We’ll spend the entire morning there, from 9:30 - 1:30, riding on the hay rides, playing in the hay barn, seeing the animals and of course, picking pumpkins! So please dress the kids in warm clothes that can get dirty. And if you’d like to join us - all parents are welcome.

If you haven’t received your permission slip yet please ask Sarah or Jessica for a copy. We’re very excited about our field trip and can’t wait to see your little ones having so much educational fun.

Read more about Circle S Farms and their Fall Fun Days here.

We had a blast!

Here are just some of the pictures.

See the rest of the photos on our Flickr account.

At Little Dreamers, Big Believers our mission is to touch the future, one child at a time. We believe we offer the highest quality of child care available in Columbus, Ohio and help your child to grow mentally, physically and emotionally. Reach us at 614-294-2922.

This week we’re taking a trip to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium!

It’s just one of our activities for Zoo Week at Little Dreamers, Big Believers Day Care.

The little ones (12-18 months) will be going on Monday, June 9 and the toddlers along with the pre-schoolers will be going on Wednesday, June 11. We’ll be learning about all of the animals and their habitats. Depending on the weather forecast send your little one with either a hat for the sun, or a rain coat.

On April 17th the pre-schoolers will be taking a field trip to the Upper Arlington Public Library to meet Lilly the Mouse from Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes!

Lilly arrives at 4:00 p.m. so we’ll be leaving Little Dreamers, Big Believers at 3:00 p.m. Getting there a little early will give the kids plenty of time to explore the library. Check with Sara for your field trip permission slips and parents are more than welcome to join us at the library.

Buy the book here on Amazon.com.

photo credit: Radu Adam

How to Choose the Perfect Daycare Center

1. Your Gut

Nothing is more telling than your gut instinct. You’ll feel it the minute you step into a daycare you’re considering. How does the staff great you? Are they warm, friendly and professional?

2. Open Door Policy

Little Dreamers, Big Believers has an open door policy meaning you can walk in anytime - even if you’re a parent who’s child is not yet enrolled. Many daycares in Columbus require appointments for prospective parents. This should be a red flag.

3. Staff:Child Ratio

Ask the daycare director about their staff:child ratios. The state requires the following ratios:

1:5 or 2:12 Infants (0-12 months)1:6 or 2:12 Infants (12-18 months)

1:7 Toddlers (18-30 months)

1:8 Toddlers (30-36 months)

1:12 Pre-schoolers (3-4 years)

1:14 Pre-schoolers (4 years until eligible for Kindergarten)

1:18 School-agers (eligible for school)

At Little Dreamers, Big Believers we strive to meet the following staff:child ratios:

1:3 in the Infant Room

1:5 in the Toddler Room

1:8 for Pre-schoolers

And while ratios for toddlers and pre-schoolers may be doubled for 1 1/2 hours at naptime there will always be enough staff in the building to meet the regular required staff/child ratio in case of emergency.

4. Discipline Practices

Ask about the daycare’s discipline practices. Do they mirror yours? Do they have a clear and forthright answer? At Little Dreamers, Big Believers we use positive discipine. This technique teaches children self-discipline through careful guidance. Positive re-enforcement is used to correct any errant behavior and instead of time outs we spend quiet one-on-one time with the child. For more on our discipline police, just ask!

5. Daily Activities

Does the day care or pre-school have a consistent routine in place that gives your child both the physical and mental development he or she craves? At Little Dreamers, Big Believers we have a variety of activities from field trips, Spanish lessons, to theme days, show and tell or even Yoga classes!

6. Nutrition

Ask to see a menu from the past two weeks. It will give you a good idea of what meals the daycare serves. Are they home-cooked? Nutritious? Ask us about our menu and you’ll find that 70% of our food is organic. We also accomodate any allergies or special requests for your child.

7. The Space

Where will your child be spending most of his or her day? Is the room bright, airy and clean? Are there books along with a variety of developmental toys? Are the spaces organized but also free flowing? Come visit us to see why Little Dreamers, Big Believers is so exceptional or look at our photos and tour.

We also encourge you to use this checklist from the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral program.

Good luck on your search! We know this process isn’t an easy one. And if you ever have any questions about Little Dreamers, Big Believers day care and pre-school please call 614-294-2922.