There are few things that a community can’t do when it comes together to unite, and Our Children’s House in Greensboro, North Carolina, is the perfect example. It is a five-star childcare center that serves a small number of families with low teacher/child ratios in a learning environment designed to replicate the comforts of home. They believe that “children thrive when surrounded by love,” and they’ve created a community of involved parents and highly experienced and nurturing teachers to provide just that.
Whether you’re new to the Greensboro area or simply looking to make a switch in your child care, Our Children’s House can help you determine whether they’re the right fit for your child and your family. Keep reading to discover more about what makes them such a unique organization in our community and why so many people are proud to call Our Children’s House home.
About Our Children’s House
Our Children’s House was born from the drive, dedication, and passion of a group of parents who found themselves suddenly without daycare for their children when their beloved caregivers closed their establishment. In need of a new place to care for their little ones and having experienced the difference of a quality daycare system, they came together to create Our Children’s House, a brand new, non-profit center owned by 11 founding families.
These families worked hard to obtain permits, raise money for land, and construct a new facility, all the while continuously employing teachers from their children’s former preschool in hopes they would follow them to their new organization. All of their constant hard work paid off when Our Children’s House opened on November 28, 1994, and it has been a safe haven for families in need of child care ever since.
Services
Our Children’s House, or OCH, knows that children thrive in a warm and loving atmosphere surrounded by supportive adults, and they have made it their mission to create a nurturing environment that encourages little ones to experience all of the normal activities throughout the day that they would at home. For them, family is the most important thing to a child’s healthy development, and a home-like environment where teachers are like extended family members is the best way to encourage kids to thrive.
OCH teachers are selected with great care in order to ensure that every child receives the special attention they need to develop at their own pace and in a healthy way. Consistency is key, so they work hard to create a culture where teachers feel appreciated and loved in order to build a reliable community on which families can depend. That’s also why they pay close attention to the ratio of teachers to children, with a capacity of 29 kids at any given time.
Whereas some daycare centers divide programming into different groups by age, OCH uses multi-age or “family” grouping to promote closeness. Younger children learn skills from observing and working alongside older kids, and the older children develop leadership skills and empathy by working with the younger ones. Children of all ages spend the day playing, interacting with one another, and making discoveries that keep them engaged and learning.
Our Children’s House Accreditations
OCH has proudly received and maintains a Five-Star rating with the NC Division of Child Development. They use an individualized approach to learning that focuses on play and relationships, offering instruction through immersive multi-sensory play, allowing their children to learn by experience. OCH focuses on 5 Developmental Domains: Approaches to Play and Learning, Emotional and Social Development, Health and Physical Development, Language Development and Communication, and Cognitive Development. These ensure your child is developing a love of learning, all while becoming well-rounded little humans.
Curriculum
Creative Curriculum is at the heart of OCH, giving teachers the flexibility to create unique, quality hands-on experiences for kids based on their interests. They also incorporate developmentally appropriate practices, allowing the children to take the lead in their experiences.
OCH’s daycare is a full day, year-long program. Your child will receive nutritious snacks daily, and plenty of opportunity for play and rest throughout the day. Their daily schedule stays structured to provide a balance between active and quiet times, group and individual play, and indoor and outdoor activities. The intent is always to challenge, but never overwhelm!
Specialty
Something that makes Our Children’s House totally unique is its co-op parent involvement, which ensures that every family is an integral part of the OCH community. As a non-profit corporation, OCH operates under a parent board of directors that assists with day-to-day operations. However, parent participation isn’t viewed as an obligation; it’s part of what sets OCH apart from other daycares. With the consistency of their families and teachers, they received a 5-star rating. Because no one invests more in the quality of care for children than their parents and caregivers. There are a multitude of ways for parents to get involved at the school, and while there is no mandatory time commitment, one member from each family is required to serve on a committee (like fundraising, marketing, parent involvement, etc.)
OCH Thrives on the continued participation of its families, and as a community that knows firsthand the importance of involvement, they also highly value diversity and respect the fact that their school is made up of families from all different backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles. Exposure to different ways of knowing, thinking, and experiencing creates more enriching opportunities for children to grow, and they are working hard to create a stronger community by recognizing and appreciating the unique perspectives each person brings to the table.
Give Your Child An Incredible Start With Our Children’s House
Our Children’s House is a daycare unlike any other in the area, committed to helping children grow and learn in a home-like environment that prioritizes relationships and experiential learning. Even once a child moves on to Kindergarten and beyond, they still often consider Our Children’s House home. If you’re looking for not just a daycare but also a community for your family to join, be sure to consider Our Children’s House in your search for child care.
Now that your little one is growing up, don’t forget to book your family’s next photography session. Time flies when your babies are little! As a Greensboro family photographer, I love capturing those fleeting moments through photography. I will turn your family’s memories into priceless artwork to remind you of those times.
