A grassroots Child Care Center which offers respite and ongoing child care to families in crisis.
Offering an Artistic Environment full of Bubbles and Laughter that is Nature Oriented, Green, Organic, Holistic, Loving, Encouraging and Magickal.
Our Mission at Daydream is to provide quality and affordable care for the children of families in crisis.
We are committed to serving the well being of the whole child.
We offer Holistic Child Care meaning that we care for the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of each child.
Daydream values children as unique individuals who will inherit the future.
We believe that every family deserves the best care for their child and an abundance of support.
We offer Full Time, Part Time, Drop In and Half Day care to children of all ages.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm.
Below is an overview of what is offered to the children in our care and their families:
PHILOSOPHY
We here at Daydream are dedicated to providing an environment based on respect, cooperation and an overall sense of peace. Our door is always open. Free and conscious communication is very important to us.
While children are in our care, we will offer a wide range of activities that will serve every level of their beings such as:
Physical Well Being:
- Organic meals
- Clean, filtered water
- Cooking
- Juicing
- Herbs
- Dancing
- Lots of outside play - rain or shine!
- Yoga
- Play
Mental Well Being:
- ART: clay, paint/drawing, collage, poetry/story writing, music (dance, instruments, song), dramatic play/theatre. Weekly Artist visits.
- LOTS of reading
- Classical Music
- Sign Language
- Numbers, colors, shapes
- ACTIVE use of vocabulary
- Conscious stimulation and engagement
- Play
Emotional Well Being:
- Eye to Eye, Joyful and Responsive Communication
- LOTS OF LAUGHTER
- Bubbles
- Safety and Trust
- Effective Mediation
- Consistent validation
- Freedom in structure
- Play
Spiritual Well Being:
- NATURE: Encouraged awareness of each Season (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) as it pertains to each Element (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) with a “Green” environment
- Community Circle: conscious breathing, connection, stillness, chimes, songs, sharing, exploration, healing, listening, affirmations, gratitude, connection and a daily “Laugh In”.
- Hands on Healing
- Meditation
- Play
Environment
Daydream will continuously provide a safe, clean, and healthy atmosphere for your child. We use all natural/home-made/non toxic cleaning supplies.
We are dedicated to providing an environment based on respect and cooperation. Please rest assured that your child will not ever be exposed to violent behavior or out of control energetics while in our care. If these behaviors are brought to Daydream they will be remedied immediately.
Our door is always open. Free and conscious communication is very important.
We will have monthly parent potlucks and parent meetings/trainings to build community and develop support from all angles of your child’s care.
We strongly believe that rare use of television or video games is the best policy for young children. We believe that these mediums affect their relationship to Self and others as well as their ability to focus and learn openly. We will not put your child in front of a box when the sun is out here at Daydream. We ask that you consider the same at your home. On Parents Night Out or during evening care the children may watch age appropriate movies.
Nourishment
We will feed your child Breakfast at 9am, Lunch at noon, and Afternoon Snack after rest.
The food that we will offer will be mostly organic and will always meet Federal Food Program Guidelines. We are happy to prepare all vegetarian/vegan/raw meals for the children in our care.
If your child has a special diet, please feel free to approach us with this and we will be happy to accommodate.
Discipline
We believe that “mistakes” are wonderful opportunities to learn.
We believe that the goal of all behavior is to feel belonging and significance.
We believe that, if children are taught and then exhibit self discipline, responsibility, cooperation and problem solving skills, they will feel a greater sense of belonging and significance that will manifest itself through positive behavior.
We will focus on the positive in your child always so that they have a fertile ground for a deeply rooted sense of holding themselves in high esteem.
We will make sure that Love shines through always.
We will allow natural consequences to help your child learn.
We will encourage that we work on solutions together with firmness, consistency, dignity and respect.
We will provide freedom with order and limited choices.
We will help your child always feel safe and respected.
We will positively redirect minor disturbances.
We will mediate with firm love.
Neither “time out” or corporal punishment will EVER occur at Daydream.
Enrollment
We accept applications at any time. They may be attained at the pre-scheduled Family Tour that is required.
We will enroll children as it corresponds best with the spaces that we have available always abiding by State Guidelines regarding ratios. Our intention is to reach capacity every day.
The first week that your child is at Daydream will be a trial period. We will assess at the end of that week whether or not we, as parents and director and child, feel that Daydream is a good fit for your family.
To confirm your child’s enrollment, after the first week trial period, we will send a letter of confirmation to you or call you. Priority is given to siblings, graduate families, or those currently on the waiting list.
