Available Programs

In our Infant & Baby classrooms we look forward to engaging your child in a pleasant environment where we will be meeting their basic needs and supporting their development.  Our goal is to help your child develop and grow emotionally and socially which allows them the opportunity to enhance their development.  Our Infant classrooms are "on demand", and this means children eat and sleep when they want to.  The structure of the day is built on feedings, diaper changes, sleeping, bonding, and play. The teacher-to-child ratio in our infant rooms are 1:4.    

Bonding is a very important action that needs to take place for your infant to feel safe.  Some of the ways caregivers  bond with infants are:  holding for all feedings, looking into their eyes and talking to them, smiling, rocking them to sleep, and for older infants, gentle redirection when needed.  Your infant will complete many milestones in the next year.  Though we look for those progressions, they are guidelines and each infant develops at their own pace.  

Infant activities and play include tummy time, supported sitting, reading books, and free movement all with access to age appropriate, safe toys. We also offer art and music.  We strive to take infants & babies outside every day, weather permitting.

Creative Curriculum Infant/Toddler is the primary curriculum implemented at ABC.  Creative Curriculum is designed to meet the basic needs of the children through routines and experiences and creates an atmosphere in which children feel safe, feel emotionally secure, and have a sense of belonging.  The Creative Curriculum offers teaching strategies that encompass early childhood learning.  Please see the Curriculum tab for a more in-depth description of the Creative Curriculum Infant/Toddler.

Safe sleeping is a high priority in our infant classrooms.  The model we follow for safe sleep consists of: laying infants on their back to sleep; using (non swaddle) sleep sacks to keep infants warm; no blankets, toys or pillows in the crib; tight fitting sheets; no mobiles.  Caregivers check on sleeping infants frequently and when baby starts to roll or change position, caregivers turn them over until they have mastered rolling from front to back. We do not use or recommend using swaddle blankets for infants. 

ABC accommodates disposable diapers and cloth diaper systems at our centers.  For families who use cloth  diapers at home, we will discuss proper arrangements with how the diapers will come and go from the center.

Feeding is done "on demand."  Whether you're using formula or breast milk, all bottles must be prepared and ready to use and labeled.  If your child is ready for solids, the food shall be prepared and ready to eat.  ABC offers snacks for older infants two times daily.   

Parents will enjoy the convenience of our Daily Communication App.  Parents have the capability to know immediately what their child is doing during the day and their general care such as: feedings, diaper changes, activities, health checks, milestones, moods, and other needs. You don't have to wait for the end of the day to find out how your baby's day was.  You can connect to your account anytime, whether you're at work, at home or away on a trip. Parents also have the capability to message caregivers directly.  

In the Toddler Classrooms, caregivers support toddlers’ emotional, physical and cognitive development by providing routines and experiences that are consistent, comfortable, and tailored to individual needs and interests.  Your child is also emerging in skills such as:  language, independence, mobility, impulse control, and may show signs of interest in the potty.

We will be working on stimulating your child and enhancing their daily activities through play. Our goal is to encourage your child to grow and continue to advance in all developmental domains and independence. The teacher-to-child ratio in our Toddler rooms are 1:4. 

Your toddler is developing at a rapid pace.  Toddlers succeed in mastering an amazing number of skills between ages 1 year and 3 years.  Our toddler classroom is prepared daily to encourage children to test, explore,  and master new skills and concepts.  

Toddlers are very busy and curious.  Our classrooms are created with the knowledge that toddlers need to move!  Climbing, crawling, jumping, and dancing are what your child will experience in our toddler classrooms.  Your child has a huge capacity for movement and is learning to solve problems and get along with others.  Caregivers come along side your toddler to help solve conflicts with others and to guide them in navigating their environment.  Toddlers go outside daily for for play and buggy rides.  Our teacher-to-child ratio for toddlers is generally 1:4 (14 months-2 1/2 years). For older toddlers (2 ½-3 years), the ratio is 1:8 

Creative Curriculum Infant/Toddler is the primary curriculum implemented at ABC.  Creative Curriculum is designed to meet the basic needs of the children through routines and experiences and creates an atmosphere in which children feel safe, feel emotionally secure, and have a sense of belonging.  The Creative Curriculum offers teaching strategies that encompass early childhood learning.  Please see the Curriculum tab for a more in-depth description of the Creative Curriculum Infant/Toddler.

Specials & Events

Specials and events are sprinkled weekly, monthly, and yearly into our programs.  Some of the extras your child may experience are;  Mr. Laurence the Music Man, The Critter Man, The Lenawee County Library Book Mobile, Ms. Karen the storyteller, and Picture Day Fall & Spring. 

ABC accommodates disposable diapers and cloth diaper systems at our centers.  For families who use cloth  diapers at home, we will discuss proper arrangements with how the diapers will come and go from the center.  Your child may show signs of interest in toilet training.  ABC works with parents to note signs of readiness.  Caregivers and parents develop a routine that provides consistency between home and school.  ABC's toilet training policy is available upon request. When children start toilet training pull-ups with velcro sides are required. 

