What is your outdoor philosophy?
There are great benefits of children going outside even when it’s cold. Children of all ages need fresh air and exercise.
Going outside each day actually helps keep children healthy. One reason is it reduces the risk of catching colds or other illnesses because infectious organisms are less concentrated outdoors so children are less likely to ingest other children’s germs.
Sunlight exposure to the skin helps provide a child’s body with much needed vitamin D which assists in the growth of strong bones.
When children are allowed to go outside it instills in them the importance of physical activity and exercise to stay healthy.
Time spent outside affords children an opportunity to break free from the structure of the indoor classroom especially for those children who are very active and love the outdoors.
Infants can also participate in outside activities as well, however, it is sometimes difficult to judge when weather conditions are safe in extreme conditions. So their outside time may be limited more than the older children.
How do you decide when it’s safe to take very young children outside in extreme temperatures?
When temperatures are at or below 32º F, including wind chill factor, outdoor time should be limited to no longer than 15 minute intervals. Take precautions to make sure that infants and all children stay warm and dry.
Coats should be worn if temperatures are below 55º F.
When temperatures are at or above 100 ºF, including heat index, infants should not go outside.
When temperatures are between 95-100º F, outdoor time should be limited to 15 minute intervals. Take precautions to make sure that infants and all children stay in shaded areas and are protected with sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
The term “weather permitting” means almost every day, unless there is a weather advisory or public announcement related to extreme cold or heat that may cause health problems. “There is no bad weather; only bad clothes.” Therefore, children should be dressed properly and taken out on most days. This might require that the schedule be changed to allow children outdoor play in the early morning when it will be very hot later in the day. Or it might require that the children have boots or a change of clothes when the grass is wet or that activities are on the patio.
It looks like my child is just playing all day?
Children learn through play. When you see children playing they are learning needed skills. For example, when children are in the dramatic play center playing house they are building their social emotional skills and when children are outdoor they are increasing their gross motor skills by practicing running, jumping, climbing and other skills. For more information see the article “The Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development” in our articles section of the resources.
How do I enroll my child in your program?
To enroll your child in our program you have to fill out an interest form and provide us with some paperwork such as birth certificate, shot records and proof of address. You can assess the form and list of paperwork you need in our Enrollment section. You can also get an application, list of paperwork and additional help by contacting us or stopping by one of our schools to talk to a family advocate.
How do you qualify to get your child into an Educare School?
The easiest way to qualify is to be on DHS childcare subsidy. The Department of Human Services (DHS) provides Child Care Subsidy for those who qualify. To determine if you are eligible for this child care subsidy, you will need to contact DHS and set up an appointment. Your eligibility is determined by your income, family size, and the number of children in child care. If approved, you will receive a Notice of Action letter. The letter will provide you with information about the number of hours your child can attend and the amount of your Family Share co-payment. When you receive your letter, bring it to the front desk of one of the Educare centers and one of our staff will assist you.
What curriculum do you use?
We use teaching strategies GOLD for our curriculum and classrooms assessments. GOLD is an online program we use to help guide our lesson plans and individualizations using 38 objectives within the following domains: social emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, and mathematics.
As a parent can I spend time in the classroom?
Absolutely. We encourage family members to spend time in their child’s classroom. Parents can stay and eat, play or read. Tulsa Educare adheres to a philolphy that parents are a child’s most important teacher, thus, parents are always welcome in the classroom.
Do you cook your own meals on site?
Yes, each of our Educare schools has its own kitchen on-site with kitchen staff who prepare a healthy and tasty breakfast, lunch, and snack daily for children and staff.
How can I get a tour of Educare?
If you just stop by one of our sites you will likely be able to receive a tour. If possible, we would prefer you call the school in advance and set up a time. That way, the tour can be tailored more to your needs and interests.
Could I use one of your rooms for a meeting?
Currently Tulsa Educare allows the usage of our facilities during business hours (7 am to 6 pm) Monday through Friday. If you are interested in learning more about available space and time during business hours, contact us.
How can I volunteer at Educare?
Tulsa Educare loves volunteers. If you are looking for something every once in a while or something on a more regular basis we would love to get you involved. If you are interested in volunteering at one of our three sites please contact us.
How do I apply for a job with you?
You can download our application from this website. E-mail your application and resume to careers@tulsaeducare.org or drop it off at one of our three schools.
What job openings do you have?
You can see the jobs we have open by going to our Positions Available page and note the positions with stars next to them. Those are the current positions we have open.
Do your employees have benefits?
Yes, check out the benefits of employment with Tulsa Educare at our Educare Advantages page.
What requirements do you need to work at Educare?
We have many different job opportunities with a variety of requirements from having a CDA to a Masters degree. You can learn more about this at our Positions Available page.
