Daycare

DAYCARE PROGRAMS WITH
NATURE’S CRITTERS

What better way to introduce young minds to the diversity of our natural world than to have Julie and Nature’s Critters visit your facility? Young children delight in meeting and touching her animal friends. They will see them through Julie’s eyes - as wonderful members of our living family. Many of the animals that visit are thought of as ‘icky’ or undesirable by our society. Julie believes that by exposing children at a young age to these gentle animals they will learn the value of all living things and not develop irrational fears. Hopefully, they can share this respect with their families and others throughout their lives. Most importantly ... it is a fun, memorable event for even the youngest preschooler!

Due to the special needs of younger children, Julie prefers to limit class size to no more than 30 children. Programs last between 15 and 45 minutes. Each child will have the opportunity to touch the animals, with a gentle touch being emphasized. By encouraging them to trust her friends, Julie helps children build upon their self-esteem by trying something new and celebrating the pride of accomplishment. Programs are age appropriate and can be designed to suit individual needs.

"Let the Animals Touch You!"

"The Gentle Touch" (Ages 2 and Up)

This brief introduction to the animal kingdom is designed for toddlers. By touching a variety of different textures (soft, hard, slimy, scaly) children learn the value of a gentle touch and meet some new friends. This is a short program lasting 15 minutes.

"Where the Wild Critters Are" (Ages 3 and Up)

Where do animals live? An imaginary bus trip through jungles, deserts, prairies, up mountains and into the wetlands teaches kids how to look for wildlife. What makes a swamp a home? Kids will have fun examining how animals live and what we should do when we find wild critters in our own backyards.

"Hidden In Plain Sight" (Ages 3 and Up)

Why is it so hard to see our animal friends when we are outside? Colors and homes are emphasized in this program exposing children to a variety of different animals and habitats (wetlands, forests, deserts and prairies). Amphibians (frog, toad and salamander), reptiles (snake, lizard and turtle), birds (parrot), mammals (hedgehog) and bugs will visit the classroom to delight the youngsters.

"Creepy Crawly Critters" (Ages 3 and Up)

What crawls around underground? Lively insects, invertebrates, and insectivores (amphibians, reptiles and mammals) will fascinate the kids as they learn about their unusual appetites and what life is like in the dirt. The important jobs they fulfill in nature is celebrated in this engaging program with creepy crawly critters.

"Radical Reptiles" (Ages 3 and Up)

Are reptiles really all that different from us? Kids discover that we have a lot in common with our scaly friends. Living relatives of dinosaurs (snakes, lizards and turtles) will dispel myths and misconceptions we are taught about these gentle animals. Touching and holding Julie's reptile friends will create a bond of friendship between child and critter.

"Hop, Slither and Waddle" (Ages 3 and Up)

How do animals get from here to there? What happens when they move two legs, four legs, six legs or hundreds of legs? What if they have no legs at all? Locomotion in the water, on the ground, in the trees and in the sky are demonstrated by a variety of friendly animals that will hop, slither or waddle their way into the hearts of all the kids.

WHAT TEACHERS/DIRECTORS SAY ABOUT NATURE’S CRITTERS ...

Thank you for a wonderful critter show! Your enthusiasm is outstanding; it’s as if you are meeting each animal for the first time!! I know we’ll have you back.

Susie (ECFE teacher)

Thanks for your wonderful presentation at Tutor Time. We loved it!

.Marilyn (Preschool teacher)

I just wanted to thank you very much for coming to our center. I heard many positive comments from my coworkers and the children talked all afternoon about what they saw and all the things you told them! We would love to have you back in the future. Good luck and continued success to you - you really are doing great work with children!

Jody (ECFE teacher)

It was again a pleasure to have you here with us. You do much to alleviate children’s fears (staff members too) concerning these beautiful creatures, as well as educating them. Your presentations are age appropriate and memorable. Thank you for a wonderful time! Hope to see you next year-

Dorothy (Director of Preschool and Kindergarten)

We just wanted to let you know how pleased all the teachers and children were with your presentation at our Center last week.

Many of the teachers commented on how well you presented your information about the animals and made it easy to understand for all the various age groups. The also appreciated how well you emphasized environmental concerns, responsible pet ownership, and how inappropriate fears of animals are generated. You were able to make these points in a manner the children could understand and yet you didn’t lecture them.

The hands-on program was wonderful for the children. Their interest was captured and they really listened to you tell them all about the animals. Now every time we go to the Treehouse room the children ask ... ”will the lady with the animals be there?”

We’ve used several new resources throughout this past school year for our monthly presentations. I have asked the teachers to provide feedback to me concerning how well they would rate the program and whether or not we should keep the resource on our list for future presentations. I received all positive feedback about your program so you’ll definitely remain on our list.

Thanks again. We hope you’ll continue doing all the good work you do.

Marilyn (Director of Family Child Dev. Center)

"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is just as
important for the child as it is for the caterpillar."

- Bradley Miller

Nature's Critters

"Let the Animals Touch You!"

Phone (916) 77-FROGS

P.O. Box 2655

Granite Bay, CA 95746

julie@naturescritters.com