Important To Us

 Intergenerational Activities

Our unique center was purposefully built to promote many levels of interactions with the residents of Schowalter Villa. 

Observation through large windows into our multli-purpose room and infant/toddler rooms as well as low outside windows in each classroom.

Visits each week by all children to various halls at the Villa.

Special planned activities in our large room, in the Villa lounges, or on “Main Street” the connecting link between our buildings.

Informal interactions as children are outside playing, as visitors come to the classroom or as the children go for ice cream on Main St..

Residents as teacher-aides in our classroom every day.

An Intergenerational Coordinator who facilitates and records the intereactions between the children, residents and college students.

As a result of these interactions our children show less fear of the elderly, learn compassion for them, become more accepting of differences, and gain first hand knowledge of life cycles.

Conflict Resolution

Hesston Child Care believes strongly in teaching children to resolve conflicts.  We use the same four step method that is taught in the Hesston Elementary School.  The first two steps are taught as soon as the child begins to speak.  Preschool II and Pre-K children are taught all four steps.

1. STOP the conflict

2. SAY & LISTEN – tell each other how you feel

3. THINK – of ways to solve your differences

4. CHOOSE – a mutually acceptable solution

Nature

We feel it is vital to reconnect today’s children with the outside world. “A Touch of the Prairie” garden welcomes families to our center. Outside our multi-purpose room is our “B Garden” for bugs, bees, butterflies, bunnies  and birds. The toddlers have  their own garden with vegetables and flowers, The preschooler’s “Play Remembered” playground emphasizes old-fashioned natural  materials.  All of our children spend many hours at the nearby Dyck Arboretum and on walks around the Hesston College campus.