are coming closer to using their first words. In addition to the teachers reading to the infants, Infant 2 has a special area where books are readily available.

Members at a Family Membership level can enroll their children in the Denver Athletic Club’s Children Center. This is a full day childcare option where infants, toddlers and preschoolers learn, play, and develop necessary skills. We are fortunate to be in an athletic club which enables different motor development opportunities in even the most inclement weather. DAC children utilize the Little Gym and the outdoor playground. Children also can take swim lessons, gymnastics, and dance while they are getting an education. Infant 1 is for children 6 weeks till around the time they start getting mobile. While meeting the basic needs like feeding, napping and diapering remain the top priority, our Infant 1 teachers are already working on helping your child to learn. The infants “practice” simple gross motor skills like holding their head up, rolling over, sitting up, etc. They also work on fine motor skills such as holding a bottle and passing toys from one hand to the other. Children are in Infant 2 from around the time they start being mobile till they are about one year old. Meeting basic needs continues to be a priority, but as infants get older, there are new things to learn. Older infants begin to be exposed to art, which not only allows them to begin expressing creativity, but it also continues the learning process: the texture of paint, the cause and effect of pressing a crayon to paper, etc.

Talking and interactions remain a vital part of this classroom. The children are gaining more words and are making further attempts to communicate through words and gestures. Stories, songs and finger-plays are a regular part of the daily routine. Art also occurs several times during the toddlers’ week—projects like collage art, finger painting or painting with different tools help build the toddlers’ fine motor skills and also give them the chance to express their own creativity. Other play areas also help build fine motor skills, such as stacking toys, nesting toys and simple puzzles. Math and science toys are included as well through such simple objects as large magnifying glasses, color paddles and nature objects like seashells and houseplants. The toddlers continue to develop their social skills in their interactions with their peers and teachers. The teachers help model positive relationships with others and also a healthy view on the full range of emotions. The teachers work with the toddlers on basic cognitive skills. Some of this knowledge comes from the labeling teachers do in their interactions (for example: "My milk is cold, but pizza tastes better hot"). They also build skills through repetition, whether counting or saying the ABC’s. The toddlers have daily access to the toddler section of our Little Gym. This area includes a small set of stairs and a slide to facilitate the developmentally appropriate urge to climb in a safe environment. Teachers expand on gross motor play by bringing out balls, bean bags or other materials from the classroom. Toddler 1 also goes on walks outside- the younger children ride in the Bye-Bye Buggy, while the older children begin to practice walking while holding onto a special rope or by helping to "push" the buggy. Toddlers also get to go play on our Outdoor Playground.

Talking and interactions remain a vital part of this classroom. The children are gaining more words and are making further attempts to communicate through words and gestures. Stories, songs and finger-plays are a regular part of the daily routine. Art also occurs several times during the toddlers’ week—projects like collage art, finger painting or painting with different tools help build the toddlers’ fine motor skills and also give them the chance to express their own creativity. Other play areas also help build fine motor skills, such as stacking toys, nesting toys and simple puzzles. Math and science toys are included as well through such simple objects as large magnifying glasses, color paddles and nature objects like seashells and houseplants. The toddlers continue to develop their social skills in their interactions with their peers and teachers. The teachers help model positive relationships with others and also a healthy view on the full range of emotions. The teachers work with the toddlers on basic cognitive skills. Some of this knowledge comes from the labeling teachers do in their interactions (for example: "My milk is cold, but pizza tastes better hot"). They also build skills through repetition, whether counting or saying the ABC’s.

Toddler 2 continues to build the cognitive skills the children began in the previous classrooms. Through repetition, they work on labeling basic colors and shapes. The teachers sing songs and finger plays while the children join in with clapping or singing along. The toddlers continue water play, where they can be introduced to math concepts such as full versus empty and more versus less. The children do not fully comprehend these concepts (nor are they expected to), but it is the introduction to these ideas (and others) that is vital. The Toddler 2 teachers continue talking to the children about everything in their routine. They narrate about what is going on in the classroom and they respond to and build on the toddlers’ attempts to communicate verbally. A child may bring a teacher a toy and correctly label it a “car”. The teachers affirm and build on this labeling by saying, “Yes, it’s a red car.” Some of the children in this classroom may begin to show interest in potty training. Such interest is encouraged, but never forced. The toddlers have daily access to the toddler section of our Little Gym. This area includes a small set of stairs and a slide. Teachers expand on gross motor play by bringing out balls, bean bags or other materials from the classroom. Toddler 2 goes on walks outside while holding onto a special rope. Toddlers get to play in the toddler section of our Outside Playground. Children in Toddler 2 can now enroll in gymnastics and private / semi-private swim lessons.

