The Children’s Place and Parent Education Center

“My 4-year-old son is thriving from his play-based education at The Children’s Place. His verbal skills have increased in leaps and bounds, his confidence is soaring as he creatively works through challenges with growing ease, and his empathy for others has expanded so much since he began at TCP. The teachers at TCP go above and beyond in every way for their students, and it has had such a positive impact on our son.” - A Happy Mommy

                                                  Achieved the Council on Accreditation (COA) Distinction in 2022 

                                                                          Given FRC-Q Recognition in 2023

Positive feedback like this is not uncommon at The Children’s Place. The staff of The Children’s Place believes that the experiences of childhood have a profound and lasting effect, and their program reflects that belief. The Children’s Place has been Concord, New Hampshire area’s premiere childcare and parent education center for over 45 years.

The Children’s Place fosters early childhood development through play-based learning and provides holistic support to families. Your child’s early years are some of the most crucial years for development and deciding on where to send your child to preschool is one of the most impactful you can make. You deserve to know not just how your child will be educated, but how they will be treated, valued, and seen as a whole person. At The Children’s Place, we lead by the following core values and beliefs:

Play-Based Learning

“I am so grateful for the play-based learning program at TCP. It is so beneficial for my children, and I appreciate everything that you do to make it a success. It is so important for them to learn how to have fun and have physical activity that is enriching and stimulating. I know that the program that you use is a big part of why my children are so well-rounded and thriving in school. Before they were enrolled at TCP, they were pretty shy, and they have since really opened up and LOVE going to school and being with their friends! Thank you again for all that you do to make the preschool experience fun and meaningful for my children.”

At TCP, we emphasize interactive play and open-ended learning, creative expressions, and a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. Children engage in play-based learning to act out real-life events and we provide opportunities for children to pretend in many areas. For example, children may care for baby dolls to learn how to be nurturing individuals. We provide children with role models that are necessary to reenact life experiences in a positive safe environment.

We also use the Emergent Curriculum to complement play-based learning. Both words in the phrase are important: Emergent stresses that planning needs to be based on the spontaneity of daily life, home cultures and languages, and interests of children. The curriculum conveys the message that teacher planning also exists in an early childhood setting. Both spontaneity and planning come together in the Emergent Curriculum.

Examples of play-based learning and emergent curriculum activities include:

• Sensory Exploration and Play
• Make-believe
• Dramatic Play
• Dress Up
• I-Spy
• Painting
• Drawing
• Dancing
• Singing
• Guided Learning Through Play
• Teacher-Directed Learning

Examples of play-based learning in the classroom:

• Kitchen
• Vet Center
• Obstacle Course Center
• Sensory Room
• Reading Area

Consistent Caregiving

“My son turned one just as the pandemic began in March 2020. He hadn't had much public exposure before and got even less the next two years. When we started sending him to The Children's Place in Feb 2022, he had a very hard time adjusting. The staff were amazing! Helping him feel comfortable with adults other than his immediate family, teaching him coping skills and how to express his feelings, and showing him how to interact with other children and adults through play. Soon he loved going to school and we noticed he became more expressive, sharing about his day and using words to describe how he was feeling. This has helped so much with transitions and tantrums especially. He references the real-life experiences he has at TCP and how they apply at other times. Thank you to all the staff who are so kind and do a wonderful job teaching these important life skills!”

We recognize that consistency in caregiving is essential for children’s attachment and therefore TCP organizes our programming so that a group of children stay with the same teachers for more than a year; this has the potential to provide that consistency which is critical for attachment. Maintaining attachment is critical to the child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional health now and in the future.

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Vol. 17, No. 2, April 2017, pp. 85-100. doi: 10.14434/josotl.v17i2.20840

Freedom to Explore Interests 

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to you personally and to all the staff for a wonderful place for my child. My child looks forward to every meeting in your kindergarten. Our daughter does not speak English, but during her visit to your place, she began to count in English, sing songs, learned the alphabet, and much more. Our daughter has made a lot of friends with whom she communicates and looks forward to meeting with them, as well as with employees who are very attentive and responsive. Thank you!”

We believe that children develop agency and a stronger sense of independence by being given the freedom to explore their interests within a topic area. Teachers spend time getting to know the children and learning about their individual interests throughout the day. They will then use what they learn about each child to set up activities and find materials related to their areas of interest.

Deep exploration and critical thinking around topics are encouraged and the timeframe of a project is dependent on the direction that the children and curriculum take. For example, an exploration may begin with “underwater” and progress to sea creatures, treasures, and maps before it is completed. Some other topics that children have been given the guidance and freedom to explore are clouds, leaves, animal habitats, dinosaurs, food, jobs/careers, music/instruments, and much more. 

Simulating a Child’s Natural Environment

The transition from a home to a school environment can be quite jarring for a child. We seek to make this transition as seamless as possible, by providing a home-like atmosphere for children to learn. When children enter the doors of The Children’s Place they are surrounded by soothing blue walls, soft textures, stuffed animals, art to spark creativity, and books to inspire curiosity. By creating a happy and welcoming home environment for children, they will look forward to going to school every day.

