Happy Acres Childcare

Our Teachers

Happy Acres Childcare has been licensed for 23 years by Tonya Mitchell who has an early childhood education degree. She has been assisted by her daughter, Alyssa Blakley, for three years. Alyssa is licensed as well and has a bachelors degree.

Philosophy

Happy Acres Childcare follows a montessori/play-based program where children choose activities based on their current interests. Teachers encourage the kids to play, facilitating social skills along the way. The play-based classroom is broken up into sections, which include:

Play-

• Table
• Small group areas
• Science area
• Enrichment circle
• Library and reading area
• Space with blocks and other toys
• Plus other areas

Playing It may seem as though children are just playing, however, they are learning valuable skills, including important social skills and cooperation with others, learning about signs (as most items are labeled), and early math.

Framework Creative Spaces is built into a framework – inside this framework we try to introduce flexibility, fluidity and spontaneity, for the children and also for the staff.

Boundaries Kids get firm boundaries, but lots of freedom within those boundaries. When a child plays, he constructs himself.

Discovery Creative Spaces – a place for energetic discovery in which children are left to exercise their five senses, of using their muscles, of sensations, and of physical space. Children choose activities based on their current interests.

About our program

At our school, we teach the concepts of math, science, art, social sciences and early literacy through our play-based, child-led curriculum. We use the interests and ideas of the children as a jumping off place. The materials are open-ended and invite discovery. Children make their own investigations and draw their own conclusions whenever possible.