Our Programs
What we offer
Quality Care that Feels Like Home
We know that choosing a childcare provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child. That’s why we offer exceptional care in a safe, secure environment, guided by professional and nurturing staff. Here, your child will feel right at home in a warm, comfortable setting designed for growth and happiness.
6 weeks to 3 years
Nurturing trusting and secure relationships, active engagement, and blossoming exploration. Helping children to develop self-confidence by laying the groundwork for language and social skills along with burgeoning independence.
2.9 years to 6 years
Enhancing social and cognitive development through guided discovery and cooperative play while fostering curiosity, creativity and a desire to discover and find solutions. Encouraging literacy, hands-on numeracy, problem solving, respect for others, artistic expression, and scientific understanding through independent activities and social interaction.
5 years to 6 years
Offering stimulation and excitement with peer discovery. This program operates in conjunction with the morning public Kindergarten program. Children in this program combine with the Preschool.
6 years to 13 years
Designed to enrich children’s social, recreational, and educational development through fun and engaging activities during the summer break. Applewood offers themed weeks including art, science, fitness, games, literature, critical thinking, and lots of age-appropriate play. Let your child’s imagination soar!
Why Mixed-Age Grouping?
There are many benefits to having children grouped in mixed ages, including: continuity of care, role models, leadership skills, social skills, smaller group sizes, fewer transitions, and stronger relationships among children, staff, and families.
Interested in learning more?
Contact us today to request additional information.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Pyramid Model
Applewood’s teachers are trained in The Pyramid Model, a framework designed to support young children’s social-emotional development and address challenging behaviors in early childhood settings. It provides a tiered approach to promoting positive behavior and creating supportive learning environments.
FAQs
Absolutely! The Applewood teaching staff conduct on-going assessments of the children’s development through checklists, portfolios, and observations. These assessments are shared with the family annually during our family-teacher conferences.
Applewood prides itself on offering “best-practice” ratios that meet or exceed the NH Bureau of Child Care Licensing requirements. Our Infant ratio is 3 or 4 to 1, Toddler is 5 or 6 to 1, Preschool is 8 or 12 to 1 and School Age is 15 to 1.
Each infant naps in their own crib according to their own needs. Safe Sleep practices are always followed. Toddlers nap once each day after lunch, for about 2-3 hours. Preschoolers also nap after lunch for about an hour or two. School-agers are offered quiet time after their lunch. All children are allowed to fall asleep and wake up according to their own biological rhythms. Children who do not fall asleep within 30 minutes are provided with a quiet activity while their friends sleep.
The staff at Applewood places great value on the benefits of outdoor play, fresh air, exercise, and connecting with nature. While infant schedules are individualized, we aim to bring the infants outside each day. All other classrooms have outdoor play scheduled twice each day. Applewood offers a traditional playground with climbers and swings, as well our “Outdoor Classroom”, a unique natural playspace.
Outdoor time is dependent upon weather conditions: during the winter months, windchill or air temperature must be above 15 degrees, during the summer months we avoid the hours of 12-2 and stay inside on “Air Quality Action Days” as determined by the NH Department of Environmental Services. Additionally, we follow a “sun safe” policy requiring hats and sunscreen during the warmer months, and encouraging insect repellent when the threat of EEE is present.
Applewood offers a nutritious afternoon snack each day for all children over the age of one. Each family provides their child’s morning snack and lunch, and Applewood provides milk at lunch each day. Families of infants provide breastmilk or formula as well as any meals or snacks until the infant is one year old.
