Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions were answered by me, (Ms. Melissa). We hope that this FAQ page will help answer many questions you may want to ask during a tour (and some you probably haven't thought of!)
Please be sure to read the full FAQ page prior to contacting to ensure we are a good fit before we schedule a tour. Thank you! :)
“Can I schedule a tour?”
Yes! I would love to show you around our preschool! Before you schedule a tour, please read the helpful hints on scheduling a tour located at the bottom of the Schedule a Tour page.
"Do you have any openings available?"
Every year we typically have 1-3 children graduating from LBCMP and leaving for kindergarten in the fall and we also often have teacher's children enrolled, who are off in the summer so we do typically have openings available beginning in Summer and Fall. You may also enroll at any time and be placed on our waiting list. You will be called as soon as an opening becomes available.
"What about Covid?"
Even prior to Covid, we have always practiced good hygiene because even the flu is no fun. :) We wash hands throughout the day and before any meals. Hand sanitizer is on top of our cubbies for teachers and parents to use as well. Children have always used their own cots, cribs, their own cups, and do not share these things. Things like blankets, cups, and pack-and-plays are color coordinated so they and teachers know which ones are theirs, cots have labels with their names on them because all the cots look the same. We also have a hepa filter in our classroom that cleanses the air of germs. Since covid, we also now check temps more often using a forehead digital thermometer and all parents and staff are required to wear a mask while in the classroom. So far we have had no outbreaks however if we do have an outbreak we would follow the CDC's guidelines and quarantine.
"What is the Montessori Method?"
The key aspects of the Montessori method are:
-
Teaching is child-led, rather than teacher-led. (See examples on the About Us page)
-
The class is made of group of children of different ages, older children learn to care for younger children, and younger children learn from the older children.
-
Furniture in the classroom is child sized, and all learning tools are easily accessible to the children on child-level
-
Children learn the alphabet using lower case letters, the reasoning for this is because when reading text, a majority of the letters are lower-cased, as only the beginning of sentences are upper case, they also learn the sounds of the letters
-
There are 5 key points of learning in Montessori; Language, Sensorial, Practical Life, Mathematics, and Cultural Studies.
-
Art, music and movements are also very important in Montessori.
You can learn more about the Montessori teaching method by clicking here.
"When is the school year?" We are a year-round childcare and Montessori preschool program. Children may jump right in any time during the year.
"What ages do you accept?"
We accept ages 6 weeks and up until they leave for kindergarten or up to 6 years old. However, sometimes past little bears who are now school-aged will come back in the summer. Having a mixed age group is wonderful, the younger children learn from the older children and the older children learn how to be gentile and caring to the younger children. We typically have a couple of children in each age group enrolled. (baby bears (<12 mo), littles (1-2 years old), and preschoolers (3-5 year olds).
"I have an infant, can you tell me more about how you care for infants?"
Having four children of my own, in addition to caring for many baby bears over the years, you can be sure your baby bear is in great hands. We cater to each families’ individual needs, as every family has a different way of parenting. We will do our best to mimic your parenting style, however please know that having other children to care for, we cannot do baby-wearing, however baby bears certainly get lots of cuddles and hugs from us! :) We understand that milestones are very important for parents. If a baby bear takes their first steps or says their first words while at LBP, we will not notify you of these things (unless of course you WANT us to!) because we want YOU to experience the "first milestones" yourself. We also understand the huge weight on your shoulders as parents, leaving your child in the care of someone else. We will do our best to keep you involved in your child's day, for the first few days we are more than happy to send you pictures of your child to your email so you can worry less and see your child during the day. If you are a breast feeding mother, you are welcome to nurse your baby here. We will make accommodations for you to nurse comfortably. Please know that we will feed infants when they are hungry, and we let them sleep whenever they want. We do not encourage a specific routine until they are older than 1 years old.
"Where are you located?"