All required paperwork must be returned prior to your child being left in our care.
Drop Off/Pick up
For Full Day or Early Half Day Care, drop off is at 8am.
For Late Half Day Care, drop off is between 1230pm and 1pm.
To implement an efficient drop off of your child into our care, we ask that you remain consistent.
BE ON TIME.
Walk your child into the house with his/her belongings to his/her den. Let your child know, in the den area that you are leaving and that you will return. This process should take 15 minutes, at most, so that we may transition and begin our day together.
If you are dropping your child off between 1230pm and 1pm, please make sure that your child is ready for lunch and/or rest. This is very important as the Full Day Care children will be transitioning into rest around 1pm each day.
Pick up time is between 1230pm and 1pm for Early Half Day Care children and at 6pm for Late Half Day or Full Time Care children.
If anyone other than yourself will drop off or pick up your child, we will need written permission from you and or they will need to be on your contact sheet and have a valid drivers license for identifying purposes.
We reserve the right to determine that it is not within the child’s safety to leave with a particular person due to concrete factors such as the smell of alcohol.
Fees
The fee for Full Time Child Care at Daydream is $175 per child per week. Full time hours are 8am to 6pm Monday through Friday and includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
I offer full or part day and drop in care for children of all ages including school aged children on holiday vacations and teacher workdays as space permits.
The fee for Part Time/Drop In Child Care is $40 per child per day and this includes breakfast, lunch and snacks.
The fee for Half Day Child Care is $25 per child and the options are either from 8am until 1pm or from 1pm until 6pm which will include relevant meals.
The After School Child Care fee for school age children is $100 per child per week and includes snack.
Please be prepared to pay for the first AND last week of your child's care upon enrollment. No exceptions.
Please pay on the first day of each week that you bring your child.
You are MORE than welcome to pay for a month's care at a time so as to reduce check and receipt writing. Thank you.
If your child is ill or absent for any reason the fee for the week will remain the same. I reserve the right to make concessions on an individual basis.
I do accept vouchers.
If Daydream must close for personal reasons and a substitute is not in place, I will deduct that day or days from your fee.
There will be a $10 fee for each fifteen minutes you are late to pick up your child once I am closed for business.
There will be a $30 charge for returned checks.
I will provide a parents night out from 6 to 10pm (or so) on the last Friday of every month free of charge.
SLIDING SCALE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST!!!
Health
Your child’s health is important to all of us. While we are very careful about hand washing and disinfecting surfaces, it may occur that your child comes down with an illness.
We are not equipped to care for sick children. If your child develops symptoms of illness during her/his day with us, we will isolate her/him from others and contact you or someone on your contact sheet. We do expect that you arrive to pick up your child within a reasonable amount of time as close to when we call as possible.
Please enjoy your child’s company at home if she or he has:
- any illness serious enough to require antibiotics for 48-72 hours after treatment begins.
- chicken pox until the last blister is scabbed over.
- conjunctivitis or pink eye until the day after treatment starts.
- diarrhea until 24 hours after it has ceased.
- fever currently or within the last 24 hours.
- impetigo until treatment starts.
- head lice until all nits are removed.
- pin-worms until the day after treatment starts.
- ringworm until treated for 24 hours.
- vomiting currently or within the last 24 hours.
- symptoms associated with any other communicable disease such as:
- heavy and/or opaque nasal discharge
- constant cough
- reddened eyes
- sore throat
- headache
- neck ache
- abdominal pain/stomach ache
Please inform us IMMEDIATELY if your child or anyone in your family has contracted any form of communicable anything!
Please DO NOT administer fever reducer and then bring your child to Daydream.
We choose not to administer medication to any child in our care unless it is prescribed by a Doctor. We are available for All Natural Herbal Consults if your child, or you, come across any ailment.
Please DO NOT leave diaper ointments or ANYTHING in your child's diaper bag that says "Keep Out of Reach of Children". This includes diaper ointment or sunblock. We will use Sunscreen and Diaper Ointment with a Signed Medical Release only.
Withdrawal/Termination
We will give a one week notice if we determine that your child being in our care is not working smoothly.
We expect the same of you.
We reserve the right to discontinue care for your child immediately, without notice, if the circumstances are deemed severe.
Some reasons that we may terminate your child’s attendance are clearly put here as follows:
- if your child’s physical, mental, emotional or behavioral presence requires more attention than we can put forth without it interfering with the wellness of the other children.
- if the parent or guardian abuses or disregards the agreements made in this policy.
