Cradle Inn Information

Cradle Inn provides full and part time childcare care for children aged from 6 weeks to 5 years old. We also provide a before and after school program for school aged children up to the age of 12 years old. We offer convenient hours for the standard "8-5" worker, and also will meet the needs for parents who have a more challenging work schedule. What is the difference between an "In-Home Daycare" and a Childcare Facility? The major difference between "in-home" daycare and a daycare center is in the regulations that are mandated by Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). For example, a Daycare Center is required to have all full time staff members complete a comprehensive training program that must include at least 30 hours training per year. Part time staff are required to complete 18 hours per year. Daycare Centers are required to have at a minimum, a health care consultant on call at all times. Cradle Inn Daycare has a Registered Nurse on staff. All staff members must have a complete Criminal Background check conducted by the State of Maine and be fully vetted to work in a daycare center. Daycare centers are required to have a structured education program to prepare preschoolers for kindergarten. What does a typical day look like? Cradle Inn Daycare offers a complete and structured day for your child. We start by warmly welcoming your child to the daycare and providing a USDA-approved breakfast. Morning activities include free playtime or more structured instruction, depending on the child's age. A mid-morning snack is provided, and then it is off to playtime (weather permitting, outside in the playground). After playtime the children have lunch, engage in a quiet activity and nap. Snacks are provided after naps, followed by structured play (coloring, singing, crafts). Can I bring my child in earlier than open time or later than closing time? Cradle Inn Daycare is prepared to meet the needs of the parents in order to provide the best service for the child. When the need arises for early or late care, we accommodate those requests as best as possible. Each request will be discussed between the parents and the owner and an amenable solution will be found. What kind of food is provided for my child? Cradle Inn Daycare offers a USDA -approved rotating menu for meals and snacks. We are a peanut-free facility. Should your child have special dietary needs, we will work with you to make certain those needs are met. How many children are in my child's room? Maine's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has strict guidelines for how many staff members are required for a certain number of children. Cradle Inn Daycare follows those guidelines to the letter. This is one of those items that are discussed during the initial interview with the parents. What training does your staff have? All staff members must complete between 18 to 30 hours of training each year to maintain State of Maine requirements. Lead Teachers in each age group are processing through a training program to achieve their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. The CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education. As new staff comes aboard, they are immediately put into the training program provided by Maine Roads to Quality (MRTQ) through the University of Maine. Staff members complete such training courses as "Caring for infants, toddlers, and Their Families", "Foundations of Health, Wellness, and Safety," and "Maine's Early Childhood Learning Guidelines". These are just a few of the dozens of courses provided by the MRTQ team. Can you explain the feel and environment your daycare has? Cradle Inn Daycare was developed in order to provide all the benefits of a Daycare Center, yet, maintain the feel of an "in-home atmosphere" daycare. The Center is set up in what was originally a home that was transformed into office space. We have transformed it back to a "home" that includes separate rooms for the different age groups to eat, sleep, and grow independently of the other age groups. We believe in having a fun atmosphere, and being in an environment which is safe, nurturing, stimulating and developmentally challenging. We emphasize the importance of trust, positive social interactions, self-esteem, respect for others, personal health, hygiene practices and communication skills. We feel that each child needs and deserves personal attention and affectionate care. Our goal each day is to make the child's experience a happy, healthy and stress free environment. Does Cradle Inn offer part time care? Cradle Inn Daycare offers full time, and part time childcare. We ask a minimum of 2 days per week for part time care. Additionally, the part time care days must remain the same days each week in order for the facility to maintain the appropriate number of staff on hand.