We are conveniently located off of Morse Rd & Northtowne Blvd, I-71 is just down the road from us. Please click on the "Schedule a Tour" tab to learn more. Please look our address up on Google Maps prior to scheduling a tour, so there are no surprises that we may be located too far from you. Often times parents like our program, schedule a tour, and then realize that we are not on a convenient route for their commute. Mapping our address ahead of time helps to not waste your time or our time scheduling tours. :) We do however have parents that drive 30-45 minutes to bring their child here, so I can assure you we are worth the drive! ;)
"What are your rates?"
Our tuition rate breaks down to only $4.75/hour! Please click on the "Services & Tuition" page for more tuition cost information.
"What hours your business hours?"
Our preschool is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm. I cannot do earlier than 8:00am because I need to have time to drop my own sons' off to school in the mornings. I appreciate your understanding.
"How many children are enrolled?”
We have a smaller class size, vs. larger preschools who have around 18+ children enrolled in one class.
"Can you tell me about yourself?"
Please click on the "About Us" page to learn all about us!
"Do you accept Title XX?"
No, sorry we do not. We accept private pay only.
"What curriculum do you teach the children?"
Lesson plans are created by me, through studying the Montessori method and researching new ideas and concepts of learning. We have weekly themes, which are then comprised of the key concepts of Montessori using Montessori ideas and authentic Montessori learning tools. Children will learn subjects through weekly themes (e.g. Arctic Animals, space, dinosaurs, etc), letters, numbers, shapes, colors, manners, and more. Please click on the "Services & Tuition" tab above to learn more,
"Can you tell us about your classroom?"
We have a wonderful, safe classroom completely dedicated to our preschool! Rather than having children scattered throughout the whole house, we have built a child-friendly classroom suited just for them where we can keep a close eye on the children and learn in a space catered to the children. There is a separate entrance just for our classroom. Parents may drop off and pick up children at our preschool door, located to left of the house. When designing our new classroom, I made it FOR the children. It has 4 brand new walls, child-safe electric outlets, recessed lighting (no lamps to knock over leaving broken bulb), easy access to the bathroom across the hall, and more. I often rearrange our classroom to suit the needs of our current students and their different ages. To keep our classroom exciting and fresh, I often rotate toys, furniture, & etc. We use our main classroom for most of the day. However occasionally we spend time in the main house, in the living room and of course we go outside to play.
"How do you incorporate technology into your preschool?"
Children are allowed 20-30 minutes each of tablet or computer time occasionally, to learn and play on educational games.
"I want my child to attend a real preschool. Is Little Bear a real preschool?"
Little Bear is a home preschool, meaning our preschool is located within our home. I take pride in knowing my preschool is a great preschool and possibly even better than a large, institutional preschool due to its smaller class size and individualized and customized learning. Let's define a what a "real preschool" is. A "real preschool" is a place where children under elementary school age are socializing and interacting with other children, learning in-depth thematic lessons, manners, preschool fundamentals such as the alphabet, colors, shapes and more.
Preschool children also create art, learn large and fine motor skills, learn through play, and more. Little Bear Childcare & Montessori Preschool encompasses all of that. However, rather than a child being in a class with lots of other children, they are in a smaller sized class, there is more individualized care and learning, and they grow up with the same teacher for years to come.
Unlike large commercial centers, where teachers are underpaid, burned out and often quit, leaving children with several different teachers and caregivers throughout their young life, a child here becomes a part of our family and I apart of their family.
Little Bear Childcare & Montessori Preschool may be ran from my home, but it is a real preschool.
I have researched and thought about opening a large preschool outside of my home, however, by operating from home, I save thousands of dollars in overhead costs, which passes the savings along to you. LBCMP is not just my job. It's my passion. I take my role as a teacher and caregiver very seriously. It humbling to know that parents choose me to teach and care for what is most precious to them.
"Do you teach religion?"
We do not teach religion. Our goal is to actively engage children in learning, for them to be in a happy, fun, safe, learning environment and prepare for kindergarten. I feel, it is not our place to teach religion, as many people have different beliefs. We do celebrate Easter, Christmas, and other holidays, but we do it in a celebratory way, not in a religious way.