NOTE: It is very important that you keep the same schedule with your child at home as we do here at Daydream.
Breathe deeply and thanks so much!
***
Your Packet:
~ Signed Authorizations:
~ School Immunization Record or Written Letter of Religious Exemption
~ Recent Physical Exam
~ Identification and Emergency Information Form
~ Emergency Medical Treatment
~ Field Trip Authorization
~ Food Program Child Enrollment Form
~ Agreement to Abide by Policies at Daydream
Supplies: (please bring)
~ spare clothes with weather in mind (shirt, socks, pants, shoes)
~ labeled diapers/wipes/changing pad
~ labeled hand towel
~ labeled toothbrush
~ labeled no spill water bottle!
~ labeled booster seat or high chair for table
~ photo of child
~ photo of family
- play pen if under 1 year
- labeled nap mat or cot or sleeping bag with labeled sheet and blanket and pillow!!
Your child may bring something from home to share at our regular circle sharing times. They will take turns. NO WEAPONS OR MEDIA CHARACTERS!
Schedule:
* 8am ~ Arrival.
* 830am ~ Rise and Shine. Stretch, dance, bounce, breathe into and give thanks to our bodies, yoga, gratitude circle.
* 9am ~ Breakfast.
* 10am ~ Circle. Within the circle of community we will experience so much. This will be the time of day that we will call the children to practice stillness, share, listen, learn, breathe, laugh, affirm, sing, etc. We will touch upon such things as abc’s in a relaxed way throughout the week. We will teach them sign language. We will discuss ways to be conscious about our planet. We will learn about the elements as they pertain to each season.
* 1030am ~ Outdoor activities. The children will always have time outside even in the rain or snow! We believe that they need fresh fresh air to grow. We will be in our yard, at Bridge Street Elementary playground or in Bridge Street Cemetery.
* 12pm ~ Lunch.
* 1230-1pm ~ Departure for Early Half Day children. Late Half Day children arrive.
* 1pm ~ Transition into rest for Full Day and Late Half Day children.
* 330pm ~ Snack.
* 4pm ~ Crafts, games, theatre, clay, art, photography, drumming, dancing, etc. Each week, we will have artistic guests who come to share time with the children.
* 5pm ~ Outside, chill out, relax, be free.
* 6pm ~ Departure.
***
Testimonials:
"As I sit here in my home office writing this reference, I am listening to my two and a half year old son Knox talk and play with Satya. Knox adores Satya. The conversation between them is filled with joy, inquisition and laughter. Satya has an amazing way with children. She speaks to them with kindness and love. She provides them with knowledge and affirmation by taking every opportunity to teach and explain. Satya is fun! She provides them with a feeling of safety and trust and allows them to embrace being a kid. She also sets boundaries by providing a structure where necessary and guidance on what is right and wrong. Satya focuses on the positive side of life. Knox is always happy when she is here and he asks for her when she is not here. To me, that is priceless. We will certainly miss Satya but we know other families will be lucky to have her in their children's lives. Satya is also wonderful with my 3 month old son Juda. Satya has a way with him; he just lights up when she holds him. Satya understands the importance of interacting with children, from birth, to inspire so many qualities like language, expression and emotional intelligence. Satya is also a great teacher. Satya incorporates learning into everything they do. She not only spends lots of time showing and teaching the children their numbers, letters, colors etc. but she has also taken the time to teach my live in Au Pair. Because Satya has such an incredible amount of experience with children of all ages and early childhood education she is able to articulate how, why and what to teach young children and babies. I would recommend Satya to anyone. She has been a joy to have in my home. - EB
“Satya provided childcare for my two boys, ages 8 and 10. Satya has a warm, welcoming, and relaxed attitude to which kids and adults are responsive. She never uses harsh words and is always positive when interacting with the children. She takes the time to emphasize to the children how wonderful they are and encourages them to use their many talents. I have been a mother for 21 years and have suffered through many childcare arrangements. Satya is the ideal that I thought didn’t exist in childcare options and I was truly blessed to have her touch my children’s lives.” – AT
“Satya provided licensed, in-home day care for my one-year-old daughter. Satya is a very generous and giving person who has a gift for fostering creative growth in the children under her care and guidance. Satya was, also, very communicative with us, as parents. She had developed a daily routine that included opportunities for a variety of learning experiences, and she consistently kept daily notes about our daughter’s level of participation and involvement, which really made us feel like we had a sense of what our daughter was experiencing while she was away from us.” – VG
“Satya cared for my five-year-old daughter in her in-home day care. She conveyed stellar qualities associated with the best of child care. She is kind, loving, and responsible.” – RG
“I became acquainted with Satya through her at home child care where she cared for my three-year-old son. Satya has a great patience and manner that is reassuring to the children in her care and she creates a wonderful, safe, exciting place for the children to express themselves and learn. It is obvious to me that Satya has a strong connection with children.” – AM
“Satya has been working with my daughter, who is four years old. I have been especially impressed with her skill in teaching the kids positive ways to resolve conflict, including the beautiful loving ways she interacts with children.” – JT
“I am writing this letter to attest to the high degree of moral character that Satya demonstrated while she watched my five-year-old son in the school that she conducted. Satya has the patience and kind heart required in working with children. She is dedicated to providing not only a safe environment for children, but also nurturing.” – JN
“To Whom it May Concern,
I have known Satya Starr for approximately 5 years. Though my two sons are fully grown (22 and 26), I only wish they’d had the opportunity to come under Satya’s care when they were growing up, for they would have been very positively impacted by the safe, caring, empowering, and richly educational environment that Satya has created in her daycare through the years.
