Hello Foundations families. As businesses begin to open and try to assimilate to our new normal while dealing with the coronavirus, we want to ease parents’ minds regarding how we are dealing with cleanliness. We first want our families and staff to know our top priority is maintaining a healthy and safe environment. We will continue to follow the guidelines outlined by the Center for Disease Control for childcare services as well as implement additional measures to ensure our staff and your children are safe within our care. Some additional precautions we have taken is installing a new air sanitizer unit in the common area of each building; utilizing environmental protection agency approved chemicals and sanitizing throughout the day; and our administrative team is checking in families to reduce touch points. We are also sanitizing outdoor and indoor play equipment after each group of children who use them. Before anyone can enter the building, all students, parents, and staff must have their temperature taken at the front desk with a no-touch thermal forehead scanner. Their temperature must be below 100.4

Here at Foundations, it is our goal to provide a clean and safe environment for everyone. We will continue to provide quality childcare for those who need it. We are here to support our families, students and those who are still going to work during these unprecedented times. We know parents are multitasking, more now than ever. We are here to try and take some of that stress off of parents’ shoulders. We have separated the classrooms to ensure the same staff members remain with the same students throughout the day as well as increased disinfecting and cleaning. We are strictly following the guidelines provided to us by the federal and local government and continually providing updates on measures we are taking. As a parent, we know you will always be concerned about your child’s well-being. Because of this, we strive to maintain a transparent line of communication between us and our families so parents can focus on their responsibilities as an employee. We recognize how important it is for essential workers to remain focused on their daily tasks. We

Since opening in 2004, Foundations’ has been committed to sustainable principles, and operating as environmentally responsible as possible. Things that may seem small have a large impact long-term. Through our commitment to sustainable principles, we’ve reduced our environmental impact through: solar power for our energy using real dishes instead of disposable dishes, saving tons of paper and plastic waste onsite gardening practices utilizing recycled and found materials for classroom projects weekly recycling school wide utilizing electronic communication vs. printed In 2013, Foundations’ was recognized as a “Cobb County Green School”. This initiative was designed to designate Cobb County schools that demonstrate a continued commitment to environmental education, conservation, preservation and beautification of our environment. To qualify as a “Green School”, our teachers plan and employ at least 5 environmentally friendly projects each year. In the summer of 2018, we began our second biggest project we have undertaken since the renovation of our Elementary & Gym building in 2011. During the renovation in 2011, we added 6 classroom spaces, a kitchen, an office, the rock wall, and redesigned the gym space.

The Worldwide Day of Play (WWDOP), an initiative sponsored by Nickelodeon, is designed to encourage active play. Since 2004, Nickelodeon has designated the Worldwide Day of Play signaling children and families to move away from their television and computer screens by having the Nickelodeon networks and websites go dark for three hours. Over the years, these efforts have resulted in thousands of events and millions of kids being active and pursuing healthy lifestyles. The 2018 World Wide Day of Play is coming up on Saturday, September 29th and to celebrate, Foundations will be hosting a few events around our camps for students! Our early preschool classes will be hosting a water relay. Each group will be given a plastic cup and a bucket full of water. The groups will have empty bucks at the finish line and the children will take turns filling up their cup from their bucket, then dumping it into their empty bucket. The group with the most amount of water in their finish-line bucket wins! Our preschool classes will be hosting a bean bag toss game.

Don’t miss a fun & educational family event in Kennesaw, GA at Town Center Mall Saturday, Sept 8th. Presented by the Cobb Safety Village, the annual Safety Village Truck-A-Palooza provides  children and families the chance to get up-close and personal with larger-than-life trucks, public safety equipment, and specialty vehicles. Meet vehicle owners and operators, and have a blast watching your kids touch, climb on and interact with this awesome exhibition of transportation. Over 20 vehicles will be on display, along with a variety of other children’s activities. Cobb Safety Village believes that education is the key to reducing risk and protecting our community. By reaching out to all residents, they’re able to teach important safety techniques, provide guidance on crime prevention, and, most importantly, involve residents in hands-on learning experience. This event is sure to be a great time for the entire family!  