Toddler 2 continues to build the cognitive skills the children began in the previous classrooms. Through repetition, they work on labeling basic colors and shapes. The teachers sing songs and finger plays while the children join in with clapping or singing along. The toddlers continue water play, where they can be introduced to math concepts such as full versus empty and more versus less. The children do not fully comprehend these concepts (nor are they expected to), but it is the introduction to these ideas (and others) that is vital. The Toddler 2 teachers continue talking to the children about everything in their routine. They narrate about what is going on in the classroom and they respond to and build on the toddlers’ attempts to communicate verbally. A child may bring a teacher a toy and correctly label it a “car”. The teachers affirm and build on this labeling by saying, “Yes, it’s a red car.” Some of the children in this classroom may begin to show interest in potty training. Such interest is encouraged, but never forced.

Toddler 3 is the last of our “toddler” rooms. The teachers further develop the toddlers’ cognitive skills by not simply labeling basic colors and shapes, but by encouraging the children to start identifying these concepts. They continue counting, singing songs and doing finger plays. The children in Toddler 3 are building more and more vocabulary, so they are eager to participate. The children continue developing their social-emotional skills as they start doing more cooperative play with their classmates. Toddler 3 is the main classroom for potty training (though being potty trained is not a requirement to move up to Preschool 1). As the children seem ready, Toddler 3 begins working on independence in the bathroom, prompting children to go potty and to wash their own hands. Our newest classroom space, which opened in July 2010, encourages this independence, while the half wall in the bathroom simplifies supervision. The toddlers have daily access to the toddler section of our Little Gym. This area includes a small set of stairs and a slide. Teachers expand on gross motor play by bringing out balls, bean bags or other materials from the classroom. Toddler 3 goes on walks outside while holding onto a special rope. The toddlers also get to play in the toddler section of our Outside Playground. The children in Toddler 3 can enroll in gymnastics, swimming, dance and Hero Kids Sports.

Toddler 3 is the last of our “toddler” rooms. The teachers further develop the toddlers’ cognitive skills by not simply labeling basic colors and shapes, but by encouraging the children to start identifying these concepts. They continue counting, singing songs and doing finger plays. The children in Toddler 3 are building more and more vocabulary, so they are eager to participate. The children continue developing their social-emotional skills as they start doing more cooperative play with their classmates. Toddler 3 is the main classroom for potty training (though being potty trained is not a requirement to move up to Preschool 1). As the children seem ready, Toddler 3 begins working on independence in the bathroom, prompting children to go potty and to wash their own hands. Our newest classroom space, which opened in July 2010, encourages this independence, while the half wall in the bathroom simplifies supervision. The toddlers have daily access to the toddler section of our Little Gym. This area includes a small set of stairs and a slide. Teachers expand on gross motor play by bringing out balls, bean bags or other materials from the classroom. Toddler 3 goes on walks outside while holding onto a special rope. The toddlers also get to play in the toddler section of our Outside Playground.

