On paper it may sound simple, but in real life it is no easy feat! I am a Mommy of a happy little Toddler who attends one of The Learning Experience centers. I am also an executive at The Learning Experience Regional Headquarters located in Morristown, NJ. When I first began with the company, I held the title be left alone! of Center Director. This position afforded me the opportunity to really observe “Mommy Guilt” in its full effect BUT it wasn’t until I was Mommy that I truly understood its POWER! I say this with humor but these feelings can definitely be overwhelming.

Words cannot express how you feel when you’re dropping your baby off at the child care center and she is hanging onto your leg for dear life crying, “Mommy please don’t go”! For all the Mommy’s and Daddy’s who sympathize with me, I am here to tell you there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you don’t have to wait until they are teenagers and want to be left alone! For me, drop off tears and Mommy guilt has been reduced significantly due to my commitment to staying consistent with a “drop off routine”. I always ensure enough time to keep our morning consistent. The specifics of that routine for you and your family are personal but keep in mind that it should be experienced through a low stress environment where discussions of the day ahead are always involved.

Our morning routine starts with waking my daughter with a big kiss and a warm hug. I ask her how her sleep was and tell her that I missed her while she was
sleeping. She still has a minimal vocabulary but she still comprehends much of my verbal and non-verbal queues. I then give her a bottle (more Mommy guilt– I am currently trying to wean her off them as we speak!) and start to dress her for the school day. While I dress her, I tell her she is going to school and Mommy is going to work. I name all of the individuals she will see at the center such as the Center Director, Business Manager, teachers and friends.

I discuss how much fun she is going to have with everyone. I then recap our previous conversation 5-10 minutes before we arrive at the center. Sometimes she will repeat her friend’s names with a smile; other times she will shake her head “NO” with a frown. Regardless of the response I always use the same excited but soothing voice. It is also important to keep the arrival time consistent because
early morning drop off significantly varies depending on the exact time. For example, if I drop my daughter off before 8:00 am, I can leave breakfast for her to

eat. However, if I drop her off 10 minutes later, I will have to serve breakfast at home. This impacts the routine in a big way. It doesn’t matter when you choose to drop off but it should be the same experience every morning. I make sure to limit my drop off to three to five minutes. Drawing this time out longer then 5 minutes typically upsets children. I always have this 3 step process:

1. Drop off her belongings and take off her jacket
2. Offer her an engaging activity
3. Kiss her on her forehead, tell her I love her and remind her

I will see her after nap time, I then say goodbye and shut the door. Typically she responds well to this. She knows what to expect and she knows I never sneak out
on her.

At this age children are building trust in you as their parent so it is important they know you will never abandon them. Therefore, you must say goodbye and tell them when you will be back. At this stage they are also testing the limits! If you draw your exit out because your child is crying he or she will learn the harder they cry the longer you will stay. I definitely don’t have to tell you the challenges that lie ahead if this approach is taken. I can tell you when you leave, you can take a peak at the classroom monitor located in the office to check in on your little one.

Typically within 2-5 minutes they are having a blast with their buddies! If the drop-off routine is kept consistent, the regular morning melt-downs will slowly diminish until they fade into a distant memory. Of course there will be a flare up here and there and “Mommy Guilt” will rear it’s ugly head. But, keep in mind when melt-downs aren’t a regular occurrence “Mommy Guilt” can always be cured by sharing a bowl of ice cream with your child and reading Run Away Bunny (a great book that helps reduce separation anxiety)!

Though my daughter is still young, I have the feeling that this is only the tip of the iceberg where “Mommy Guilt” is concerned. So, I try to take each day with a grain of salt, love my daughter like there is no tomorrow, and always remind her I am
here for her no matter what. As I write this I am overwhelmed with many emotions because I miss her so much but I know in my heart I am providing her with the best of both worlds.

When I come home from work I cherish every moment with her and never take any time for granted, plus I know am giving her the best early education available thanks to TLE!

Because we know that children who are fluent in technology are one step ahead of the rest, TLE children have been learning appropriate use of the computer. This year we have added additional technology literacy instruction. Knowledge of other technological equipment such asappropriate use of digitalcameras, telephone technology and how to safely use audio/visual equipment has been integrated into our classroom curriculum for the 2009/2010 school year.

Fun With Phonics® early reading has been a big hit at TLE. Last year nearly 90% of our four year olds were reading books. This program has proven to be such a fun and exhilarating program for us as our children feel so accomplished when they discover how much fun it is to read. Fun With Phonics® is a great self-confidence and self-esteem builder.

Your child will have fun while supportive teachers gently guide him or her through our creative learning programs including music, dance, movement, physed, creative art, social studies, math, science experiments and nature studies. These positive experiences will help them achieve their greatest potential and find their passions.  Of course, it is never all about curriculum around here because play is such a vital part of any young child’s healthy development. Time for free play, exploration, discovery, outdoor playground and visits to Make Believe Boulevard® are the very essence of early childhood.

Learn what’s up each day. Read your dailies and weeklies; check out the monthly curriculum posted on the Parent Information Board, ask your child to share his or her day with you. You may have to prod because the typical answer to “What did you do today at school?” throughout time has typically been “NOTHING!”

Learning independently through play, exploration and investigation leads children to develop concepts and capabilities on their own such as spatial relations, logic and other skills. At TLE, developmentally appropriate
play is part of the daily routine, while all the academics we present are pleasurable play activities.