"How does the Flat Rate Tuition work?"
With flat our rate tuition, you pay your monthly tuition ($950, split into two $475 payments per month) $475 is due on the 1st of each month and $475 is due on the 15th of each month. You may also choose to pay the full monthly tuition of $950 on the 1st of each month.
You have a 3-day grace period to pay your tuition until the 3rd and 17th of each month. (There is a $5 per day late fee if you pay after the 3rd day)
With flat rate, you are paying the same amount each month, no more, no less. You are paying for the spot, not for individual days.
For example, if you paid $237.50 weekly, times that by 52 weeks in a year, that equals $12,350.00 a year in tuition. With our flat rate, you are paying $950 times 12 months. That equals $11,400.00 per year. That means with our flat rate, you are saving $950 per year. So even though you still pay your flat rate when Little Bear is closed, or if your child is absent, you are not “losing” money.
We do a flat rate because it keeps the preschool’s funds consistent, provides simple record keeping, and it also makes tracking payments easier for families. You don't have to keep track of what weeks or days you have paid for. Please understand your tuition is for holding your child's spot in our program, tuition is not for individual days or weeks.
"Why do you charge the rates that you do?"
I believe with the experience, the amount of services and quality learning that I have to offer, the monthly tuition cost is a fair rate. Please remember, you get what you pay for. Home preschools or daycare's who charge only $100 a week don't always go the extra step. We charge a $250 deposit fee because we want to make sure that parents asking to hold a spot for their child are serious and are not going to back out last minute. We don't want to hold a spot for someone who is not serious about enrolling because if they change their mind for whatever reason, it causes us to have missed out on many opportunities to fill that spot. The deposit fee goes towards your first month's tuition and is non-refundable.
"Do you have a degree?"
I am always continuing my education in Early Childhood Education through several ways. One way I do that is being a member of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and Ohio AEYC, and attending conferences and workshops in Early Childhood Education. I also do lots of online training, as being an involved mother and running my own business full time doesn't leave me much free time to leave the house and attend school for 8 hours a day, online training is the best fit for me. I next plan to go back to school at Columbus State for my Early Childhood Education & Administration Certificate. I also would like to train at the North American Montessori Center (NAMC) for a Montessori Teacher Diploma. Recently, I trained to become a Dona International Certifying Birth Doula. I love to learn, and I believe to be a great teacher, we ourselves must always be learning as well. A big fancy degree from a two or four-year brick-and-mortar college is great, for those who choose and are able to pursue it. However, I am a free spirit, and a four-year degree just wasn't my thing. I don't believe a degree determines my worth as a teacher or as a person. After all, I am teaching preschool fundamentals, not quantum physics! ;)
"How do I get on the wait list?"
For planned future openings, to get on our wait list, please fill out and return our Registration Form, and deposit ($250). You may mail it to us or drop it off. Your deposit will go towards your first month's tuition, and is non-refundable.
If we are full and see no planned openings in the near future, a deposit is not needed and we will place your child's name and your contact information on the wait list and contact you as soon as an opening becomes available, then if you chose to enroll, the deposit and registration forms will be needed.
"Do you accept part time children?"
We do. Some children only come half days or full days for 3-4 days a week. However the tuition cost remains the same in most cases. Parents are welcome to use our services during our business hours. So if your child only needs to attend 4 days a week, if you sometimes need to run errands, you may still drop your child off on the 5th day even though you may be off work, please remember your monthly tuition is for your child's spot in our program, not based on individual days. :) However occasionally, we may be able to negotiate a part time tuition rate if we have the availability.
"My child has never been to preschool or a daycare before. What do I do?"