Solid foods, sippy cups, and messes-oh my!  Your toddler is learning many skills when eating.  Breakfast, lunch, and snack times are part of the curriculum in all classrooms.  Though toddler eating times can be very messy, there is an enormous amount of learning taking place through social interaction.   

ABC provides snack daily at 9:30am and 3:00pm.  Milk and water are provided at snack times and lunch time.  Parents are responsible for providing a nutritious lunch for their child daily.  From time to time we have holiday parties and special events when we may provide lunch.  Parents will be informed of dates and times of those events upon enrollment.

Nap time is part of our daily routine.  Your child rests on his/her own mat with a crib sheet and small blanket provided by the parent.  The setting for nap time begins with calming music and caregivers patting backs or rocking children to sleep.

Parents will enjoy the convenience of our Daily Communication App.  Parents have the capability to know immediately what their child is doing during the day and their general care such as; feedings, diaper changes, toilet training, activities, health checks, milestones, moods, and other needs. You  don't have to wait for the end of the day to find out how your child's day was.  You can connect to your account anytime, whether you're at work, at home or away on a trip. Parents also have the capability to message caregivers directly.  

In our Jr. Preschool classrooms children will learn through direct, active, hands-on learning experiences that facilitate each child’s overall development.  Added structure to the daily schedule prepares the Jr. Preschool children to start to work within time frames yet still offers flexibility needed for this age group.  Teachers add fun to transition times using "Mighty Minutes" to break up the structure into smaller parts of the day.   Jr. Preschool is in session year round.  The teacher-to-child ratio in our Jr. Preschool rooms are 1:8. 

Independence, Independence, Independence!  Your child can accomplish many tasks including  self-help skills, completing jobs in the classroom, and helping at home.  Learning takes on a new direction as added structure enters their life.

Children will be  encouraged to experiment, problem solve, and take initiative in their  learning environment through active play situations.  Children will work on name recognition and emerging writing skills, complete projects using their emerging writing skills, learn to recognize and identify the letters of the alphabet as well as the beginning sounds  that each letter makes. They will practice counting, one to one  correspondence, patterning, sequencing and a variety of other hands-on  math activities. They will be involved in the active exploration of  various creative art materials as well as music and movement. Children  will be challenged daily with a variety of activities that are designed  to meet the children’s interests.  Jr.Preschool provides the building blocks needed to equip children with the skills to continue on their learning journey onto Preschool and beyond. 

The Creative Curriculum Preschool is the primary curriculum implemented at ABC.  The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that promotes exploration and discovery as a way of learning, enabling children to develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills.

Specials & Events

Specials and events are sprinkled weekly, monthly, and yearly into our programs.  Some of the extras your child may experience are: Mr. Laurence the Music Man, The Critter Man, The Lenawee County Library Book Mobile, Ms. Karen the storyteller, Picture Day Fall & Spring, and during summer (June-August), the Jr. Preschool classrooms may enjoy limited field trips.  

Toilet learning is an ongoing part of the curriculum for Jr. Preschool. Your child may be succeeding in the toilet training process or may be trained already.  Jr. Preschool classrooms have bathrooms available in the classroom to make training more convenient for the child as we know they need access in a hurry!  Children who are interested in using the toilet do so at will,  and with assistance and gentle reminders from caregivers. Most children are  toilet trained around the age of three years, some earlier and some  later.  Pull-ups with velcro sides are required in this classroom.  

Lunch time is a very social event in Jr. Preschool.  Learning takes place even at the lunch table!  Children and teachers come together to eat, talk, and clean together. ABC provides snack daily at 9:30am and 3:00pm.  Milk and water are provided at snack times and lunch time.  Parents are responsible for providing a nutritious lunch for their child daily.  From time to time we have holiday parties and special events when we may provide lunch.  Parents will be informed of dates and times of those events upon enrollment. 

Rest time is part of our daily routine.  Your child rests on his/her own mat with a crib sheet and small blanket provided by the parent.  The setting for nap time begins with reading books and calming music.  Caregivers start patting backs helping children to calm themselves and rest or fall to sleep. 

As your child grows, matures, and becomes more independent the use the communication app fades away.  In Jr. Preschool we use the communication app to track toilet training.  You don't have to wait for the end of the day to find out how your child is succeeding in toilet training and you still have the capability to message caregivers directly. 

In our Preschool Programs children learn through experimenting, problem solving, social interaction, and taking initiative in eleven interest areas in the classroom through active play situations.  Your child's day is led by their interests.  Structure in the daily schedule allows for transitions and changes and provides plenty of opportunity for your child to apply what they know and continue experimenting with skills that are emerging.   Preschool is in session year round. The teacher-to-child ratio in our preschool rooms are 1:10.    

Preschool children will practice recognizing their name, completing projects using their emerging writing skills, learn to recognize and identify the letters of the alphabet as well as the beginning sounds  that each letter makes, self help skills, and many other early childhood skills. Teachers and children investigate studies from the Creative Curriculum.  The children analyze, manipulate, critically think, solve problems, and learn about the materials and concepts in the studies.  They will practice counting, one to one  correspondence, patterning, sequencing and a variety of other hands-on  math activities that are built into the classroom environment. They will be involved in the active exploration of various creative art materials as well as music and movement. Children  will be challenged daily with a variety of activities that are designed  to meet the children’s interests.  Preschool provides a solid foundation so children are equipped with skills to propel them into Kindergarten and beyond. 

