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| Our infant spaces include cozy nooks and safe places to climb and explore. |
Most of the Gretchen's House Child Care Centers are located within residential neighborhoods, in homes renovated for child care. Each center has a unique personality derived from the building design, the ages of the children at the center, and the staff. Many of the children attending each center live nearby and feel very comfortable in the surroundings. Children are cared for in multi-age groups to enhance the family atmosphere and to provide an opportunity for long term friendship and continuity of care.
All of our centers include:
 | Large wooded, fenced play yards with age-specific play structures and variety of building equipment for extended outdoor play. |
| Outdoor areas for riding toys and bicycles. |
| Fully equipped kitchens, laundry rooms and several bathrooms. |
| Separate sleeping rooms for infants. |
| School bus service to the many elementary schools. |
| Easy access to city bus routes and regular use of the center van for field trips. |
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| The housekeeping (or dramatic play) area is a key element of our preschool classrooms. |
OUR INFANT AND TODDLER SPACES
Our infant and toddler areas house 12-16 children ranging in age from 3 to 36 months. Separate spaces within this area are set aside for infant sleeping, feeding, changing, and rocking. Once a child is creeping or walking there are large spaces for active exploration, an area for our "wet and wild" activities and soft small places for quiet reading, singing, dramatic play, and one on one with a teacher or friend.
OUR PRESCHOOL SPACES
Our preschool programs care for 14-20 children ages 2½ to 5 years. Their rooms are arranged into a variety of interest centers including math, science, dramatic play, creative arts, language arts, blocks, music and movement, and sensory play. There are large spaces for group play as well as smaller areas for individual play or small groups.
OUR PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN SPACES
These programs care for 8-20 children ages 4-6 years. Their space is also arranged into interest areas similar to those in the preschool programs. There are spaces for large and small group play as well as areas set aside for individual activities. There is a computer area in these rooms.
OUR SCHOOLAGE SPACES
Schoolage children attend Gretchen's House before and after school hours, during school vacations, and in the summer. Because they do not require a full-time space of their own, they will often share space with the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program-using equipment and supplies purchased specifically for their developmental level. This sharing of space encourages the family atmosphere and creates many opportunities for shared learning.
