FAQs

  • Explore More Daycare is open from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Monday through Friday.

    We are also open until 9 P.M. on select Friday's for our Parent's Night Out event.

  • Explore More Daycare is closed on the following holidays:

    • New Year's Day

    • Memorial Day

    • Independence Day

    • Labor Day

    • Veteran's Day

    • Thanksgiving Day

    • Christmas Eve (close at noon)

    • Christmas Day

  • Explore More Daycare has three staff members. Brooke is at the center from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Monday through Friday, with the exception of appointments for herself or her children. During appointments, Zachary or Amanda are present. Zachary is also present from 7 A.M. until 8:30 A.M. and from 5:30 P.M. to 6 P.M. Monday through Friday.

  • Explore More Daycare follows the ratios set forth by the State of Maine.

    Since there is typically only one provider on site, we follow the one provider ratios which includes a maximum of 8 children. Of those 8 children, 3 children may be under two, 3 children may be between the ages of two and five, and 2 children may be over five years old.

    With that being said, please note that older children may take a younger child's space and the provider's own children do not cout to this ratio if they are over the age of four.

  • Infant (6 weeks to 12 months)

    Full Time (25+ hours/week): $250

    Part Time (24 or less hours/week): $200

    Toddler (13 months to 36 months)

    Full Time (25+ hours/week): $240

    Part Time (24 or less hours/week): $190

    Preschool (37 months until start of Kindergarten)

    Full Time (25+ hours/week): $230

    Part Time (24 or less hours/week): $180

    School Age (Kindergarten+)

    Full Time (25+ hours/week): $210

    Part Time (24 or less hours/week): $160

  • Explore More Daycare does accept CCAP.

  • Explore More Daycare offers a variety of activities for each age group in each developmental domain including reading, science, math, art, movement, sensory, outdoor experiences, and social-emotional development. While materials are available to all children at all times, we do have an art center, block center, library/literacy center, dramatic play center, manipulative and math center, music/movement center, sand/water and sensory center, and science and nature center. We also spend a lot of time outside as weather permits.

  • Each child will be visually screened as they arrive at the center. In the event a child becomes ill during their time at daycare, a parent/guardian will be called to pick the child up. If a child has mild cold like symptoms but are otherwise feeling well and acting normal, they are able to attend daycare. Children cannot attend with a fever of 100° or higher, persistent cough, diarrhea, vomiting, rashes, or difficulty breathing. I do require doctor's note stating the child is not contagious for a child to return to daycare following illness.

    "Dose and drop" is STRICTLY prohibited.

  • Security is a top priority at Explore More Daycare.

    Background checks are performed on every adult who may enter the center including the director, teachers, kitchen staff, administrative employees, and custodial staff. Background checks are also required on adult volunteers who may be unsupervised with children for any length of time. We also require a background check for any adult who may lead a program with children who will have unsupervised access, such as music, dance, or art instructors. While Explore More Daycare is a family child care center, we also do background checks on friends or family who may be present during daycare hours. While this is not a case often, we do this to ensure your children are safe at all times.

    Explore More Daycare utilizes security cameras inside each room children may occupy and outside. These cameras are motion activated and I receive a notification when motion is detected. They also record when they detect motion so I have record should anything happen.

    Access to the daycare is controlled. The doors are kept locked by a device that still allows the door to be opened from the inside, but not from the outside.

    Explore More Daycare follows strict pick-up and drop-off procedures. Parents/guardians and anybody else who may pick children up are required to show identification during pick up. Children will only be released to individuals listed on their authorized pick-up list. Each individual listed as an authorized pick-up also has their own secure code to check the child in or out.

  • Explore More Daycare participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Weekly menus always include a variety of healthy foods.  We follow the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines that were established to improve the health of children in childcare facilities both by improving the nutritional quality of meals and by promoting healthy eating. In order to qualify, meals must include the following nutritional components:

    Breakfast

    • Milk

    • Fruit or Vegetable

    • Grain

    Lunch

    • Milk

    • Meat or meat alternate

    • Fruit

    • Vegetable

    • Grain

    Snacks
    At least 2 of the 5 components

    • Milk

    • Meat or alternate

    • Fruit

    • Vegetable

    • Grain

  • Due to the many different varieties and preferences of parents when it comes to diapers, wipes, and formula, we request that parent's supply these items. However, we do purchase some to keep on hand should a child ever run out.