A play paradise
for your child

We place great importance on the quality of our childcare and our organization. HappyKids employs staff with PW3 certification or higher. Our staff are also trained in the development-focused “Uk en Puk” method, which provides stimulating activities across all key areas of development. Our staff receive regular continuing education in early childhood education, first aid, and emergency response.

They are also trained in applying interaction skills to help children develop the best emotional skills, provide clear explanations, and encourage children to, for example, interact more effectively with other children. For the youngest children, staff focus on helping children identify their own emotions and behaviors.

Our educational policy outlines how our staff members conduct themselves. You can find the policy here on the website. The educational principles that guide our educational policy are:

Physical and emotional safety and well-being: We ensure a safe and healthy environment. All children feel welcome and have a bond of trust with one or more educational staff members. The children also feel comfortable and safe among the other children in the group.

Collaboration with parents: At HappyKids locations, the upbringing of young children is based on collaboration with parents.

Children learn through play and active engagement with their environment: their parents, educators, playmates, and the physical surroundings. Children do not passively absorb what adults present to them. They learn through play, doing, experimenting, observing, imitating, participating, and following instructions.

Educational staff play an active role: They create the conditions for learning and development. They recognize the opportunities for play, learning, and interaction that arise spontaneously. They create opportunities by offering activities.

Holistic approach: Our educational approach is balanced and focuses on all aspects of development—emotional, social, cognitive, creative, motor, and moral development. We look at the whole picture!

Respect for Diversity: Educational staff respect diversity (differences among people) and demonstrate this through their behavior. Children are taught to respond positively to differences related to age, gender, disabilities, or sociocultural background.

Continuity: Educators align with the child’s development and help the child develop the skills needed for the next phase, in elementary school.

The four core educational goals of HappyKids:

In the groups:

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

• - Children are challenged through play to develop their motor, cognitive, language, and creative skills, enabling them to function with increasing independence in a changing environment;

• - Children are guided in their interactions, during which they are taught social knowledge and skills through play, so that they can build and maintain relationships with others with increasing independence;

• - Children are encouraged to become familiar, in an open manner, with the generally accepted values and norms of society, with a view to treating others with respect and actively participating in society.

At daycare centers with horizontal groups (groups organized by age), the following group compositions are used:

Baby Groups (2–15 months)

One childcare provider for every 3 children; a maximum of 12 children per group.

In our horizontal baby groups, everything revolves around our babies. We welcome little ones starting at six weeks old. One childcare provider cares for a maximum of three children per day. The bright, spacious rooms are designed so that babies can explore and play to their heart’s content. And of course, they get to interact a lot with the childcare providers! We talk to the little ones all day long. For example, by explaining the emotions the childcare provider observes in the baby: “You’re tired, aren’t you?” or “You like that!” And, of course, we name things a lot—from body parts to objects. This helps your child’s passive vocabulary grow tremendously. Did you know that a child who has been exposed to a lot of language in the first three years has a higher IQ than a child who has had less exposure? Motor development is also consciously stimulated. Little ones build strength by, for example, crawling over something or by intentionally placing or hanging an object just out of reach to encourage crawling, rolling, or standing! Babies are given plenty of opportunities to play freely on the floor; this is good for their development! At a slightly later age, just before the transition to the toddler group, there’s room for parallel play; children play with the same toys at the same time, but still independently of one another. They enjoy watching each other and learn a lot from it—about social skills, language and communication, and emotions. The childcare staff respond to this by intentionally letting two babies play together.

Toddler Groups (12–30 months)

Groups of 6 children; 1 childcare provider and a maximum of 16 children per group.

Our toddler groups are pleasantly bustling. Toddlers are busy exploring the world around them, and they do so with all their senses. What sometimes seems chaotic is actually hard work and learning! Whether it’s throwing everything in and out of a bin or running around in circles while dragging a doll behind them—everything is new, and everything provides the toddler with information and knowledge that is then linked to their existing cognitive patterns. Others’ reactions to a toddler’s behavior also teach him or her about the world and about what is and isn’t allowed. And by organizing short group activities, a child learns a great deal about appropriate social behavior. At this age, a child also learns to develop a sense of self-will. That’s why toddlers say “no!” so often. Our childcare staff respond to this skillfully by, for example, offering choices. A child’s exploratory behavior is happily encouraged, unless it poses a danger or is otherwise not permitted.

Toddler Groups (30–48 months)

One childcare staff member per 8 children; a maximum of 16 children per group.

At this age, toddlers typically experience a massive language explosion as part of their normal development. Their active vocabulary grows tremendously, and our toddlers love to have a friendly chat. Many activities are therefore primarily focused on language and social development. We read aloud, sing, play games, and engage in role-playing. The childcare staff happily join in and follow your child’s lead during play. With small suggestions, the staff ensure that the play evolves—for example, by introducing new play materials, demonstrating an action, or involving another child to encourage communication among the children. In all HappyKids toddler groups, we use the “Uk and Puk” method. By offering activities within a playful theme, we consciously support children’s development. Activities are offered in the large circle, in small groups, and individually; even during free play, the educators tie in with the theme—for example, by transforming the play kitchen into a bakery or a restaurant for the “Enjoy Your Meal” theme.

Toddler groups (30–48 months) offering Preschool Education (VE) and subsidized toddler care

At a number of locations, there are also toddler groups designated as Preschool Education groups. In addition to regular placements, these groups can also accommodate children with a Preschool Education (VE) referral from the Youth Health Care (JGZ). The groups are largely similar to other toddler groups, but a tutor is available for children with a VE referral. Children are enrolled in these groups for a full day, with the morning reserved for specific VE activities. At these locations, subsidized toddler care is also offered in the VE groups for parents who are not eligible for the childcare allowance. Please note: availability for subsidized spots is limited, for both VE and toddler care.

A VE referral is issued by the youth health care service (the health clinic). They forward the information to HappyKids, and we will contact you regarding 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 at dmelis@happykids.nl

Vertical Groups

At daycare centers with mixed-age groups (2–48 months), each group can accommodate up to 12 children—including a maximum of 3 infants under 1 year of age—with 2 childcare staff members. The exact number of children in a group depends on the ages of the children present and may therefore be fewer than 12; we follow the guidelines of the GGD in this regard.

HappyKids’ daycare center is open 52 weeks a year for full days from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

There are a number of national holidays on which the daycare center is closed, but the hours for these days are legally considered part of the agreement. Therefore, if you are eligible for a 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

• White Monday

• Christmas Day and Boxing Day

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