When searching for a private event venue near Kennesaw, Ga, Foundations Parties is a unique option available to host a variety of events. Foundations Parties is located a short distance from the intersection of Barrett Parkway and Cobb Parkway, on the Foundations for the Future School campus, in the Gym & Elementary building. Foundations Parties is great for: Kids Birthday Parties Sports Team Celebrations Family Reunions Sweet 16 Parties Company Parties Seminars & Conferences Graduation Parties Holiday Parties Baby Showers Adult Birthday Parties Why pick Foundations Parties for your event? Private Event Venue — Only you and your guests onsite during your event. Our event space can accommodate up to 120 guests! Private parking is available onsite. Indoor Facility — With all party options and spaces indoors, no need to worry about the finicky GA weather! Flexible Schedules And Event Times — Standard event rentals start at 3 hours, but extended time can be reserved when the event is scheduled. Events can be scheduled throughout the week at 6:30pm, and on the weekends starting at 9:00am. Onsite Activities Available — We have

Why do a lot of children dislike math? Is the subject actually that difficult?  The Chicago Tribune reported that math-anxious parents may influence their children into hating the subject as well, even by unassuming statements like, “Math never made any sense to me.” The children of math-averse parents reported more math anxiety than kids whose parents weren’t. This proves that the resistance to math goes back generations. In reality, math can be a very interesting subject, and mathematicians would even say that it’s beautiful and important. Lecturer Vicky Neale shared that math guides her in coming up with strategies to a problem. If she comes up with a solution that seems clumsy, she’ll find a better, more elegant way to solve the problem. What she’s indicating is that math can be very much applied to real life, and not just problems in a book. The reason why many people hate math also stems from the way it is taught in school. Rather than learning it in a manner that they can apply it in actual situations, children are given problems on paper, with

Experiential learning is defined as the process of learning through experience, and is more specifically “learning through reflection on doing”. Experiential learning enables children (and adults!) to pursue their own areas of interest while gaining skills to navigate through real-life situations. It is one of the most fun, engaging and effective ways to learn and process new concepts. Many people see experiential learning as a great alternative to traditional methods of learning such as rote memorization and other forms of academic learning that typically take place in a more structured environment.   You may be asking yourself how experiential learning can be applied to a preschool or school age student when they seem so young. This approach is easily transferable to young children as it utilizes real-world applications to enable students to think critically about abstract concepts. With experiential learning, children do the work for themselves and have meaningful engagement with the subjects at hand. The children do not passively receive information from a teacher, but instead actively participate in the discussion and subject with enthusiasm and curiosity.   At Foundations,

Searching for a daycare for your child can be an overwhelming  task for families. From knowing what “bells and whistles” you are looking for, to finding something within your budget or close to your home — how do you choose what matters most when the list of “requirements” is a mile long? Did you know that there are over 40 daycare centers in the Kennesaw area alone? That is 40 different centers you could potentially tour, interview & access for the needs of your child and family. The good news is that there are a few tried and true things parents should consider when selecting a daycare center. How long has the center been in business and what is their reputation? Looking for a center that has been around for several years might seem like a no-brainer, but when it comes to a “shiny & new” building, sometimes longevity takes a back seat. A recent study from USA Today revealed that only 20% of new businesses survive past their first year. Around half of all businesses no longer exist after

