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Each Chickpeas family is encouraged to visit the school once a year and engage the children in a family-centered activity. The activity can be created around any aspect of family life, including favorite foods, family photos, language, songs, history, the work the adults in the house do, visits by extended family members, newborn baby siblings, etc. The goal is to deepen the children's understanding of difference and diversity. Family Days (meaning you!) are an important part of the Chickpeas curriculum!
HANDLING SEPARATION ANXIETY
Starting a new school is a big deal!
We expect that children will have separation anxiety. We ask that grown-ups and children create drop-off routines to help ease the transition. Teachers will assist as needed and keep grown-ups updated as the anxiety diminishes. If a child’s distress persists for more than 45 minutes, the teachers will contact a grown-up to return. Due to Chickpeas’ flexible and creative style, this rarely happens, and we are able to find individualized ways to ease the transition for each child.
FAMILY DAYS
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
Chickpeas style of behavior management aims to provide students with the language and skills they need to be proactive and flexible problem solvers in the classroom.
We teach children to be accountable for their words or actions that may hurt another child, with the goal being that children learn how to listen deeply and think about how to prevent the same conflict in the future. We do not force apologies, but encourage and praise children who apologize in addition to the listening and planning. We believe this helps children’s build self-awareness and a sense of empathy towards others. This is one way we practice restorative justice at its most basic level in the classroom.
TOILET TRAINING
Children do NOT need to be potty trained to attend Chickpeas. The teachers will ask children to play an active role in their diaper changing (telling what is in their diaper, pulling down pants, finding diaper tabs to pull, etc.) and present sitting on the potty as an option for those who feel ready. The teachers try to meet the children where they are developmentally, while also encouraging them to try.
Grown-ups provide diapers and wipes for their child.
FOOD ALLERGIES
Chickpeas is able to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions that are based on medical advice. Prior to beginning the school year, grown-ups will be asked to notify our Director about any allergies. This information is then shared with all staff, confidential signage in the classroom is posted, and shared with families on an as-needed basis if/when any food from home will be entering the space.
LUNCHES
Chickpeas provides two snacks and one lunch for each child each day. All meals are provided by Little Green Gourmet, an organic meal-prep and catering company, that sources its foods and ingredients from local farms and suppliers in the greater New York area. Hot lunches delivered daily, along side a variety of breakfast style snacks for the morning, and tasty afternoon snacks like cheese and crackers, banana bread, fresh fruit and veggies, and more. LGG offers vegetarian and vegan options for our students as well.
Little Green Gourmet is licensed with the Department of Health, and follows the guidelines outlined by the NewYork StateChild and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which sets nutritional standards for meals served to Infant/Toddler, 3-K, and Pre-K children. In addition to following CACFP standards, LGG follows New York City Food Standards for all meals served, ensuring meal components reflect required meal components for children twelve months and older. Please note the nutritional standards for CACFP and NYC Food Standards are subject to change. Refer to their websites for additional nutritional guidance.
