Frequently Asked Questions

General

• What makes Paidea unique?

  • Balance of IQ and EQ
  • Teacher Longevity and Team Teaching
  • Flexible Scheduling
  • Generous Vacation Time
  • Director’s Role
  • Parent Education
  • Mixed Aged Groupings
  • Outdoor Nature Area
  • Large Classrooms
  • Emotion Coaching in Discipline

  
• What are some special activities for Parents?

  • Parent Night
    Once a month, parent education classes are offered free of charge. Parents attend class with Sarah, while the children play together under teacher supervision.
  • Annual Gala and Auction
    This is an evening out for parents. It includes a fundraising event and entertainment.
  • Trunk or Treat
    Join us in the fall for music, fun, and treats! 

  
• What are some special activities for Families?

  • End of the Year Picnic
    Paidea hosts a year-end celebration picnic where we recognize Paidea community and kick off summer.
  • Spring Clean Up Day
    This is a fun day in the spring for families to do a "community service" and help Paidea with yard clean up!
  • Family Fun Night
    A perfect opportunity to mingle with other families within the Paidea community!
  • Summer Outdoor Family Night
    Once a month in the summer, Paidea provides the space for families to bring a picnic style dinner and come together. There's plenty of fun to be had on the playground!

  
• What are your most important priorities for children?

  Our biggest priorities are that children feel comfortable and connected, receive sensitive and responsive caregiving, are ready for school (both IQ and EQ), and are enthusiastic learners.

  

In the Classroom

• How is discipline handled at Paidea?

  • We understand the child’s perspective and listen first.
    
    

  • We try to look at each child and understand the "fuel" or reason behind misbehavior.  We do not deal only with the "fire" or misbehavior itself.  This way, we can effectively address and change behaviors and help children learn the skills they need to appropriately get their needs met. For example: a child wrecks someone else’s work (fire). In reality, the child really wants to join in the play, but doesn’t know how (fuel).  Our response is to help the child learn how to join in playing with others, not just punish them for wrecking work. They can learn to say, “Can I play too?”
  • We have 3-basic rules at Paidea - "Stop" to anything 1.) unsafe, 2.) hurtful, 3.)disrespectful.  If a child does one of these, they need to “re-do” the behavior appropriately.  For example:
     
    • If they run down the hall, they need to “re-do” and walk down the hall.
    • If they won’t clean up, they need to “re-do” and clean up.
    • If they interrupt a story, they need to “re-do” by raising their hand.

  Children decide when they are ready to “re-do”, but they don’t go on until they have re-done. They can go to their space to calm and they come out when they are ready to “re-do”. This teaches them what to do, NOT what not to do.

  
• How are parents communicated with?

  • Parents are welcome to visit anytime.

  • Parents receive:
    • Daily sheets
    • E-mails
    • Phone calls
    • Private web page
    • Journals
    • Conferences
    • Newsletters
    • Friday reminders

  
• What is your teacher/child ratio?

  		Teacher/child Ratio	Group size
  •	Toddler:	1-7	6
  •	Preschool:	1-10	16
  •	Kindergarten:	1-15	15
  •	School Age After School:	1-15	30

  
• I found that other Preschools require my child to be potty trained. Is this the same at Paidea?

  No.  Children do not have to be potty trained to attend Paidea's preschool program.  However, parents are required to provide diapers and wipes for their child.

  
• Does Paidea supply lunch and snacks?

  Paidea provides morning and afternoon snacks. Breakfast and lunch comes from home. There is a refrigerator and microwave in each room. Beverages are provided during lunch and snack times.

  There is an option to order catered lunches from Hy-Vee grocery store at an additional cost of $5/meal. Make advanced arrangements with the office to add to the weekly lunch order.