About Us
Baby & Little Friends
Baby Friends is designed to provide a safe, relaxed and enriching
environment for children 6 weeks through 2 years old. This program takes
a developmental approach to child care, and all areas (physical, social,
emotional, cognitive) of development are emphasized. Age appropriate
activities and materials are offered in an atmosphere of trust, warmth
and encouragement. A developmental program respects each child’s
individual rate of growth and allows him/her to progress accordingly.
Little Friends is designed to provide your 2 and 3 year old child with
a safe, inviting atmosphere that promotes both group and self-exploration,
decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Each learning center is
important to your child in many ways. Our curriculum has been developed
to meet the ever-changing needs of the “preschooler” in
all developmental areas: cognitive, emotional, physical, and social.
Our daily activities have been designed to enhance your child’s
self-esteem, independence, creativity, and social-awareness.
Baby Friends allows parents and staff to discuss the daily schedule for each child. This plan will address the child’s normal pattern of activities, sleeping and eating and is consistent with the child’s needs and capabilities. Each staff member will ensure each child is fed, held, played with and talked to, given the opportunity to sit, crawl, toddle or walk outside their crib, taken outdoors regularly and diapered regularly. Often, in a center environment, children adapt to the same schedule, however, if this doesn’t occur, proper accommodations are made.
Little Friends focuses on building self-esteem and socialization skills. Children are engaged in a variety of age-appropriate activities each day. Our classroom is designed with developmental growth in mind. Various centers encourage children to discover and learn at their own pace, while learning how to share and take turns. We also participate in campus wide activities (such as Convocation and the Pep Rally), develop gross motor skills through activities in the gym and share a love of literacy with the librarians in the library. Our goal is to prepare children to enter a traditional school environment in an atmosphere of trust, warmth and encouragement.
Janelle Schmidt is the Director of the program. She is a 1996 graduate of Friends School and has worked on campus full-time since 2002. Janelle has her bachelor’s degree in Communications and enjoys working in the child care environment. In addition to her degree, Janelle holds the 90 hour early childhood certification and the 45 hour infant/toddler certification.
Janelle Schmidt, Director of Child Care and Extended Day Programs
Office: 410.649.3303 (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
NOTE: Baby and Little Friends are located on the campus of Friends School. We are able to utilize various areas on campus and participate in community events, when appropriate. Acceptance into Baby and Little Friends is not a guaranteed acceptance in to Friends School at age four. Children must apply to the school and follow the traditional application process
Baby and Little Friends are licensed child care centers. We are considered “regulated child care” which means that we are licensed to operate by the Maryland State Department of Education’s Office of Child Care and meet the minimum child health, safety and program regulations set by Maryland law.
Friends School of Baltimore Since 1784 | 5114 North Charles Street | Baltimore, MD 21210 | 410.649.3200