Kinderdagverblijf 't Elfenbankje

Kinderdagverblijf ’t Elfenbankje is located at Nieuwland 24 in the heart of Broek in Waterland and is part of Kinderopvang Waterland. Since 2007 we have provided day-care for up to 46 children aged 0–4 years, divided over three vertical groups named Elfenbankje, Feeënboom and Wolkewietje. Each group has its own identity, yet the connecting spaces allow children to meet and learn from one another every day. Our educational approach is built on small scale, calm and trust. Children are cared for by stable teams of qualified pedagogical staff who really know every child. The vertical group concept places babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers together, enabling children to explore at their own pace, imitate each other and play together. Siblings often stay in the same group, which gives extra reassurance. A maximum of 16 children are present per session, guaranteeing individual attention. We believe young children learn best when they can discover the world with all their senses. Daily activities therefore include singing and making music, story-time in our cosy reading corner, creative work with paint, clay and natural materials, and plenty of outdoor play in our safe garden. We consciously follow the seasons and annual festivals: in autumn we make soup from vegetables we have harvested ourselves, in winter we bake Christmas cookies together, and in spring we go on short trips to look for eggs and young animals in the meadow behind our building. Regular short outings to the village or the nearby nature reserve are also part of the programme. Practical matters are well arranged. We provide nappy changes with parents’ own nappies and wipes, bottle feeding on request, and healthy snacks with fruit and whole-grain bread twice a day. For children with food allergies we adapt the menu in consultation with parents. Each group has two separate bedrooms with cots and duvets so children can sleep whenever they need to. At the end of the day parents receive a short written report; we do not (yet) use digital communication. In short, at ’t Elfenbankje children find a second home: a safe place to play, grow and have fun together.