We will work with each child individually to make them feel comfortable here. If needed, we can offer a small free adjustment period, where you may drop your child off 1-2 hours at a time, 2 or 3 times a week before they begin full time, to get them used to coming here. Please understand that often times children who haven't been to a daycare or preschool before will have adjustment issues at first. It may take days, weeks, or even months for some children. It is normal for some children to cry when they are dropped off. Once they get used to the new routine, and they start making friends, they will feel more comfortable. Lingering at drop off time makes it worse. Say your goodbyes and exit promptly. The longer you linger; the more anxiety your child gets. They are thinking to themselves "Maybe mommy/daddy is staying?", and when you finally do leave, they are even more upset. Once you promptly leave, I can get them distracted with something fun to do, and get them to calm down. I know it really pulls at your heartstrings when your child cries for you. You may cry too. It's ok. Please know that you are doing your very best and that your child is in great hands. I will send you pictures and updates on our app to help ease your mind to show you that your child is okay.
"How much experience do you have with children?"
I have been caring for children since I was 16 years old. I had my first son when I was 20 years old, and started my family child care business in 2007 and it has evolved into my passion.
"Is Little Bear tax deductible?"
Yes. In January I provide a receipt for the previous year which includes your total year's worth of payments made, as well as my EIN number to file your childcare tax deductions.
“Do the children play outside?”
Yes, every day weather permitting. We do not go outside if it’s 45 degrees or under, and/or if it is snowing or raining.
“Do you have any questions for me as a parent?”
Yes! Does your child have any special needs we should know about?
Do they have any allergies?
What is your ideal preschool/child care experience for your child?
Have they been to a daycare or preschool before?
If so, why are you leaving your current provider?
How did you hear about Little Bear Preschool?
What is your child's normal routine like?
Tell me about your family.
"Do you accept children who are not yet potty trained?"
Yes! Unlike some other preschools, we understand that every child develops at a different pace. So that is OK if your child is still in diapers. We check diapers every two hours or less and change diapers as needed. Of course if we smell a BM, we will change the child right away.
“Do you help potty train my child?”
Yes. We will work with you and your child to potty train your little bear. Over the years I have helped successfully potty train dozens of children. I recommend waiting until your child is at least 2.5 years old to begin. Any earlier than that, just prolongs the process and stresses you and your child out because young children sometimes do not have the muscle control (the muscle you use to stop your stream of pee). Sometimes they just can't hold it, not because they aren't trying hard enough, but because they don't have physical control over that muscle yet. So when you are ready to begin potty training your child, (when your child seems interested in the potty, not when YOU seem interested in them using the potty) we will be happy to help guide you through the process. It takes consistency to potty train, we have to be on the same page and have the same routines at preschool and at home for it to work successfully. When a child is ready to potty train, both mentally and physically, we can have them 100% potty trained in a few days. In the LBCP Policies & Procedures Handbook, I explain in greater detail the method of potty training that I recommend.
“What do you do for meals?”
We serve nutritious morning and afternoon snacks, we also provide whole milk for lunch and water throughout the day. Parents are required to feed their children breakfast prior to drop off and to pack a daily healthy lunch (no sweets please). You do not have to pack a drink for lunch. If your child is on a special diet or has food allergies, parents are required to pack their child's lunch, snacks, and drinks (if a child has a milk allergy) each day. For special occasions we may serve juice or chocolate milk. You are welcome to bring in a special treat for all the children on your child's birthday, or on holidays. Morning snack is served at 9:00am. Lunch time is at 11:30am. Afternoon snack is served at 3:30pm. Please DO NOT bring outside food (fast food) in if there is not enough for all of the children.
"What do you do for nap time?"
All children are required to have a nap or rest time after lunch. Cots are provided for preschoolers and pack-n-plays are provided for younger children. We also provide blankets. We close the curtains, turn off the lights, and play soft, relaxing music during nap time. We request that parents try to schedule doctor appointments before or after nap time. Picking up or dropping off during nap time greatly disrupts our day. Infants on the other hand nap as needed throughout the day, and accommodations are made to make sure they have a quiet and restful nap time even if the other children are awake.
"How do I enroll my child?”