Don’t miss a fun & educational family event at Town Center Mall this Saturday, Sept 30th. Presented by the Cobb Safety Village, the annualSafety Village Truck-A-Paloozaprovides children and families the chance to get up-close and personal with larger-than-life trucks, public safety equipment, and specialty vehicles. Meet vehicle owners and operators, and have a blast watching your kids touch, climb on and interact with this awesome exhibition of transportation. Over 20 vehicles will be on display, along with a variety of other children’s activities. Cobb Safety Village believes that education is the key to reducing risk and protecting our community. By reaching out to all residents, they’re able to teach important safety techniques, provide guidance on crime prevention, and, most importantly, involve residents in hands-on learning experience. If you would like more information about Foundations For The Future Creative Child Care and School near Marietta, GA and Kennesaw, GA, please contact us by email at [email protected], via telephone at 770-429-4799, or on our website. You can also take a visual tour of our facility and even schedule a tour with our Admission

For many families, making the decision to return to work and trying to figure out who will watch your child can seem overwhelming. It’s hard to mentally and logistically prepare for a new role of being a parent, but the added emotions, financial factors and time constraints makes finding the right child care feel like the toughest and most important job in the world. When thinking about child care for your infant or toddler, the first question is to decide which type of child care would work better for your family dynamic — a nanny or a daycare facility. There are many advantages for each that should be considered before a decision is made, and we’ve included our list below: The advantages of enrolling your child in a daycare: Daycare centers provide your child with exposure to multiple, caring adults rather than just one person. Daycare centers help your child to learn socialization skills and build relationships with other children and their teachers. Routines are a very important part of daycare, and teaching children routines (sleeping, eating, outdoor time, etc)

For many families, the terms “Preschool”, “PK-3” and “Pre-Kindergarten” can be confusing. In Georgia, children are eligible for “Preschool” or “PK-3”, if they are turning 3 by Sept 1. For students turning 4 by Sept 1, they would be eligible for a lottery funded or private Pre-K program. Though Preschool & Pre-K are not mandatory, a recent study found that children who attended preschool programs were better prepared for kindergarten than children that didn’t. Many “Preschool” and “Pre-K” programs start in the fall each year, following an open enrollment period typically from March – July, while some schools offer rolling enrollment throughout the year. As you consider enrolling your child in a Preschool or Pre-K program, there are several factors to look at when picking a school: Hours of Operation – Do they offer part time or full time programs? Location – Is it better to pick a school closest to my home or to my place of employment? The Curriculum – Do they follow one and what is it like? What will my child learn? Communication – How will the teacher

Since opening in 2004, Foundations For The Future School has maintained steady growth and expansion, in an industry that is often filled with numerous options for families. The teachers and administrative staff at Foundations work diligently to create a school environment where children feel comfortable and enjoy learning, parents feel confident in their child’s care and daily exploration, and where great teachers invest in their careers. Over the past 13 years, the staff and administration at Foundations has maintained the highest level of accreditation available to child development centers through NAEYC and Advanc-ed. Both accrediting agencies employ standards that are based on research of the development and education of young children. These standards were created with input from experts and educators from around the country and help to ensure the highest level of care available. Not only are the standards focused on the care of children enrolled, the standards also focus on a safe and healthful environment. These standards ensure that centers provide appropriate and well-maintained indoor and outdoor physical environments, as well as equipment and materials to facilitate child

Day camps give kids the opportunity to play in a way some rarely do in their own neighborhoods or school settings these days. Day camps take children away from computers, TV, and other high-tech devices, swapping them for conversation, fun, and games in a new and educational setting. With so many options available, choosing the right day camps for your children can be overwhelming. We’ve included six key factors to look for when making your decision: Staff To Child Ratio: How big is the setting? How many teachers will there be per child each day? Depending on the age of your child, the child to teacher ratio could range from 1:15 – 1:25. Safety: What plan does the camp follow during emergencies? For severe weather? What precautions does the camp take to ensure the safety of all children? Unfortunately accidents and emergencies do happen, and being knowledgeable about the camp’s process will leave you feeling confident about your child’s care. Schedules: Do you have to commit for the entire week, or is there flexibility to attend on an as needed,

