Early Learning • In Skyway
What to expect on a tour, how enrollment works, and how we make the first week feel safe, seen, and successful.
Childcare tour in Skyway: your first step toward a warm, practical start at Little STEAMers Academy—what to expect, what to bring, and how we help first days feel calm and confident.
How Our Tours Work (and what you’ll see)
- A warm hello and a quick overview of our STEAM-rich, play-based approach.
- A walk through the classroom and outdoor space: centers, bathrooms, cubbies, and the calm-down area.
- Peek into routines—arrival, snack, rest, and clean-up—so you can picture your child’s day.
- Space for your questions about schedules, allergies, milestones, and support.
Try → Talk → Tweak in action: You’ll hear teachers narrate what children notice, test, and revise. That flexible thinking is the heart of our program.
Planning Your Childcare Tour in Skyway
Tours run 20–30 minutes and include arrival, centers, and Q&A. Bring your questions about schedules, meals, and first-week routines.
The Enrollment Steps (simple & predictable)
- Schedule a Tour (pick a time that works for your family).
- Placement & Start Date (we match age, fit, and opening).
- Paperwork Packet (medical, pick-up list, allergies).
- Welcome Call (10 minutes to review routines + your child’s strengths).
- First Day Plan (short and sweet; you choose the goodbye plan).
Ready to see it for yourself? Schedule a childcare tour in Skyway and meet the team who’ll guide your child’s first days.
What to Bring (quick checklist)
- Daily: labeled water bottle; weather-appropriate layers; closed-toe shoes.
- Back-up kit: spare clothes (top, bottom, socks, underwear/diapers).
- If napping: comfort item (small blanket/stuffed friend).
- If allergies/meds: action plan + doctor’s forms + labeled meds.
Safety by Design
Curiosity needs a safe runway. In our STEAM Lab, we keep exploration simple, age-right, and within sight.
- Age-right materials. Safe tools (plastic droppers, scoops, child-safe flashlights). No loose magnets or button batteries—ever.
- Within-sight, within-reach supervision. Water trays stay at tables; spills get wiped right away.
- Clear routines. “Eyes on tools, hands stay low, clean-up together” so children know what to expect.
- Small-parts checks. We use the tube test to keep anything that could be a choking hazard out of reach of under-3s.
- Light & electricity. Flashlights only (no lasers), cords taped down, and only cool-touch lights for shadow play.
Safety Check: Water play stays at the table with a grown-up within arm’s reach. Magnets and button batteries are never used as loose parts. For concerns or emergencies, call your pediatrician or 911.
First-Week Ready: Start Strong Together
The first week sets the tone. Use our free First-Week Ready Checklist (PDF) to keep home and classroom in sync—comfort item, labeled water bottle, spare clothes, nap routine, meds forms, and your preferred goodbye script, all on one page. Print it, pop it on the fridge, and tuck a copy in the backpack.
- Free First-Week Ready Checklist (PDF) — a 1-page, print-friendly log that helps kids notice, draw, measure, and talk about seedlings each day. After you print, come see the lab in person—schedule a childcare tour in Skyway.
Curious what this looks like in person? Schedule a childcare tour in Skyway.
Try This Tonight: Flashlight Shadow Hunt (10 Minutes)
You’ll need:
A flashlight, a few toys/household objects, a blank wall or sheet.
- Dim the room and shine the light at the wall; place objects in the beam.
- Compare: “Closer vs. farther—what happens to the shadow?”
- Trace a favorite outline on paper (optional) and label it together.
- Trade roles—your child is the “light scientist” and you move the objects.
Try → Talk → Tweak
• Try: rotate the object, stack two, change the distance.
• Talk: “Which shadow is biggest? What shape do you notice?”
• Tweak: “How could we make a clearer outline?”
Safety Check: Water play stays at the table with a grown-up within arm’s reach. Magnets and button batteries are never used as loose parts.
For concerns or emergencies, call your pediatrician or 911.
What Families Notice in the First Two Weeks
Children settle into predictable rhythms: morning welcomes, open-ended centers, outdoor exploration, and small-group projects. You’ll hear more descriptive language (“I poured it fast, so it splashed!”), longer focus during building or art, and small bursts of independence—hanging a jacket, choosing materials, helping a friend.
Teachers model the See → Try → Talk → Tweak → Show loop out loud so children learn to test safely and share what happened. If your child needs support with transitions, we use visuals, first/then language, and co-regulation strategies you can mirror at home.
Curious how this looks by age group? Explore our Programs or Schedule a Tour to visit a classroom in person.
The Big Picture
Starting care is a big step; our job is to make it calm and predictable. From a warm hello at drop-off to visual routines, daily notes, and quick check-ins, we center relationships so your child can settle in and thrive. If you’re exploring options, booking a childcare tour in Skyway is the best way to see how we welcome new families—we’d love to show you around.
This article is educational only and not medical advice. For concerns or emergencies, contact your pediatrician or call 911.