Our Environment
Bilingual Environment
Casa Feliz is a bilingual immersive (Portuguese/Spanish) State Certified Childcare with three locations in Northeast Portland. Our homes are set up with children furniture only, to allow the safest environment for our children. We strive to provide a clean, safe, and educational environment for young children and their families. Within our care, children develop skills that promote physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth.
Children can learn to speak more than one language. Speaking one language at home and Spanish/Portuguese at Casa Feliz can help your little one learn new words, make new connections, and become better listeners. Learning a new language is not always easy and it can be difficult for some kiddos. However, having difficulty in understanding and speaking a new language is normal and expected. Some children may not speak as much when learning a second language or might mix grammar rules, once again, this is normal and part of the process of becoming bilingual. Here are a couple links for more information about Learning Two Language and The Advantages of Being Bilingual.
At our 95th location we provide care and love for our youngest friends, they normally start at 3 months old and can go up to approximately 12 months old. At our Wygant home we have our toddler friends and they start around at 12 months and go up to approximately 24 months. We also have the 83rd location with our older toddlers that normally picks up from 24 months until they reach 4 years. Our ratio at 95th is 1:3, at Wygant is 1:4, and at 83rd is 1:6. This allows our children to develop, learn, and grow with friends at the same age group in a home-based setting.
We maintain a media/screen free environment with plenty of opportunities for reading, uninterrupted play, indoor & outdoor activities, and music. We believe in being supportive of our parents, and we welcome their positive involvement and presence at all times.
What to Expect on the 1st Day
On the first day at Casa Feliz you will be greeted by our staff, we will show you where the iPad is located for checking in/out your child. Our wonderful staff will introduce themselves to you and your child.
Throughout the day you may see what fun and interesting activities your child is engaged through Brightwheel. In addition, you may also see what they eat, when they start and end their nap, observations and/or achievements your child may complete while attending Casa Feliz. For example, if your child has mastered the sign language for “more” or he/she has mastered the skill of rolling over from back to tummy, we will post it on your child’s page for you to see. If at anytime you have any questions or comments please feel free to message our wonderful teachers through the Brightwheel app. If it is possible, we ask that you bring in your child for half the day during their first couple of days or for the first week. We believe that half a day helps make transitioning to Casa Feliz much easier for the child.
Helpful Tips to Make Transitioning Easier
We understand how difficult transitioning from home to child care can be and we want to help make the transition as easy and stress free as possible. Here are some helpful tips we encourage you to try with your little one before coming to Casa Feliz and during drop off.
Tip #1 – Explaining Drop Off Before It Happens
We believe it is helpful to describe to your child what dropping them off at Casa Feliz will look like. Talk to them about the fun things he/she will do at daycare and reassure them you will always be back at the end of the day.
Tip #2 – Acknowledging The Child’s Feelings
If your child becomes upset or worried during drop off we recommend acknowledging their feelings and letting them know you see they are sad. For example, “I see you are upset. I’m sorry I can’t stay longer, mommy needs to go to work now. But I promise I’ll be right back to pick you up very soon. I love you.” When you have said your goodbye it is best to leave and not linger any longer.
Tip #3 – Waving Through The Window
Both Casa Feliz locations have windows looking out onto the street, giving children a good view of when you wave good bye. We believe it is helpful for you to wave one last goodbye to your child from the window. We have come to see that after doing so the child feels more reassured that you have left and are not waiting outside the door for them. With this reassurance the child can then begin to explore their surroundings and begin their day at Casa Feliz.
Tip #4 – Never Sneaking Out
We ask that you please never sneak away without saying goodbye. Saying your personal message before you leave can help reassure your child that you are coming back for them. This type of security is important in creating a predictable routine for your child.
Tip #5 – Trust in Casa Feliz and Open Communication
Our last and most important tip is that you trust us as professional child care teachers and know that we want the absolute best for your child too! Our teachers have years of experience and knowledge that can be used to help your child positively grow and develop at Casa Feliz. We ask that you always have constant communication with all our staff and feel comfortable to ask any questions you may have. We want all our families to feel welcomed and a part of our Casa Feliz family too! We have lots of love we want to share and look forward to creating beautiful memories with you and your little one!