I had the absolute pleasure of touring Lightbridge Academy in Elmsford, NY. From the moment I reached the front door, I knew that this would be a place that I would love to send my children too! From the safety precautions to the smiling staff, I immediately felt that Lightbridge Academy would have a well-rounded plan for childcare that would make any parent feel comfortable with their little ones attending this program. Upon completion of the tour, I realized that my expectations had been exceeded!
Let’s get right into the most important areas that parents are looking at when finding the best childcare options.
Safety
Safety will always be at the top of this mama’s priority list. I was impressed with the facial recognition scanner located at the main entrance. This coded entry system will only allow authorized parents and caregivers to enter the facility. It also logs each child in and out of the building. There are internal video monitoring systems that would enable directors to observe classroom activities and outdoor play areas continually.
The best part for me, to see as a mother, was the PARENTVIEW internet monitoring system. You are offered the opportunity to allow authorized users like dad and grandma, for example, to log in and view your child’s classroom! In addition, there is a PARENT ECOMMUNICATION app. You will receive important classroom announcements, reminders, photos, videos, and daily reports in real-time.
For the parents who, like myself, worry about what their child is doing each minute of the day, this is a great comfort. It is also a wonderful way for working parents to be connected with their children. No more worrying about missing out on milestones or special events because you are technically right there with them, watching.
All of their staff have early childhood educational backgrounds and are CPR and First-Aid certified.
The outdoor play areas feature padded surfaces, complete with plenty of shade and secure fencing with minimal points of entry. There are also sprinkler systems and regular fire and lockdown drills that are frequently practiced.
Cleanliness
This is a brand new site, so everything is in excellent condition. Lightbridge Academy makes it clear that cleanliness is a top priority, and not simply to meet the standards of maintaining appearance, but to ensure a healthy environment for the children and staff. Fresh air circulators keep a continuous flow of filtered, outdoor air into the facility. Toys and surfaces are sanitized throughout the day, and professional cleaning crews take over after hours to ensure that each morning children arrive at a pristine classroom.
Now more than ever, this holds true as they explained The Lightbridge Promise, which responds to the need for enhanced health and safety protocols with the development of the Gold Standard in the child care industry for cleanliness, security, and peace of mind. Included is our Lightbridge Promise flyer.
I loved the fact that they have a laundry room on-site, which they use to wash items like stuffed animals. Healthy habits are also taught throughout the day, no matter the age or stage, such as hand washing before and after meals, diaper changes, and bathroom visits.
Seedlings Early Childhood Education
This comprehensive curriculum places emphasis on meeting the needs of each child as an individual. The goal is to inspire and foster a learning environment that allows the children to tap into their intuitive abilities and build on their strengths.iPad technology and interactive Whiteboards enhance the educational curriculum by bringing learning to life in classrooms. They offer exclusive programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten, and school-age programs, all of which focus on developing the “whole child.”
Lightbridge Academy focuses on these learning domains to achieve an integrated curriculum:
- Mathematics & Science
- Creative Arts & Music
- Language & Literacy
- Social & Emotional
- Sensory
- Physical & Wellbeing
- Cognitive
Enrichment Programs Include:
Singing Sprouts – Music is used to create a rich learning environment that encourages physical movement and socialization.
Signing Sprouts – American Sign Language (ASL) is introduced to infants, which reduces pre-verbal frustration.
Spanish Sprouts – Lesson plans incorporate basic Spanish with theme-related words, counting, colors, and conversational phrases.
Handwriting Without Tears – Skills are developed through the use of music and engaging activities. Children are taught letters, body awareness, numbers, and sequencing, while proper handwriting habits are applied to all writing experiences.
When COVID is behind us, they plan to offer extra-curricular activities such as Karate, Ballet, Yoga, Soccer, and many others throughout the week to ease the burden on families to shuttle their kids to such activities late evenings or weekends.
In addition to the curriculum, I was taken back by the efforts to foster and maintain connections between children and their parents. The PARENTVIEW internet monitoring system and parent communication app take keeping parents in the loop to a whole different level. Lightbridge Academy continuously finds a way to go above and beyond. They even have a bonding room available for mothers who are still nursing their children.
They pride themselves on being a solution for parents by offering extended hours. This facility is open from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Also, a drop-in service is available, which allows a child to be brought in just for a half-day or full-day. Whether the parent has a doctor’s appointment or an important Zoom call, they can drop their child for a few hours knowing their most prized possession will be safe and well cared for.
Lightbridge Academy prides itself on being built on a foundation of family values. This establishment is a place where you can bring your children, and the staff members, from the director to the office management and teachers, all feel like kin. Their core values are driven by the desire to care for and develop truly meaningful relationships with all members of the Lightbridge Academy family, all while remembering that children are at the very center of why they have all been brought together.
For more information or to schedule an in-person tour, please feel free to visit the website, send an email, or give them a call at 914-347-1500.
In the meantime, check out the virtual tour!
