A Bit of Wonder

Our Teachers

My name is Cheryl Albertelli  and I am the owner/teacher of A Bit of Wonder.  I provide an infant/toddler program for children ages 3 months up to 48 months of age where English is my home language. I am licensed with the State of New Mexico to have five (5) children. My husband and I work as a team to provide care for your children. That is a 2:5 teacher/child ratio. We are both trained in CPR: infant, Toddler, Adult and trained in Pediatric First Aid. 

My teachings are based on practices endorsed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), of which I have been a member since 2015. I hold a Certificate of Achievement from Allan Hancock College in Early Childhood Studies: Preschool/Infant Toddler Program Director. I have 48.5 units of Early Childhood Studies including Multi-cultural/gender, health, safety and administration studies.  I currently carry a 4.0 GPA, and hold a California Child Development Associate Teacher Permit.

Testimonials

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“My 2 year old son really loves A Bit of Wonder! This was his first time experiencing a childcare center environment and he enjoyed every minute of it! I would recommend this center to anyone in the area!” - Daven’s Mom

My daughter Daphne loves it at A Bit of Wonder! There are so many fun activities for her to play and explore! She especially loved the outdoor kitchen. Her imagination ran wild making chocolate soup for Cheryl lol. Her other favorite spot was the reading nook where she had a lot of really fun books, puzzles and musical instruments to learn and play with. As a parent I really like that Cheryl switches out the activities every week or so, so there’s endless opportunities for new & fun things for my daughter to learn. Cheryl’s knowledgeable and reassuring!  My daughter loves learning with her & that’s what matters to us the most! - Daphne’s Mom

“It didn’t take long after Kendra (just shy of 2 years old) and I arrived at  Bit of Wonder for us both to feel at home. Kendra’s eyes seemed to get a little wider each step she took into the building and out into the yard. She seemed to realize right away that this place was designed for people her age! I am impressed with the friendly but professional manner Cheryl displays. She cares about and connects very well with adults and the little people in her care. Kendra and I highly recommend this place!  :) - Kendra’s Great Grandpa

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Philosophy

Here at A Bit of Wonder, I want children to be curious, to grow and develop through play. My mission is to create environments that promote knowledge while inspiring a lifelong love of learning. These environment will be developmentally appropriate, safe, clean and secure, where big smiles, giggles and bare feet are encouraged!

The curriculum here at A Bit of Wonder is designed to help children develop. My approach is based on the Reggio Amelia Philosophy of education. It focuses on free inquiry and the education importance of community as its theoretical bases. Children are naturally curious and excel at acquiring knowledge by collaborating with the children, parents in the community and environment in which they belong. Children are natural communicators and should be encouraged to express themselves however they can.

 Through many types of play the children learn early mathematics, early literacy, language development and science. Children learn to express themselves through activities like art, music, drama, dramatic play, dance, social studies, health and safety. These skills are learned by the environments I will create for them based on their interest.

A Bit of Wonders main program goals are to help children develop a strong sense of well-being, the ability to contribute to play and stories, learning skills for interacting and playing with others, for thinking, exploring and for communicating.

Infants require an immense amount of play and interaction daily! They are learning at an accelerated rate from birth to 12 months.  They are learning language, communicating emotions,  using their bodies and all their senses to discover their world.

Here at A Bit of Wonder we provide loving relationships so that children feel comfortable, safe, confident and encouraged. By providing this kind of environment and positive relationships it helps children develop trust, empathy, compassion and a sense of right and wrong.

Preschoolers need responsive care-giving. Simply put, we get to know you children’s needs, build and provide a collaborative relationship  and support your child’s developing skills. I like to call this meeting your child where they are at.

Location

The Bit of Wonder Daycare is located in the lovely El Dorado Heights neighborhood nestled below the Sandia Mountins.

We are close to many educational sites: The El Dorado High School, John Baker Elementary School, S Y Jackson Elementry School and the New Mexico Community College ,Montoya Campus.

Other places near by are: Duke City Urgent Care, Sandia Labratories Federal Credit Union, Lowe’s and Walmart, Sunset Canyon Park and Canine Skyline Dog to mention just a few.

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About our program

I believe that children are born genius and learning through play is essential for a child’s brain development. The most significant brain development happens particularly in the first two years of life, roughly 80% of the brain development is completed by age three and 90% by age five. I believe through playing, children are learning valuable skills like language and communication, motor development, problem-solving, math and science concepts including shapes, gravity, balance and counting. Learning through play is vital for laying the foundation for formal education.

It is important for me to create what I call a structured “Yes” environment. Meaning, the children can explore, create, be engaged and develop at their own pace without hesitation or fear. I believe the classroom environment (in & outside) acts as a third teacher. I listen to the children in order to define individual learning experiences, provide open ended discovery, and present opportunities for problem-solving. I will facilitate the exploration of the children’s interests as they work and play on short and long term projects as well as create play environments that are stimulating, compelling and inviting which will encourage children to explore their world.

As a teacher I am a partner, nurturer, and guide. In order for learning to be effective and meaningful, each child’s point of view must be completely respected and the experiences must make sense to the child. I believe that meeting children where they are at socially, emotionally and developmentally will help me guide and meet the needs of the whole child.

I like to consider myself a ‘mindful’ educator who is aware of herself and the language I use. Children learn about the world from experiences and the adults around them. As an adult I feel I must retain my inner child and embrace every day as if I were seeing it for the first time. Like looking at the world through a fresh lens of a child! We adults must facilitate and allow children to see all, to wonder in this incredible world and feel pleasure in just BEING!

I encourage you to come visit me. You will find that we care for your children as you do. I will alleviate any worries or concerns you have and make this a smooth and enjoyable experience for both you and your child! Be curious! I know when you walk through my doors you’ll get that feeling of “this is the one!!”

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