Childcare Programs in San Mateo County, California

Geokids / Menlo Survey Child Development Center:
The GeoKids / Menlo Survey Child Development Center is an accredited, nationally recognized, non-profit parent co-operative providing high quality childcare for children aged 3 months through to pre-kindergarten (5 years). The center is located on the Menlo Park, CA campus of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and is supported in part by the General Services Administration (GSA) and the USGS. GeoKids is a developmental play-based program founded on the belief that children are capable, competent, self-motivated learners. Within our program, adults encourage children to participate in everything that concerns them and to do as much as they are capable of doing for themselves.

* Infant / Young Toddlers Program (3 to 24 months old):

Goals:
- Foster secure and trusting relationships that support the infant sense of safety and wonder in the world outside the home.
- Develop strong 1:1 relationships with every child through care giving, play, and interactions.
- Allow each child to dictate the pace of his/her own growth and development.
- Nurture the very young child's initiative with encouragement and appropriate guidance.

This program maintains a ratio of 3 children per adult.

* Toddler Program (18 to 30 months old):

Goals:
- Support toddlers emerging sense of self through relationships, activities, and the environment.
- Develop the self-help skills that allow toddlers to feel competent and have a greater sense of independence.
- Support their emerging language and problem-solving skills.
- Help them to develop a greater awareness of their feelings and other children's feelings.
- Support their growing exploration of the world around them.

This program has a ratio of 4 children per adult.

* Older Toddler Program (24 to 36 months old):

Goals:
- Support toddlers emerging sense of self through relationships, activities, and the environment.
- Help them to develop the self-help skills that allow them to feel competent and have a greater sense of independence.
- Support their emerging language and problem-solving skills.
- Help them to develop a greater awareness of their feelings and other children's feelings.
- Support their growing exploration of the world around them.

This program has a 4 children per adult.

* Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten (24 months to 5.5 years old):

Goals of Preschool Program:
- Nurture children's friendship building and social skills through adult support in children's play and activity.
- Provide an enriched environment, inviting children to become creative players and problem-solvers.
- Complement child-initiated play with adult-initiated small-group times and larger group meetings.

Goals of Pre-Kindergarten Program:
- Emphasize positive social relationships and group identification.
- Provide an environment for children to pursue long-term projects on topics of their interest.
- Provide pre-k skill development through play, activities, group times and meetings in ways that are meaningful to the children.

Both programs have a ratio of 6 children per adult.