Story
Hug Bug Playschool opened on 17 January 2018 with Anja Fockema, who is a qualified early childhood development Montessori and Drama teacher, as the founder and principal. She has been working with children for more than 10 years, ranging from au-pairing, providing entertainment at parties, teaching drama, working as a pre-school teacher and now owning and running her beloved Hug bug Playschool.
My passion and love for children goes above and beyond. My experience with children taught me how extremely important a child’s early childhood development is and how desperately todays children, in a world filled with technology, require free play to grow their physical, emotional, social and fine motor development. I will never stop learning from these precious children and I will never stop researching, observing and improving my method of teaching and sharing this knowledge with my staff.
My favorite quote I try to live by: “Be the person you needed most a a child.”
What makes Hug Bug Playschool so special?
Myself and my wonderful staff’s passion, love, growth, teamwork, attention to detail, observation and understanding of what our Hug Buggies need is what Hug Bug Playschool is all about.
We focus intensely on individual attention with a true passion, love and care for each little one. We are so aware of each little ones personality, mood, likes and dislikes. Every day is a new day and some days your little one needs a bit of extra cuddles or alone time. Whatever it is your little one needs, we are here to provide it.
We truly go that extra mile for each little one because we do what we love. We encourage confidence and independence by encouraging them to do activities by themselves.
Mission
Stimulating and progressing your little one’s early childhood development in a loving, fun, creative and warm environment. Allowing them to learn through play!
Our goal is to be a positive influence on what kind of human your little one will become one day.
The importance of free play
Free play is important for healthy brain development, allowing children to use their creativity, while developing coordination, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, imagination, dexterity, cognitive and physical abilities. Free play is a tool for developing a child as a whole.
Free play gives children an outlet to express their emotions and feelings which helps them develop a sense of who they are and builds the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Time spent outdoors is an important part of the daily program and provides them with the opportunity to explore, discover and appreciate the natural world, test physical limits and get messy.
Age group
Hug Bug Playschool caters for ages 18 months to 3 years. Should you feel your little one is ready at an earlier age, we are happy to accommodate little ones as long as they can walk. Therefore the little ones only leave Hug Bug at the the end of the year they turn 3 years of age. Should Hug Buggies turn 3 towards the end of the year, they are welcome to stay on the following year when they turn 4.
Hug Buggies benefit greatly by staying until the end of the year they turn 3. Developmentally 18 months to 3 years compliment each other very well. It is therefore important to enroll your little one for the full duration for which the program was developed, providing the following benefits before sending them to “big” school:
• Your 3-year-old grows in confidence when they are considered and feel like the “big” boys and girls in the school where the younger children are learning from them.
• The staff to child ratio required for the younger age groups (18 months to the year they turn 3) are considerably higher as these ages require more supervision and individual attention.
• The year your little one turns 3, they are priority number one in terms of their age-appropriate development, preparing them for “big” school where development is prioritized on the pre-school age group.
• It is extremely beneficial for the younger age group (ages 18 months to the year they turn 3) to have a separate playground from older age groups as it ensures they can play freely without being affected by older age groups that are further developed physically and emotionally.
• Small group separation of the toddler and pre-school ages provides ample playground and classroom space so children can play and roam freely.
By working individually with each child on their developmental milestones, we ensure that all activities are appropriate for each age group as each child develops at their own pace. Being a small and intimate playschool provides us the opportunity to assess whether each individual child has reached a certain developmental milestone and see what they can accomplish next. This gives them the opportunity for continuous growth, allowing them to do more things by themselves.
General answers to commonly asked questions:
1. Size of school and children per adult?
We are a small school with a maximum of 5 children per adult, concentrating on every child’s individual needs.
2. What about potty training?
With the little one’s being in a social environment, they become interested in potty training by observing and copying their fellow potty trained Hug Buggies. The beginning of the learning process is simply by sitting on the potty. We encourage and help them feel comfortable with it at school, we also introduce and discuss potty training to get them interested. Potty training is only effective when ourselves and the parents work as a team to encourage the little ones at school as well as at home.
3. Communication with parents:
We believe we are working as a team. Therefore there will be regular communication with parents and lots of cute pictures of your little ones day of fun on our Hug Bug Playschool WhatsApp groups. We will also issue reports of your child’s development and interests twice a year (June and December).
4. Safety and Supervision.
Hug Bug Playschool is equipped with CCTV cameras monitoring the property at all times. CAP guards are always in close proximity and teachers are equipped with panic buttons triggering an armed response.
All staff completed a first aid course specializing in children. Safety and supervision of the children are of utmost importance at Hug bug Playschool with a safe and secure property and playground.
Daily Schedule:
7:30-8:45am: Drop off time and free play
9am: Ring time
9:30-10am: Snack
10am-ish: Change nappies and take little ones to toilet.
10am-10:30: Craft or Weekly Activity
10:30am: Free play
11:20-11:30: Leftover snack (for the little ones who are hungry again)
11:30-45: Change nappies and take little ones to toilet.
11:50: Story time
12-12:30pm: Pick up time
Reports:
Developmental reports will be provided in July and December.
Developmental report age groups:
- 18 months to 2 years
- 2 to 3 years
- 3 to 4 years
Snack Time
Please pack a healthy snack for your little one each day.
What we offer
Half day hours (7:30-12:30)
Drama Kiddies extra mural during school hours included in school fees
Holiday school (At an additional daily rate)
End of year concert
End of year Hug Bug gift T-shirts
Birthday rings
Extra Murals (Not included in school fees)
Hug Bug Playschool offers Music Box and Wild Things Pottery each week during school hours.