Satya’s dedication to the children, as well as to making all efforts to communicate with and effectively include the parents in many aspects of the care, is second to none. She is totally passionate about her work in daycare, and through myriad creative in-home activities and wonderful field-trip activities she makes it an extraordinary and fully inclusive experience for every child.
Satya is amazingly organized with all aspects of her daycare enterprise – from supplies, toys, and food, to tracking and communicating each child’s day-to-day activities. As an educator (I have a M.S. in Education) I have enjoyed seeing her light up the enthusiasm and involvement of the children around her; and I have also appreciated the times when she showed unwavering dedication to her children even when “outside” social events could have tugged at her – no corner-cutting when it comes to her #1′s, the children!
The children of Florida will be most fortunate to come under the care of Satya Starr!” – JF
“Satya my hero! Satya is a brave spirit who is a very sensitive, empathic, Reiki master. She keeps her sensitivity in the face of all adversity, and while sometimes she feels overwhelmed with the darkness, confusion, or cold hearted actions of others, she has courageously stood her ground. She is a modern warrior who is facing the challenge to reclaim and retain that essence that is the evidence of love, healing, sensitivity and the rarely acknowledged power of innocence and honesty. To think that one tiny woman will defy the will of the mass of her community, society, even the way of the whole world, and risk acceptance simply because her “instincts” tell her to do so, is a marvel!
How can I not see her, and other single mothers like her as a hero?
Perhaps, as Picasso once said, we will indeed, ” …make the world worthy of our children.”
I am inspired by the love and passion in her heart to really help create a safe space for the children who are entering into the world now. Her gentle soothing voice contrasts her strength and fierce warrior spirit dramatically.
Kind and giving, she hears the song of of my heart with such scrumptious clarity, that her empathy is like the echo of my own soul. She makes the journey of this life seem like a wonderful adventurous ride and it’s time for all of us to get on board!” – Elo
“This woman is a bold journeyer. Through the most challenging of situations, she allows her faith to not allow her to be hardened, to achieve the impossible and locate resources that some said didn’t exist. Unstoppable on the road to victory she is one with her soul. The love she has for her daughter and all children is revolutionary. The Earth mother rejoices at her presence on her land. Peace does prevail in Satya.” – Aza
“I feel called upon to speak good things about Satya that have become joyfully clear over time. It’s my perception that you are brave, honest, bright and sweet. Satya Starr, both names are rightful and true. Your dedication to truth, and your starry radiance in the spiritual realm, are potent and palpable. You have a close, magical connection with nature, which responds instantly and vibrantly to your heart. You care for children, any of whom may be so very fortunate to be in your presence, and for the unfoldment and future of humanity, which is itself child-like in its need for guidance and nurturing. You consciously, bravely and perseveringly stand in that place, lending your self and your life to planting seeds of good in the subtle, nurturing them through life as they unfold into the manifest world, where you affirm their existence and express thanks for their presence.
Your radiance is clear, and I humbly honor and thank you for this little one and any other stars who would like to join in.
Reflected in truth and with love.” – GW
Daydream Child Care
Copyright 2011 - Satya Starr – All Rights Reserved
Channel 5 News in Palm Beach County Florida Features Satya Starr's Grassroots Activism regarding the dangers of Unlicensed Family Child Care Providers. She worked for months to bring awareness and education to parents about the major benefits of choosing a LICENSED Provider versus one who is not. Watch the coverage to the right!