Schedule a tour (tours are preferably held on either Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays around 6:15pm. Contact me to schedule). During the tour I will show you around, chat with you to get to know you, your child, and family, and I'll answer any questions you may have. I will also give you the Little Bear Policies and Procedures Packet and Registration Form. To enroll, you need to thoroughly read the packet, and return the filled out registration form, along with the $250.00 registration fee to hold your child’s spot. You also need to turn in a letter of recommendation from your current or previous child care provider or preschool, with your registration form. By signing the registration form you agree to everything in our Policies and Procedures Packet. The registration fee goes towards your first month's tuition, holds the spot for your child and is non-refundable. Please get the registration forms and registration fee to us as soon as possible to ensure your child’s spot is saved. You may return the form and fee to us in person, or via the post office.
"Why do you need a letter of recommendation?"
To ensure that we are enrolling quality, trustworthy, and reliable families that plan on being with us long term, we require a letter of recommendation from your current or previous child care provider or preschool, OR from a respected person that knows your family. There have been several occasions where a parent enrolls their child when their "title 20" (free childcare funded by the government) runs out, they use family child care providers until their "title 20" check kicks back back in, and they basically dip out on their child care provider once their benefits kick back in, sometimes without even paying their tuition and without giving their required 30-day notice to unroll. These people do not tell us they are not planning to enroll their child long term, and they usually leave within 6 weeks of enrolling, causing us to lose 100's, if not 1000's of dollars in tuition due to that spot could have gone to a more reliable, appreciative family who respects us and is planning on being with us long term, instead of parents just using us while their benefits are out. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding in us wanting to enroll quality families. It's not fair to the children when a child is enrolled and we all become attached to each other and then the child leaves after a few weeks because their parents were not forth coming in their plans. At LBCP we want to enroll families that want to be with us long term, not just for a few weeks. If you refuse to give us a letter of recommendation, or if we contact your reference and find out you are not in good standing with your previous preschool or childcare provider, we will not accept your child for enrollment.
"Can I have references?"
Yes, of course. Just ask and I will be happy to do provide you with references. You can also view the "Testimonial" page, where you can view testimonials from previous and current parents, or check out the reviews on our Facebook page.
"Do you have help? What do you do if you are sick?”
I have rarely been sick enough to call off. I have only closed Little Bear last minute, THREE times in 17 years due to extreme sickness or being in labor with one of my sons. I take pride in being reliable. Working with children for many years, I have built up a great immune system. Per our policies & procedures contract, I allow myself up to 3 missed days without refunding a portion of your tuition. However, if we close for 4+ consecutive days for sickness or family reasons, I will gladly refund everyone’s tuition at a prorated amount per missed day, beginning at the 4th missed day and continuing on with each additional missed day. Over the years I have had several assistants (aka substitutes) to allow me to shorten my work day. If I am sick and I have an assistant, I will call them and see if they can take over for the day if I become ill during business hours, but it is a great idea to have a back up provider just in case and also for our regular pre-planned closures. See the "About Us" tab to see information on my afternoon assistants.
"What do I do if my child is sick?"
Please DO NOT bring your child if s/he has a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or illness such as strep throat, in order to not spread the illness to the other children. If a child has had an illness, they may not return to preschool until they are symptom free and/or have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and have a doctor's note.
"Do you accept non-vaccinated children?"
We require all children enrolled to be up to date on vaccinations and ask parents to provide a vaccination report from the pediatrician that we can keep in your child's files.
"What do you do for discipline?"
Spanking and all other forms of physical punishment to Little Bear children are prohibited at LBCP. Discipline shall be devised on an individual basis to develop the child’s control, encouraging acceptable behavior and respect for others rights. If necessary, time-outs may be used. The child will get one minute for every year in age. Parents will be notified of when and why a child has received a time-out. We typically don’t give time outs to children under 2. Instead, we will redirect their attention and encourage a more acceptable way to behave.
"What do I need to bring with my child on their first day and from then on?"
