Infant Program
Infant Preschool Program (6 weeks–18 months)
Smart Start Academy offers infant daycare for children ages 6 weeks to 18 months. Our happy, loving, and nurturing teachers provide the best learning environment as well as the best care to fit each student’s unique goals and needs. Through collaboration with the family, our teachers can put a plan in place to meet the infant’s needs, the parent’s goals for their child, and even the nutritional guidelines set by the parents.
The Opportunities We Provide
Our teachers provide many additional opportunities for your family to help your child meet the goals you have for them. The care and educational opportunities that are given at this age are much different than what is offered for older children, but they are still just as important for learning and development.
Baby Sign Language
One of the most popular things that we provide to this age group in our infant daycare program is teaching baby sign language. Children begin communicating with others between the ages of 8 months and 2 years of age. The earlier children are given opportunities to communicate, the less frustration a child, their parents, and teachers will experience. We teach simple signs that have been adapted from American Sign Language that can help your child communicate a few months earlier than other children their age.
Sign language is also beneficial for children who have a communication delay, have a communication disorder, or show signs of autism. For these children, they can get comfortable with pointing out the things they need instead of vocalizing their needs.
Smart Start Academy also works with parents to teach them the signs their son or daughter is learning so that what is learned at school can be practiced at home.
Singing Time
Our daycare in Jersey City NJ and in Hoboken include music and singing. According to emergent research, singing to an infant is important in their brain development and can help prevent future language problems. Infants naturally enjoy listening to singing because of the difference in rhythms and tones. Songs are also good teaching tools. For example, in songs like “Old McDonald Had a Farm” and “The Wheels on the Bus,” kids learn the different sounds animals make and about the world around them.