The Creative Curriculum Preschool is the primary curriculum implemented at ABC.  The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that promotes exploration and discovery as a way of learning, enabling children to develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills. 

ABC provides snack daily at 9:30am and 3:00pm.  Milk and water are provided at snack times and lunch time.  Parents are responsible for providing a nutritious lunch for their child daily.  From time to time we have holiday parties and special events when we may provide lunch.  Parents will be informed of dates and times of those events upon enrollment. 

Rest time is part of our daily routine.  Your child rests on his/her own mat with a crib sheet and small blanket provided by the parent.  The setting for nap time begins with reading books and calming music.  Caregivers start patting backs helping children to calm themselves and rest or fall to sleep. 

What is school readiness?  School readiness includes a set of skills that go beyond being  “kindergarten ready” and prepares children for success in school — and  in life. These broad skills include:  Knowledge application, social-emotional skills, critical thinking and problem solving, innovation and creative thinking, and positive disposition for learning. 

The Creative Curriculum has school readiness concepts built into its structure.  Your child will gain school readiness skills by experiencing the following;

1. Opportunities for meaningful play, project work, experimentation, and discovery. 
2. Math, literacy, and science (content) interwoven throughout the day, rather than in isolation (worksheets and flash cards). 
3. An emphasis on trusting relationships and caring social interactions.
4. Well-rounded literacy activities.
5. Open-ended art, storytelling, poetry, dramatic play, music, and experiences in nature. 

Specials and events are scheduled weekly, monthly, and yearly into our programs.  Some of the extras your child may experience are:  Mr. Laurence the Music Man, The Critter Man, The Lenawee County Library Book Mobile, Ms. Karen the storyteller, Croswell Theater trip, Kapnick Orchard Fall Trip, Picture Day Fall & Spring, and during summer (June-August), the Preschool classrooms enjoy weekly field trips.

School Districts that offer transportation to and from ABC Tecumseh include the following:  Tecumseh School District, Clinton School District, and Britton-Deerfield School District.  Parents are required to contact the school district bus garage to set their child's bus schedule.   

ABC provides 1 snack in the afternoon for before and after care.  Milk or water is provided at snack and lunch times.  If your child has a 1/2 day and will attend our program, parents are required to pack a healthy lunch that is prepared and ready to eat.  Public Schools do not offer lunch on 1/2 days.  ABC Tecumseh serves school age children ages 5 years to 10 years.

School districts that offer transportation to and from ABC Adrian include the following:  Adrian School District and Madison School District.  Parents are required to contact the school district bus garage to set their child's bus schedule. 

ABC provides 1 snack in the afternoon for before and after care.  Milk or water is provided at snack and lunch times.  If your child has a 1/2 day and will attend our program, parents are required to pack a healthy lunch that is prepared and ready to eat.  Public Schools do not offer lunch on 1/2 days. ABC Adrian serves school age children ages 5 year to 8 years.

ABC Saline serves school age children ages 5 year to 8 years.  The before and after school program is currently unavailable.  Summer programming is available.  Please see below for more information.

ABC Tecumseh and ABC Adrian accommodate snow days and school delays.  Should your child need care for those unexpected times,  all you need to do is sign-up and get on the list!  Your child will be offered a morning snack on a delay day.  Should a delay turn into a snow day, your child will need a prepared lunch.      

In the short time that your child is in our care before and after school, they will be busy engaged in play with other school-age children. Arts and crafts, building blocks, and manipulative toys will be available to them. Teachers are present and available to facilitate and supervise outdoor play, play games, do puzzles and communicate with the children. During snow days and days off of school, we do allow the occasional Tech Day, when children are permitted to bring hand-held technology with them. This is pre-planned, monitored and limited by teachers. We also do plan the occasional field trip on already scheduled days off.

ABC's summer programming sustains children’s educational level by supplying fun academic based lessons. Reading, writing, math, and life skills are part of our every day summer programming and curriculum. The daily schedule for summer includes a ½ hour devoted to reading, outdoor  time, free time, field trips, silly fun days, water play, scheduled tech days and more.  ABC provides 2 snacks daily at 9:30 and 3:00. Milk or water is provided at snack and lunch. 

ABC's summer programming keeps school-age children stimulated and engaged throughout the summer. The administration takes great pride in creating "the summer field trip lineup." 

Tecumseh & Adrian field trip venues:   Indian Creek Zoo, Clinton Theater, Chelsea Treehouse, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Island Park, Lenawee Christian Corner Park, Sylvania Playland.

Saline field trip venues:   Indian Creek Zoo, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Imagination Station.

We also provide on-site enrichment such as Movie and Popcorn Day, organized sports and bike riding, Magic Joe, Bookmobile, Classroom Critters, and our Summer Kick-off Party.  We do schedule the occasional Tech Day during the summer when children are permitted to bring hand-held technology with them. This is pre-planned, monitored, and limited by teachers.