Infants

Our infant programs provide a safe, nurturing environment in bright and visually stimulating settings. Our infant curriculum is designed to meet the specific needs of each child and family, maintain established home schedules, and help our children reach important early milestones. Our infants crawl on large soft-surface areas, enjoy singing and reading time, and play outside every day, weather permitting.

Toddlers

Our toddlers engage in free play and large motor activities as a group, as well as reading, painting, singing, dance and circle time in more structured, small groups. Quiet/nap time is an important part of the day, giving each child a chance to unwind and recharge for the afternoon and evening. Teachers work with parents to help the children become more independent, including learning to use the bathroom.

Pre-schoolers

Imagine’s pre-schoolers are taught by experienced teachers with advanced training and degrees in early childhood education. Our developmentally appropriate lesson plans incorporate art, music, movement, science, computer, language, and math activities. Teacher-guided discussions encourage children to share their personal experiences and build a bridge between home and social life. All Imagine pre-school graduates are ready for kindergarten.

Imagine has four centers offering Universal Pre-K programs.

After School Program

After-school care is available at Lehman College Child Care for children 5-9 years. The program operates from 3-9 PM, Monday through Thursday. Children enjoy a snack, outdoor play, and indoor age-appropriate activities. There is special attention given to homework time and support.

Learning Healthy Early

Imagine developed the Learning Healthy Early Curriculum to form a partnership with parents to emphasize healthy living habits with the children at the center and home. Staff and parents have participated in LHE as well through workshops and our ’Imagine Us Thinner and Healthier’ wellness programs. The program emphasizes healthy eating, self-care and exercise habits as well as teaching the children about a ‘greener’, more sustainable approach to living.

All the Imagine centers are endorsed by the Eco-Healthy Child Care program sponsored by the Oregon Environmental Council.

Special Development

Our centers are often a child’s first experience in a structured environment away from home, and our teachers may be the first to notice signs of possible developmental delays or special needs. Imagine works with a Special Development Consultant to offer guidance to teachers in the areas of classroom adaptation and behavior management, and to provide resources to parents regarding early intervention and preschool special education services as the need arises.

Special Programs Complimenting our Curriculum

Dance/Creative Movement

Imagine contracts with dance and movement professionals to work with the children in small groups. Although dance and music are regular parts of the classroom curriculum taught by classroom staff, the dancers are an excellent resource for the teachers and a fresh source of inspiration for the children. Various types of movement and music are explored with an emphasis on multiculturalism and free expression. Yoga, Zumba, Latin and African dance have all been fun components of the program.

Field Trips

Throughout the school year the teachers plan both neighborhood and destination excursions for the children based on classroom curriculum themes. The children may go on bus trips to the zoo, plays and puppet shows, farms, apple picking, the planetarium, and the botanical gardens. They also participate in walking trips in and around the surrounding community to local markets, vendors, firehouses, etc.

Language Programs

Imagine children participate in various foreign language and American Sign language courses taught by Imagine staff, parents and outside resource professionals.

Music

In addition to daily experiences in music, singing, rhythm and sound, special music classes are conducted by the Imagine Music Coordinator on a quarterly basis at each center incorporating special instruments, songs, fingerplays and music education instruction for the Pre-K classes.

Summer Programs

During the summer months we add new fun, ‘camp-like’ programs. The programs have included outdoor sports, entertainment, water play, karate, park programs and picnics, chess, fun themed days like Pajama Day and Backwards Day, along with seasonal outdoor field trips.

Corporate Clients

Imagine has a great deal of experience setting up and operating child care services for corporate clients. We presently operate ten centers in the New York./New Jersey area. Our services include full, part-day and emergency back up care programs for children six weeks to five years old and after school, summer and vacation programs for school-aged children. We also offer a wide range of teacher training and parent education workshops.

We have worked with many clients from the inception of their projects. Our experiences are varied; working with architects, building inspectors and licensing agencies as well as designing classrooms and playgrounds, ordering supplies/equipment, planning curriculum, hiring teachers and planning for the financial stability of the center. We have conducted needs assessments and developed marketing plans for future centers.

Imagine has also been selected to take over the operation of already established centers. In these cases, we work closely with the existing provider, the present staff and families as well as the sponsoring institution to ensure a smooth transition.

Imagine believes that setting up quality programs means working in partnership with the sponsoring institution. To this end, we work with our clients to appoint/elect advisory boards and or liaisons to work with Imagine’s team. This new team will ensure that the project meets the ever-changing needs of the client. The group will work together during the initial phases of design and development as well as after the learning center is built and operating.

Imagine can work with clients using various forms of corporate structure. Our goal is to offer our clients maximum flexibility and control with limited responsibility and exposure. We are available to meet and talk about the available options.

Universal Pre-K (UPK)

Imagine has 6 centers with full-day UPK programs. Lehman College Child Care, Mt Sinai Kids, Vets Kids, Brooklyn Heights, Jamaica, and Dumbo are contracted Universal Pre-K providers through the New York City Department of Education. These contracts were awarded because our programs were identified as providing a high-quality educational experience for children. Resources available to us through UPK have provided us further effective guidance in preparing children for Kindergarten. Additionally, the program offers teacher training as well as reduced tuition for the families of qualified children.