We are proud to say our well rounded programs afford our TLE children all sorts of advantages.

We never want to deliver the message that learning is a chore, but in fact a wonderful adventure filled with self-satisfaction and self-esteem. TLE programs are designed for promoting a solid educational foundation, creativity, good social skills and building a strong self-esteem. Make Believe Boulevard® is yet another avenue for promoting intrapersonal relationships, developing imaginations and role playing. At TLE, our young children are receiving an optimal education in a relaxed and fun-filled environment. Everyone has the freedom to learn at his or her own pace and each has the opportunity to spark their individual flames of interest. After all, if we all had the same interests,

where would the world be?

Think of it. Perhaps there would be no computers or automated transportation. WOW! Maybe no cell phones!!!

According to Dr. Michael Meyerhoff, a world renowned authority on early childhood education, to infants, toddlers
and preschoolers, having fun and learning are one in the same. He says to never underestimate the power of play in promoting optimal educational development during the early years. That is why at TLE we incorporate play in all our academics and why we believe in free play time to allow our children to explore, investigate and experiment and using their imaginations in Make Believe Boulevard™. Children who are learning to learn through developmentally appropriate play will have optimal educational outcomes and be better off later in their lives.

There can be a fine line, for instance in our LEAP programs and Fun With Phonics™ curriculum, between structured
and “play-like” applications by the teacher. The most important elements for us as educators and caregivers to remember are to exercise flexibility and fun incorporated with fascination. Experiencing success on a regular basis gives the child self-satisfaction which spurs on self-confidence. In your staff meetings address the importance of play and how it can apply to our curriculum and talk about the importance of a stress-free environment and fun activities. Be sure you spark your centers, curriculum with enthusiasm, fun and enjoyment. As you stroll the halls of your center, never forget
to listen for the laughter.

There is a Training Conference once a month given by Susan Johnsen from NAEC. In July her class was on the Shaken Baby Syndrome. Some states are making it mandatory for this particular course and there is legislation right now in other states to make it the law. The
September class is on Fun With Phonics®. Check the TLE Training website for Power Point presentations that you can download to train your staff. Remember, there is a wonderful instructional video in all Fun With Phonics® kits. Susan publishes a calendar of the training from all TLE Departments. She gives you many website addresses for free brochures for you to order on your own as well. Please refer to this website for previous Center Ops trainings: http://docs.tlecorp.com/tleopstraining/TLE, provides its franchisees with a plethora of tools for success. No other childcare franchisor comes close. You have a major investment in your center. Help to make it successful by participating.

Thank you,
Linda Weissman, Senior Vice President
Marketing and Advertising

Charlie Choo Choo® at your center gives your parents and their children a wondrous opportunity every week to explore the unknown, master gross motor skills, enhance their creative thinking, work on their fine motor skills and simply have that little extra fun which is associated with early childhood learning.

Our instructors are of the highest caliber and our standards of education stand out from any of those other programs in today’s market place. We continually strive to better enhance our curriculum with improved lessons and materials to always be on the cutting edge of early childhood learning. We stay ahead of our competitors; while always being sure to keep all those little minds challenged and engaged during our classes.

Consider when making your decision about whether or not to offer Charlie Choo Choo ® at your centers, what we offer and how it is perceived by prospective parents. Today’s generation of young parents are more interested in what their hard earned dollar is buying for them and what their child is receiving for the dollars they spend.

Parents are constantly looking for better ways to introduce those little extras to their children without having to stress out about juggling schedules in order to keep everyone happy. Our programs are just a normal part of the children’s daily lives at TLE and parents can feel great knowing they are enabling their children to get that little something extra as a part of their normal day.

By Laura Campolo, Director, JBJ

Make your block area an important part of your center. Keep it well stocked. Don’t assume that block building is only for boys. That is not true. Girls can become skilled at block building as well. They use their imaginations differently than boys, so girls may use their block building skills to enjoy dramatic play and their storytelling abilities.

In either case, blocks give both girls and boys the opportunity to play and learn together and to share in the development
of their projects.

Create a rich learning environment starting with your bulletin boards. They add measurably and enhance learning. Children at this age are visual learners and gain so much from these displays. In addition, remember that enrolled parents and touring parents will be impressed with awesome boards as well.

By all means, always use child-made displays. Children take pride in observing their work on a display. For instance, designing a November bulletin board can be used to make visual connections to the monthly theme, LEAP curriculum and Thanksgiving holiday. Use vibrant fall colors.

Have your staff discuss bulletin board concepts. Putting all heads together in a team-like fashion will help build the camaraderie so important to staff retention. Remember when designing bulletin boards it is always fun to display photographs of the children at work creating the display materials.

First, the marketing of your center is planned with the supportive TLE marketing team under the keen expertise of Jennifer Hansen and her staff. Then your centers’ personal website is created with and for you by our Art Director, Rick Peckham and our Web Developer, Leista Burnett. Thirdly, you are offered continuous and comprehensive conference training and on-line training tools.  You have the advantage of receiving several parent brochures and a 7.5 minute parent video to hand out to your touring parents.

Television commercials are in the can and ready for you and your TV time will be negotiated with Peter Gary of our Corporate Headquarters. His years of expertise will allow you to get the best possible buys.You will be guided through your leads effectively under the dedicated capabilities of Pat Campolo’s awesome staff headed up by Farhana Rahman.