Nutrition Policy:
Little Hands Early Learning Center provides all meals and snacks. Our meals and snacks follow the nutrition guidelines of USDA.
-Healthy Eating Habits: We follow the USDA guidelines to provide a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting high-sugar and high-fat foods.
-Meals and Snacks: We serve fruit and vegetables at least twice a day. Whole grain foods are also served at least once a day.
-Beverages: Juice intake is limited to once per day, and when served, it is 100% fruit juice. We serve only skim or 1% milk to children aged 2 years and older. (Lactaid if needed and authorized by physician).
-Fats and Sugars: High-fat meats are served no more than once a week. Fried or pre-fried vegetables are limited to once in a two-week period. Sweet food items are limited to no more than twice per week.
-Nutrition Education: Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about nutrition weekly and act as role models for healthy eating.
Active Play Policy:
-Daily Active Play: Preschool children receive 90-120 minutes per day of active outdoor playtime.
-Safe Environment: We encourage a least restrictive, safe environment for infants and toddlers always. Exploring their environment is a crucial part of their growth and development.
-Outdoor Play Area: A designated safe outdoor area is provided for infants and toddlers for at least 45 minutes of outdoor play if the weather permits.
-Indoor Movement: We provide 15-30 minutes of dance and movement indoors for infants and toddlers.
-Extended Outdoor Opportunities: Preschool and group size children have 45 minutes of extended active outdoor play opportunities across 1-2 separate occasions daily.
-Variety of Activities: We offer reading, building blocks, role play/ imagination, art, sensory, cognitive, social/emotional, educational and creative opportunities daily for children to expand their knowledge, explore their environment, enhance their development, and meet important milestones.