Be sure that the enrollment form has been correctly filled out and the registration fee has been turned in. A spare change of clothes, and any medications or anything you feel your child needs. Your child's spare clothes will stay in their school bag; (You will receive a Little Bear canvas school bag on your child's first day). Make sure you bring their school bag every day. We provide diapers and wipes however if you insist on using your own you may bring a box here and I will let you know when we run low. We not only use wipes for bums but for wiping faces as well. If your child drinks from bottles, please bring a few bottles that can be kept here, along with plenty of milk. If you breastfeed, you are welcome to bring frozen breast milk to be stored here, if you formula feed, please bring a large can of formula to be kept here. You also may prepare the bottles ahead of time and we will warm them up. I will notify you several days before when we are running low on your child's supplies so you can replenish them. Whether you breast feed or formula feed, please make sure we have plenty of milk for your baby here.
"Can my child bring a toy to preschool?"
No. Please keep all toys, accessories (hats, jewelry, blankets, etc) at home. We have plenty of toys here. If your child has an attachment to a comfort item such as a blanket, it is best to wean your child from these items before s/he starts. As these items can inhibit your child's growth here. When they have "comfort" items, they tend to sit by themselves and cuddle their toy/blanket, rather than explore and make friends. They can also become very territorial over their comfort item. In most cases, if a child does not have these comfort items at school, they are more likely to get up and interact more and engage in play more. Comfort items tend to remind children of home, which can create home-sickness. If these comfort items are not here, they focus more "in the moment", and this will help your child to become more independent and outgoing, which creates a happier daily experience for your child.
"Do you go on field trips?"
Occasionally yes. With the help of transportation from parent volunteers.
"I would like your preschool or website even better if you could change or improve _______."
We strive to create the best early childhood educational experience possible. Please feel free to give me a call, send an email, or set up a time to talk with me in person during business hours. I am happy to address any comments/concerns/complaints/compliments you may have. Communication is very important, but please do so in a calm and understanding manner rather than an assumptive aggressive manner. We have zero tolerance working with rude parents.
"Do you know any other languages?"
Yes. I know some sign language, and some Spanish. With our daily work, children learn Spanish words, ASL and other languages of cultures we may be studying at the time.
"Are you CPR certified?" Yes, I attended a CPR class. I also know the Heimlich maneuver. Once, my oldest son choked on a Doritos chip and I was able to successfully give the Heimlich maneuver and the Doritos chip came out.
"What is your area of town like?"
We are located in a very safe, nice, quiet, friendly, established neighborhood. Mr. Will and I purchased our home/preschool in 2011.
"How often do you clean your house/preschool?"
Raising four boys of our own plus running a preschool and having pets, as I'm sure you can understand, can create quite the mess. We do our best to keep a clean home and preschool. We clean daily and do a deep clean at least once a week. Please know children will sometimes become messy with art work, meal times, play time, and outdoor play. I take pride in sending children home clean, but I also know what a hassle laundry can be. So if they have a little mess on their clothes I will not change them unless I feel it's necessary. If a child has soiled clothes of urine or feces, they will have their clothes changed right away. Personally, we try to live a somewhat minimalist lifestyle because I do not like clutter. :) So you won't see much clutter, except for my large collection of preschool items. ;) However please remember we live here, although I take great pride in my work, I will always consider this to be first and foremost, our home. I would rather spend time with my family and little bears, then clean the house constantly. So if there are a couple toys or crumbs here and there, I'm not going to stress out over it, and if that bothers you, then we are not a good fit. :)
"Do the children in your preschool get along?"
Yes. Typically, all of the children quickly become friends and other than the typical occasional sharing issues, the children get along. The older children are very good listeners, and are big helpers to the younger children. We will terminate contracts for unruly children whose behavior is not improving, whom bully others and destroy our home and preschool. This also goes for parents as well. Parents who are rude, and/or do not follow our policies will have their contract terminated. It is our goal to create and maintain a warm, loving, nurturing and stress-free environment for the children, teachers, and my family.
"Do you provide transportation for my child?”
No. Sorry. We do not provide transportation.
“Do the children watch a lot of TV?”
