sponsored by Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Being a mom is full of tough decisions, and being a working mom takes those decisions to another level. Choosing to return to work is hard enough without adding child care to the mix. Still, it’s something working moms and dads must consider if they are to return to the workplace.  There is no handbook to help parents choose the best school or day care for their children, so what are the deciding factors? Location, curriculum, discipline methods, lunch menus…the list goes on! At the end of the day, we as parents must figure out how to get the best possible child care that will keep our kids safe while helping them grow.

Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool Centers is more than a day care or preschool; their mission is to create lasting partnerships with local parents while nurturing children’s development physically, emotionally, and intellectually. In the classroom, Bright Horizons follows a specific curriculum for each stage of development: Infant (from 6 weeks old), Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten Prep, and School Age. Within the World at Their Fingertips® curriculum are programs especially designed to produce well-rounded, socially aware children who are excited to learn.

For example, the Preschool Program incorporates age-appropriate educational components called Language Works, Math Counts, Science Rocks, Our World, Well Aware and ArtSmart into the daily activities and projects to help organize the children's experience. Within this framework, kids could learn about sustainable, organic farming via planting a class garden, or could learn how their bodies move via yoga and other guided exercise. It’s all in a day’s fun!

As far as learning to behave and interact, Bright Horizon’s teachers create an environment for children to make self-directed and guided choices using Choice Systems throughout the day. Kids will participate in small groups and projects, join in “circle times” with the whole group, and reflect upon and document their learning experiences individually. Teachers build upon, rather than direct or control, the thoughts and actions of children, promoting independent thinking and a love of learning.

With ten local centers, Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool centers offers programs for nearly every area of the Triangle. In fact, the Bright Horizons RTP Center is hosting a Renovation Celebration on Saturday, October 20 - stop by  from 10am to 1pm and tour the newly updated facility! Enjoy hands-on activities in their new Art Studio, Media Center, outdoor Movement Zone, Mud Kitchen, Music Garden and GardenWorks area as well as face painting,  healthy snacks and exciting raffle prizes all while learning about the unique opportunities that Bright Horizons centers offer.

Visit  www.brighthorizons.com/rtpOHmoms for more information, or contact the center at 919-686-0080. If you can’t make the Celebration, find out more about Bright Horizons by scheduling a personal visit. With Bright Horizons, the world is at our children’s fingertips!