Caring for the Whole Family

“Choosing TCP has been one of the best decisions we have made for our daughter. The teachers there are amazing! They support the children and engage with them in ways that help their minds grow in the best way. This facility not only has been so incredibly generous and supportive to our family, but also has made a huge impact on our daughter's learning and development. Since she has started there almost two years ago, we have noticed that our daughter has become more curious and self-motivated in her learning.”

We are here for your child, here for you, and here for the family! It takes a village to raise a child and we pride ourselves on providing families with unwavering support. TCP follows Waypoint’s mission to provide “help along the way” and this includes providing help to families during the early childhood years. Here are just a few services we offer to families:

• Nutritious Daily Meals. This enables working parents to not have to worry about packing breakfasts, lunches, or snacks for their children every day. We are also cognizant of food allergies and sensitivities.
• TCP Family Resources. TCP maintains a family library which includes books, articles, and journals that are available for borrowing. If you would like to see something specific in the library, please mention it to us and we will do our best to provide it.
• Scheduling “Special Family Engagement Events.” The purpose of Family Engagement Events is for the children to get to know something about each other’s families and cultures and for parents and guardians to connect and meet new people. This is a time for children and their families to have quality play time together with activities, games, and crafts.
• Diaper Pantry: We support an average of 65-75 families each month by providing free diapers and wipes. As of right now, over 100 children each month are benefiting from the diaper pantry.
• Extended Day Program for Just $25 Extra a Week. We recognize how hard it is to arrange childcare as working parents, which is why we have a new extended day program for 3–5-year-olds from 8:30 – 5:00 p.m. This enables parents to have peace of mind while they work to provide income for their families.

Our program is a family place, in addition to being a children’s place. We believe that family and support make TCP a special community and give everyone a sense of belonging.

Meet Our Program Director, Miss Kelly!

“If we experienced life through the eyes of a child, everything would be magical and extraordinary. Let our curiosity, adventure, and wonder of life never end.” - Akiane Kramarik 

The quote above is one of my favorites and guides my teaching philosophy as an early childhood educator. Welcome to The Children's Place and Parent Education Center, a Waypoint Program! My name is Kelly Bozetarnik, and I am the Director of TCP. I have always enjoyed working with children and I am passionate about building positive relationships that can foster development and growth. My love for children has only grown each year, and my steadfast devotion to creating warm, welcoming environments in every classroom has proven to be the most satisfying endeavor. I grew up in New Hampshire and received my Master's in Elementary Education as well as my Bachelor's in Psychology. Before going to college, I had many opportunities to gain experience working with young children, which was beneficial to my ultimate career choice of being an educator. In addition to teaching in New Hampshire, I also lived and taught in San Diego, CA for 12 years. When reflecting on the 20+ years that I have worked with children, I find myself so incredibly appreciative of the path that I chose, the families and children I have supported, and the most amazing colleagues and professionals that I have learned so much from. Teaching children to be kind, compassionate humans who are lifelong learners brings me the most joy! I truly feel like the luckiest person to have an incredible team of teachers by my side, who share similar values, and make it our mission to create a healthy environment and positive guidance for all children and families.

Kind Words

“...There are no words that can describe the gratitude that me and my husband have for all that you’ve done for our son. You and your staff saved him. Before coming to you when he was in daycare, he was angry and violent. He was sad and lonely. He would beg us in the morning not to make him go, not to leave him there. He would then plead when we picked him up not to ever take him back. Every Day. His soul was breaking.

From the moment he came to The Children’s Place he was accepted. Truly accepted for all the parts that make up him, both the good and the challenging. His struggles were seen as puzzles that you and your team needed to work with us to figure out. Not obstacles that made your day harder or bred resentment in you and your staff.

You specifically have done so many little things that have made such an impact. You let him behind the counter to help or watch while you prepared lunch or other meals. You ensured he had one-on-one time with an adult to help him process and calm down. You allowed him to help build play structures. You play puzzles with him in the rain, and now when we do a puzzle he says, ‘Just like Miss Kelly!’ You are not a typical director that hides in the office. You have made yourself a prominent part of our son’s life.

It is extremely hard to say goodbye to you. You have become our son’s family. You love our son as we love our son. Thank you."

Hours and Tuition Rates:

Hours

Toddler Group (18 mo – 3): 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

Preschool (3- 5 years): 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Extended Day (3 – 5 years): 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Tuition

Regular Tuition for all children is $52/day or $250/week

The Extended Day Program is only $25 more each week and totals $275/week.

Scholarships are available for families in need.

Contact Information

To get more information and learn more about how to enroll your child, please contact Kelly Bozetarnik at bozetarnikk@waypointnh.org or call 603-224-9920. Please see the registration packet attached and mail enrollment documents to 27 Burns Ave, Concord, New Hampshire 03301.