No, we do not regularly watch TV. On days we cannot go outside we may occasionally watch an educational show, and sometimes we watch a child friendly movie on Fridays on our projector, however we certainly do not watch a lot of TV.
“Do you have pets?”
Yes. I am a huge animal lover! We have 2 cats, 1 turtle , 1 tortoise, and 6 backyard chickens on our urban homestead. All of our pets have grown up around children since they were babies.
Our cats are indoor/outdoor cats, and like to spend a lot of time outside, I do not believe in declawing, I feel they need their claws to protect themselves from other animals and for climbing purposes while they are outside. Our cats will not scratch children unless of course a child is abusing them. However, my cats usually run away if a child comes near.
Our turtle and tortoise live in open enclosures however the they are friendly, and do not have teeth and the enclosures are too tall for most children to reach in.
Our chickens are happy, healthy, vaccinated hens who live in our backyard inside their coop and run. They free range when the children are not outside, not because I am worried about them hurting the children, but because chickens may become stressed and not lay eggs if they are chased by children. :) Children enjoy observing the chickens while the chickens are in their run, and collecting their eggs.
Here's some wonderful information about backyard chickens to educate those not familiar with chickens. :)
Caring for my pets is a hobby I very much enjoy, all of our pets are well cared for and wonderful, sweet pets.
"Do I get any feedback about my child’s day?"
Yes. We completely understand that peace of mind is important. We want parents to feel included in our day and that they can stay updated on the daily happenings here. Some ways we do that are we send home monthly activity calendars, that show you what's going on each day and what the daily lesson is each day, we also send home monthly newsletters via email that tells you the highlights of the month in detail. We also have a Facebook page, where I post about our activities. You can like our page here: Little Bear Childcare & Montessori Preschool. We also have a Facebook group for past, current and future families: Little Bear Families You are also welcome to call or message us during business hours to discuss anything. We also use an app called Brightwheel, that allows you to see what your child is doing throughout the day including diaper changes and bottle feeds. We don't always have time to jump on the app but it's a great way to get real time updates on your child and see photos.
"What do the littles (under 2) do during morning lesson work?"
Children 18 months to two years old are welcome to join us and usually do, however we do not expect a 2 year old to do the activities the same skill level as the the 3 to 5 year olds. Typically children under 18 months are napping during our morning lessons.
"I am a teacher. I do not need summer or holiday care. Do I still have to pay full tuition?"
We have had many teacher's children enrolled over the years. Tuition remains the same throughout the school year (September through May), we use the Columbus Catholic Schools closures as our closures (our sons attend a Catholic school), although, for spring and winter breaks, we only close for one week rather than two. With our flat rate tuition, you are saving money anyway for our closures so we do not give a discount for holidays or breaks. However, in the summer, we do not require teachers to pay tuition, but we do require a deposit of $250 at the end of each school year to hold your child's spot for fall, which will go towards your first month's tuition when your child returns in the fall.
“Do I get a discount for the days my child does not attend preschool?”
Just as a large private facility does, you must pay your tuition as normal, regardless if your child does not attend or if we are closed. You will not be refunded any tuition for any reason, ever. With the flat rate payment option, you are saving $750 per year, which covers our closures, please remember you are paying for the spot, not for individual days.
"Do I get any discounts?"
Yes! You get $100 off one month's tuition for successful referrals to Little Bear. We also sometimes hold contests, and giveaways for free childcare. There is also a discount of $20 off your child's birthday month, so you can use that $20 to purchase your child a present from us. :)
“When is Little Bear closed?”
New Year's Day & the day after New Year's (January)
Martin Luther King Jr Day (January)
President's Day (February)
Spring Break (One week in March or April)
Memorial Day (May)
Juneteenth (June)
Summer Break (One week in summer)
Labor Day (September)
Fall Break (The week of Thanksgiving)
Winter Break (One to Two weeks in December)
Teacher Days (up to 5 days per year, to be used as personal days or professional development days)
Please Note: Exact dates will also be posted on the calendar.