The process of determining if your child is ready for kindergarten in a private school can be stressful and confusing, especially for children with summer birthdays.  It isn’t uncommon for moms and dads to second guess themselves; If Jacob’s mom is holding him back a year, should I hold my child back? Am I missing something? Does Your Child Meet the Age Requirement for Kindergarten? Before you spend time assessing your child’s readiness for a Kindergarten program, first make sure they meet the school’s cutoff age requirement.  In a public program, the cutoff age is typically the same for the whole state.  For instance, in GA, your child must turn 5 years old on or before September 1st of the school year.  However, private schools often have different cutoffs, because they are not controlled by state regulation.  Because the required skill and maturity level for a private kindergarten classroom tends to be higher than what is required in a public program, private schools often have an earlier cutoff date, so that the children entering the program are older.  Read our

Montessori is term for a teaching style, originally created by Maria Montessori, that is defined by several key tenets.  In contrast to this, at Foundations Creative Child Care and School in Kennesaw, the teaching methods are compiled from a variety of resources, including Montessori, so that the best elements from each method can be utilized to provide a classroom setting uniquely suited to the creative exploration and learning of children. Here are some of the types of educational philosophies for young children: Academic/Traditional:  activities are presented by the teacher with little input from students (teacher-directed); reinforcement through frequent repetition (recitation, tracing dittos, etc). Montessori: classrooms set up primarily with specialized educational materials developed by Maria Montessori; three hour blocks of independent work time; mixed- age classrooms of children 2.5 yrs old to 6 years old in one classroom Play-Based: classrooms set up with a variety of activity centers to promote engagement; children play throughout the day, with teacher supervision Reggio-Emilia: heavy art emphasis, with dedicated art rooms and art teachers; child-initiated projects as the primary topics; children’s work displayed and

Comparing Primrose, Goddard, and Foundations School Have you noticed that the information on most childcare center websites sound very similar?  Here are some things you will find on the Primrose, Goddard, and yes, even our FoundationsSchool.com website: child-initiated curriculum accreditations whole child development and the list goes on! Yet there are large differences between Primrose, Goddard, and Foundations School, so how do you actually compare them?  Let’s look at these in more detail: Child-Initiated Learning Though Primrose and Goddard express the philosophy of following children’s interests through child-initiated curriculum, they have a corporately planned and set curriculum, which severely limits any learning outside of the pre-selected theme.  Come tour Foundations and look closely  at our classrooms.  Even ones that are the same age group have completely different projects and activities happening.  This is because the teachers really do follow the children’s interests, working in the Goals and Objectives.  At the end of the year, each classroom has met their Goals and Objectives in a way that unique and engaging to that particular group of children.   Accreditations Not all accreditation

Here’s the Pre-K class using a fun, hands-on project to integrate all areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Integrating subjects, instead of studying them each separately, is more real-world applicable as well as more time efficient. When done through a project that really engages the students, then critical thinking, creative, and collaboration are all covered as well. And since choice and interest increase motivation and long-term memory, you have one very powerful project all rolled into something these Pre-K students probably just thought was a really fun day. #prek #STEM #FoundationsfortheFuture #Kennesaw

Egg Drop WIN or FAIL? Watch this 1 minute video to find out if the Summer Camper’s egg protection design could withstand a 15′ drop to the hard floor!  Foundations Summer Camps include many great ways to incorporate science, math, reading, spelling, and more into fun projects like this one.

Subitizing is the visual perception of number quantities.  It builds early concepts for place value, quantity, and addition/subtraction strategies.  It is a foundational mathematics skill, and one that teachers incorporate into games for toddlers, preschool, Pre-K, and even older students.  And it is a word you can impress people with (it is pronounced like scuba-tizing, without the “c” in scuba). Try it out for yourself: In this image, there is a long row of dots.  Can you tell how many there are at a quick glance?  Most people cannot without counting them.  In the image below, where the dots are grouped like they are on dice, most people can quickly recognize the quantity.  Both images have 10 dots.