A play paradise for your baby,
toddler or preschooler

We consider the quality of care and the organization important. HappyKids works with qualified staff and also trains employees. In addition, our employees are trained to work with the development-oriented method "Uk en Puk", with which stimulating activities are offered in all key areas of development. The employees receive regular further training in pedagogy, first aid and emergency response.

They are also trained in applying interaction skills to provide children with the best emotional support, to be able to give targeted explanations, and to encourage children, for example, to engage in better interactions with other children. For the very youngest, the staff focus on naming the child's emotions and actions.

Our pedagogical policy describes how our professionals act. You can find the policy here on the website. The pedagogical principles that guide our pedagogical policy are:

Physical and emotional safety and well-being: A safe and healthy environment is provided. All children feel welcome and have a trusting bond with one or more professionals. The children also feel familiar with and safe among the other children in the group.

Working together with parents: At HappyKids locations, the upbringing of young children is based on cooperation with parents.

Children learn through play and actively in relation to their environment: their parents, pedagogical professionals, their playmates and the physical environment. Children do not passively take over what adults offer them. They learn by playing, doing, trying, watching, imitating, participating and through guidance.

The pedagogical professionals have an active role: They create the conditions for learning and development. They see the opportunities for play, learning and contact that arise spontaneously. They create opportunities by offering activities.

Holistic approach: Upbringing is balanced and focused on all aspects of development: emotional, social, cognitive, creative, motor and moral development. We look at the whole!

Autonomy and connectedness: On the one hand, there is respect and space for the individuality and autonomy of each child. On the other hand, the child learns to participate in the daily and living rhythm of the group and to adapt. Every child has the right to contribute to the whole.

Respect for diversity: Pedagogical staff respect diversity (differences between people) and show this through their behavior. Children are taught to deal positively with differences relating to age, gender, disabilities or socio-cultural background.

Continuity: Caregivers connect with the child's development and help the child develop the competencies he or she needs in the next phase, in primary school.

The four basic pedagogical goals of HappyKids:

In the groups:

• - children are treated in a sensitive and responsive manner, respect is shown for children's autonomy and limits are set and structure is provided for children's behavior, so that children can feel emotionally safe and secure;

• - children are playfully challenged in the development of their motor skills, cognitive skills, language skills and creative skills, in order to enable children to function increasingly independently in a changing environment;

• - children are guided in their interactions, whereby they are playfully taught social knowledge and skills, in order to enable children to build and maintain relationships with others increasingly independently

• - children are encouraged to become acquainted in an open way with the generally accepted values and norms in society with a view to respectful interaction with others and active participation in society.

Baby groups (2-15 months)

Per 3 children: 1 pedagogical professional and a maximum of 12 children per group.

In our horizontal baby groups, everything revolves around our babies. From six weeks onward, the little ones are welcome with us. One pedagogical professional cares for a maximum of three children per day. The bright, spacious rooms are arranged in such a way that babies can discover and play to their heart’s content. And of course: making lots of contact with the professionals! The little ones are talked to all day long. For example, by explaining the emotions the professional sees in the baby; "you’re tired, aren’t you?" or: "you like that!" And naturally, a great deal is named. From body parts to objects. Your child’s passive vocabulary grows enormously this way. Did you know that the IQ of a child who has received a lot of language input in the first three years is higher than that of a child who has received less? Development in the motor area is also consciously stimulated. Little ones become strong by, for example, being able to crawl over something or by deliberately placing or hanging something just out of reach to encourage crawling, rolling, or standing! Babies are given many opportunities to play freely on the floor; that is good for their development! At a slightly later age, just before the transition to the toddler group, there is room for parallel play; children play at the same time with the same toys, but still separately from each other. They enjoy looking at one another and learn a lot from that. About being social, about language and communication, about emotions. The pedagogical professionals respond to this by deliberately letting two babies play together. 

Toddler groups (12-30 months)

Per 6 children: 1 pedagogical professional and a maximum of 16 children per group.

In our toddler groups, it is pleasantly busy. Toddlers are hard at work exploring the world around them, and they do so with all their senses. What sometimes seems chaotic is hard work and learning! Throwing everything in and out of a bin or carrying a doll around and around while dragging it behind them, everything is new, everything gives the toddler information and knowledge that is then linked to the already existing cognitive patterns. The reactions of others to the toddler’s behavior also teach him/her about the world and about what is and is not allowed. And by organizing short group activities, a child learns a great deal about desirable social behavior. At this age, a child also learns to develop a will of their own. That is why toddlers so often say "no!". Our pedagogical professionals respond cleverly to this by, for example, offering choices. A child’s exploratory behavior is gladly allowed, unless it poses a danger or cannot be allowed for another reason. 

Preschool groups (30-48 months)

Per 8 children: 1 pedagogical professional and a maximum of 16 children per group.

With normal development, preschoolers show an enormous language explosion at this age. Their active vocabulary grows tremendously and our preschoolers therefore love a cheerful little chat. Many activities are therefore primarily aimed at language and social development. Stories are read aloud, songs are sung, games are played, and role-play takes place. The professionals happily join in and follow your child’s play. With small suggestions, they ensure that the play develops. For example, by introducing new play materials, demonstrating something, or involving another child and encouraging mutual communication. In all preschool groups at HappyKids, we work with the "Uk en Puk" method. By offering activities within a playful theme, we consciously work on development in this way. The activities are offered in the large circle, in a small group, and individually, and during free play the pedagogical staff also connect with the theme, for example by transforming the play corner into a bakery or a restaurant for the theme "enjoy your meal".

Preschool groups (30-48 months) with Early Childhood Education (VE) and subsidized preschool childcare

At a number of locations there are also preschool groups designated as groups for Early Childhood Education (VE). Here, in addition to regular placements, children can also be placed with a VE indication from the JGZ. The groups are largely the same as the other preschool groups, but a tutor is available for children with a VE indication.

A VE indication is issued by youth health care (JGZ, the child health clinic). They pass the details on to HappyKids and we will contact you about the next steps in the registration process. You can also find more information on the childcare page of the municipality’s website: https://haarlemmermeergemeente.nl/kinderopvang

For more information, you can also email Darja Melis: dmelis@happykids.nl

Vertical groups

At daycare centers with vertical groups (2-48 months), there is room in 1 group for a maximum of 12 children, including a maximum of 3 babies under 1 year old, with 2 pedagogical professionals. The exact number of placed children depends on the ages of the children present and can therefore also be lower than 12.

HappyKids daycare is open 52 weeks a year for full days from 07:30 to 18:30

There are a number of national holidays on which the daycare is closed and for which the hours are still legally part of the agreement. So if you are entitled to childcare allowance, you will also receive the childcare allowance (or subsidy) for these holidays.

These holidays are;

• New Year's Day

• Easter Monday

• King's Day

• Liberation Day, May 5

• Ascension Day

• Whit Monday

• Christmas Day and Boxing Day
  

Additional childcare hours outside your agreement are also eligible for childcare allowance.