SARATOGA FAMILY | SUMMER 2020 24
During the l o o h c s e Pandemic Pr WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED
E
ven in tough times, there are places where children can go to be in an environment where they feel safe, eat well-balanced organic meals, and are encouraged to play …and learn!
“We are taking the steps in our program to keep everyone safe, following both the state guidelines and following our own best practices,” said Ashley Tyler, owner of Jumper Bean Daycare and Preschool in Ballston Spa.
Prepared for a New Normal Because of the way they do business, Jumper Bean only closed for a week in March before they were ready to reopen. “We reopened and stayed open by putting new steps in place,” said Tyler. They already had a staff member position designated as a “floater” – someone who was free to move around, sanitize and thoroughly clean during the day. They clean everything – toys, tables, bathrooms, doorknobs, even the pens parents are using. Early on, when others weren’t, Jumper Bean was prepared and never experienced a shortage of hard-to-find items including cleaning supplies, soap, hand sanitizer, gloves, and toilet paper. Already a member of two CSAs and an established patron of other local food producers, Jumper Bean always had fresh, healthy food available. “We never had a problem getting meat, vegetables, and dairy – even when local farms were having an influx of requests for new orders. What’s nice about our program is we had great resources already in place,” she said. Open, one-on-one communication paired with signage, and an up-todate illness policy informs parents of precautions that have been put in place. These guidelines include the stipulation that children must stay home if they have a fever or cough (unless they have a doctor’s note) and monitoring the children and staff’s body temperatures throughout the day.
Reinforcing Resilience Preparation for the preschoolers’ daily needs has been reinforced by a careful consideration given to their emotional well-being. Answering kids questions about why the staff was wearing masks (and other concerns the children are having about local and world events) has been incorporated into a curriculum of age-appropriate books, circle time talks, activities, and scenarios to help them understand and process their emotions. Jumper Bean’s large yard, garden beds, and playground has also been an asset during these difficult times. “We have lots of outside time. We get them into the fresh air as much as we can. It helps the kids really relax and get a lot of that energy out,” said Tyler.
Creating Bright Futures Bringing even more fun and light into their program, Jumper Bean recently had a mural painted by artist Gretchen Louise Tisch, owner of Feathered Antler in Saratoga Springs. Friendly animals frolic among wispy cattails and perch upon a tree budding with pink blossoms. “Our vision has always been that this is a place for children to come in and feel safe and at home. No matter what is going on in the world, here, they’re in an environment where they can love what they see, have fun, and relax. They can say, ‘Wow! I love my school’,” said Tyler. Jumper Bean Preschool is actively enrolling children ages 3 through 5 years old in their 2, 3, and 5-day programs. Short-term, flexible scheduling is also available. For more information, go to JumperBean.com