Frequently Asked Questions
EduKids will be your partner! Your baby’s eating and sleeping patterns begin at home and are extended into the center; you will be our guide! Because of strong connections between home and the center, your baby’s rhythms, interests and needs will be at the forefront for care. Expert care givers will look for your baby’s individual changes in movements, interest in toys and growing mind. These will be responded to with love and attention. Your amazing baby will hold center stage while enjoying the laughing, rolling and babbling circle of friends in his or her classroom. Individualized care is a hallmark of EduKids’ exceptional programming.
We know that toddlers are movers and shakers! We also know their favorite words are me, mine and no! With these developmental markers in mind, EduKids sets up environments with secure climbers, sturdy riding toys, indestructible toys and durable, safe materials made especially for little fingers and busy bodies. Under the highly attentive watch of dedicated teaching teams, be assured that safety is our priority with your active and playful toddlers – we are as excited as they are!
EduKids is open daily Monday through Friday. Opening times vary by center. Rich’s opens at 6:15, all of our other centers in WNY open up at 6:30. All of our centers are open until 6:00 P.M.
We are closed the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
In the event of severe weather conditions, please listen to WBEN Radio 930 AM or watch WGRZ Channel 2, WIVB Channel 4 for any closings. Please refer to the Parent Handbook for additional info and tuition obligations.
Yes! EduKids is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC accreditation is the gold standard for early childhood programs across the country. Families of young children who attend NAEYC-accredited programs can be confident that they deliver the highest quality early care and education. NAEYC Accreditation raises the bar and is the only accrediting body for Early Childhood Education – birth to age eight. Early Childhood Education programs with the mark of quality benefit children with greater readiness for and success in school.
It is for this reason that parents and families are seeking out NAEYC-accredited programs. Parents choosing an Early Childhood Education program can be overwhelmed by trying to find the highest-quality program for their child. NAEYC Accreditation is the mark of quality that families are looking for. NAEYC Accreditation gives families the chance to make the Right Choice for Kids.
Learn more about NAEYC here.
The Common Core Learning Standards is a guided resource for grades K-12. As an elite early childcare center, EduKids is current on all educational topics and conversations. But our population of learners is very young! Our infant and toddler classrooms work with children to build well rounded skills, our 3 year old classrooms continue to advance learning in all aspects of development and our Kindergarten Readiness classrooms “put it all together.” With this in mind, EduKids implements the NYS Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core as a curriculum guide. This excellent resource is designed as “a framework and bridge between the learning expectations of children birth through three and the standards for those attending K-12 schools.” (NYS Prekindergarten Foundations to the Common Core)
Learn more about our Programs here.
Teachers at EduKids are highly credentialed. Our requirements and expectations are higher than those of NYS. At EduKids, Lead Teachers are required to hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, Associates degree, Bachelor’s degree and/or NYS Teaching Certification according to the developmental level of the children they are teaching. More information can be found on our Careers page.
Food allergies are a growing concern with children across America. A major issue such as this one needs to be taken very seriously, and it has always been the policy of EduKids to make the safety and well-being of our children a top priority.
EduKids is a nut-free facility. EduKids will not serve any foods containing peanuts or tree nuts. This includes peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, peanut snack mix, peanut butter cookies, etc. No classroom projects that involve peanut butter will be conducted, such as pine cone bird feeders.
Due to high food allergies and sense of classroom community, families are asked to refrain from bringing any breakfast item (i.e. donuts, yogurt, cereal bars, etc.) into the center for their child to eat individually at the classroom table.
Because many children have food/ingredient allergies, we must ask families not to send in homemade cake or goodies. Our Directors and all teachers closely monitor all store bought treats/food that is brought into the classroom and take every precaution to keep children with allergies from coming in contact with those foods. If you would like to add a special treat to the day, your child may bring in stickers, coloring pages, or another small item to share with his or her friends. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
If your child has a food or ingredient allergy, or simply would prefer your child to refrain from certain items, please contact your Center Director and refer to the EduKids Food Allergy Action Plan.
The health and safety of your child is our top priority. EduKids practices prompt, daily communication with our parents and families. If your child becomes ill, your Center Director will contact you right away. In addition, we have trained staff at every location for CPR, First Aid and Medication Administration.
Open-ended art is your child’s own design! The creation of art is emphasized over the end product. Children express themselves in many ways. By offering a variety of colors and materials, children discover their inner artist. Open-ended art is a learning experience. Children not only learn how to use a pair of scissors, blend colors and select materials, they also learn that their ideas and expressions are beautiful and not just a copy of an adult pattern.
Families are welcome at all times in the center! You will have opportunities to join your child on field trips, be a guest reader, add your ideas to curriculum themes, join the fun in play and classroom activities and bring your traditions and cultures to our program. We have family events throughout the year; Open House, Ice Cream Socials, informational Family Presentations, Mother’s Day Tea & Donuts with Dads, Parent Conferences, preschool graduations and family picnics as well as individual center partner projects . The door is always open and daily conversations connect your home to the EduKids Center!
Universal Pre-Kindergarten is a district run program. Therefore UPK students follow along with the School District calendar and are often required to follow certain curriculum pieces required by the district. Enrollment in UPK is a half-day district tuition supported session with private pay wrap around care available to families. Despite this, the 4 year old Kinder-readiness rooms are very similar. Both classrooms follow the EduKids’ NYS guided curriculum which provides students with opportunities to grow and thrive educationally as well as socially and emotionally. In many of our centers Universal Pre-Kindergarten students and our community based children are grouped together. Each center’s UPK looks a bit different; however the fundamental teaching methods and learning for any 4 year old classroom is the same. Both classrooms will set up your child for success and provide fundamental preparation for Kindergarten!
Preschool is such a wonderful period of learning but it covers a large span of time (3-5years old) so the learning looks a bit different based on age. The 3 year old preschool program will focus heavily on the social and emotional growth of a child. It is all about learning to share, take turns and function in a larger group. The 4 year old program will have more of a school preparation academic base. Your child will learn to count, learn their alphabet, learn to begin to write and work on important pre-reading skills.
School Agers have already put in a full day of school so when they get off the bus we want their afternoon to be a fun yet learning filled experience. We like to kick off the afternoon with some gross motor activities including playground time and planned gross motor games. We typically continue our day with homework club where the kids have the opportunity to work on any homework before heading home. For those that do not have homework or prefer to do homework at home we offer fun hands on science projects, art activities and games.