FAQ
Can I drop in and visit my child during the day?
Yes. Parents are welcome to drop in at any time.
What age children do you care for at The Tot Spot?
We care for children from the age of 6 months to 12 years.
Does The Tot Spot care for children with special needs?
We meet with all parents and children prior to enrollment to discuss the individual needs of the child. If we feel that our environment is in the best interest of the child and their family we will be more that happy to provide care.
How do I get my child ready to start in a child care program?
Talk to the child about the change they will be experiencing. Bring your child in prior to the first day to visit the facility and meet the teacher and other children. Leave them there for a brief period of time, so that they know you will be back.
How do I know when my child is ready to begin toilet training?
Most children are ready to begin the process between 24-27 months of age, but some will be ready sooner or later than that. Look for these readiness skills:
desire to please
desire for independence
ability to communicate needs
motor skills that will enable them to walk to the potty, get off and dress themselves
fairly predictable bowel movements
stays dry for 2 or more hours at a time
show an interest in using the bathroom
Are pull-ups a good idea while toilet training?
In my opinion they are not. They can keep a child feeling dry, which inhibits their sensation of wetness. Pull ups are costly and tend to impede the toilet training process.
What kind of training do The Tot Spot teachers have?
The staff at The Tot Spot are extremely well qualified. In addition to their base training which consists of college or vocational courses, they receive 30 hours of training per licensing period in classes pertinent to their positions. In addition, all our staff must successfully complete their CPR and first aid certifications.
Do you offer a special summer program for school-age children?
Yes, we certainly do. Each summer we have 4 "camp sessions" with special themes. One of our favorite was Guinness Book of World Records. Throughout those 2 weeks the kids discovered the strange records that were held by people around the world documented in the Guinness book. They competed amongst themselves in such activities as card stacking, biggest bubble gum bubble, longest paperclip chain, etc. They had great fun trying to break some of the record in the book.
In addition, we have many guests visit the kids, such as Scott Hesko, the Channel 8 chief meteorologist, the Rochester Museum and Science Center and Little Science Wizards. We also went to Springdale Farms, the Rochester International Airport and the Genesee Country Museum and addition to offering swimming lessons.
How do I know if my child has learning problems requiring intervention?
The Tot Spot staff assesses the children on a regular basis to detect strengths and weaknesses in learning. The executive director of our centers has a Masters degree in special education and worked in that field for ten years. If we feel that there is a problem, we will notify you immediately. In addition, our local school districts are always available to asses your child if you make the request. This is done free of charge and at your convenience.
Can I call The Tot Spot during the day to check on my child?
Yes, you may do so at any time.
Can Grandma and Grandpa Visit?
Yes as long as they are listed on your visitors list and they provide proper photo identification.
How do you handle disciplinary issues at The Tot Spot?
We try to guide children to resolve conflicts and come up with appropriate solutions to problems. We redirect the children whenever possible and help them come up with alternative solutions to difficult situations. We listen to them, acknowledge their feelings and frustrations and help them to work through everyday social situations in positive ways. Hopefully this will result in providing children with the tools to make better choices.
What is Family Style Dining?
We, at The Tot Spot, believe that each minute of the day is a learning experience. Lunch and snack time are certainly no exception. These times provide the children with the opportunity to learn manners, as well as appropriate conversation skills. In addition, the gradual improvement in fine motor control that comes through practice enables the children to pour their own drinks, scoop their own peas, cut their own meat and use dining utensils successfully. The concept of making good choices also comes into play; for example, if they do not like peas, taking three scoops would not be a good choice.
Do you go on field trips?
We take the children out of the centers for various cultural events on average once a month, except for December and January, due to the weather. We use regular size school buses in which all children under the age of 4 must be in car seats. Parents bring in a seat labeled with the childs name and we load it onto the bus. We always place a sign up sheet on the front bulletin boards at least 20 days prior to the scheduled trip. This is where parents may sign up their children to attend and also to chaperone if they so desire. This grants us permission to take the children out of the building for a field trip. Some examples of our trips are The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, The Strong Museum, and the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