Preschool 1 is for our young, preschool age children. The children are introduced to the alphabet as more than just a song. After morning snack, the children find a card on the floor that says their name. Then, with help from teachers as needed, they spell out the letters in their name. By the time the children move up to Preschool 2, they confidently know the letters in their name and often letters in other friends names as well. Through repetition at Circle Time, the teachers help the children to build the list of concepts they can identify-primarily colors and shapes. They also use a calendar to practice counting and to start introducing concepts of time and weather. Preschool 1 children continue to work on math concepts introduced in the younger classes including counting to at least 3 beyond rote (e.g. counting objects with a one-to-one correspondence as opposed to abstractly counting to a given number). They often do simple cooking projects, like making play-dough or applesauce. These projects reinforce math and science concepts through measuring and also emerging literacy concepts by doing tasks in a sequence. This is the last classroom for potty training. With proper supervision, the children are encouraged to be independent in the bathroom and in other routines. They are encouraged to get themselves dressed before and after swim lessons (with help from teachers for buttons, snaps, etc). The children are encouraged to clean-up after themselves at the lunch table and during free play. Cubbies with their belongings are at their level so the children can retrieve and put away items as necessary. Preschool 1 uses “the big kid side” of the Little Gym, which includes a climbing structure with slides. The teachers continue to facilitate free play during gross motor time by bringing additional toys from the classroom. The preschoolers also get to play in the preschool section of our Outside Playground (which was completely redesigned in Spring 2018!) Preschool children currently have the option to enroll in gymnastics, swimming, dance, tennis and Hero Kids Sports.

Preschool 1 is for our young, preschool age children. The children are introduced to the alphabet as more than just a song. After morning snack, the children find a card on the floor that says their name. Then, with help from teachers as needed, they spell out the letters in their name. By the time the children move up to Preschool 2, they confidently know the letters in their name and often letters in other friends names as well. Through repetition at Circle Time, the teachers help the children to build the list of concepts they can identify-primarily colors and shapes. They also use a calendar to practice counting and to start introducing concepts of time and weather. Preschool 1 children continue to work on math concepts introduced in the younger classes including counting to at least 3 beyond rote (e.g. counting objects with a one-to-one correspondence as opposed to abstractly counting to a given number). They often do simple cooking projects, like making play-dough or applesauce. These projects reinforce math and science concepts through measuring and also emerging literacy concepts by doing tasks in a sequence. This is the last classroom for potty training. With proper supervision, the children are encouraged to be independent in the bathroom and in other routines. They are encouraged to get themselves dressed before and after swim lessons (with help from teachers for buttons, snaps, etc). The children are encouraged to clean-up after themselves at the lunch table and during free play. Cubbies with their belongings are at their level so the children can retrieve and put away items as necessary.

Preschool 2 is the “big kid class”. The main goal in Preschool 2 is “kindergarten readiness”. When asked what changes we could make to help with kindergarten readiness, a local private school representative said, “Don’t change a thing; we love getting your kids.” Preschool 2 works on such math skills as counting to 100 and counting by 10’s. The children use a calendar daily, including days of the week, months of the year and seasons. When children enter Preschool 2, they begin tracing and then free writing their name, sometimes starting with just a letter in their name. They play cooperative games, such as board games and letter /number identification games ("fishing") as a large group. In addition to individual play, they work on cooperative art projects and building projects in the block area. Basic manners are also encouraged, such as greeting teachers and friends upon arrival and using manners during play. Problem solving is also encouraged- the children are prompted to talk problems out instead of simply coming to a teacher when something is wrong. Preschool 2 uses “the big kid side” of the Little Gym, which includes a climbing structure with slides. The class has a box stored in the Little Gym to facilitate free play during gross motor time. The preschoolers go for walks outside; they also get to play in the preschool section of our Outside Playground (which was completely redesigned in the Spring of 2018!) Preschool children currently have the option to enroll in gymnastics, swimming, dance, tennis and Hero Kids Sports.

Preschool 2 is the “big kid class”. The main goal in Preschool 2 is “kindergarten readiness”. When asked what changes we could make to help with kindergarten readiness, a local private school representative said, “Don’t change a thing; we love getting your kids.” Preschool 2 works on such math skills as counting to 100 and counting by 10’s. The children use a calendar daily, including days of the week, months of the year and seasons. When children enter Preschool 2, they begin tracing and then free writing their name, sometimes starting with just a letter in their name. They play cooperative games, such as board games and letter /number identification games ("fishing") as a large group. In addition to individual play, they work on cooperative art projects and building projects in the block area. Basic manners are also encouraged, such as greeting teachers and friends upon arrival and using manners during play. Problem solving is also encouraged- the children are prompted to talk problems out instead of simply coming to a teacher when something is wrong.