GTP Makes a Difference in the Lives of Typically-Developing Children Too

Typically, we share stories of the children in our care who have special needs and are receiving our therapy services in addition to early care and education. However, we know that the model of inclusion and our high-quality program benefit children who are typically-developing. Today, we share the experience of Valentina and her family.

When their highly qualified in-home provider was no longer able to care for Val, her mother contacted GTP. This was an emotional situation for the family as they loved their care provider and this would be their first experience with group care. Val’s mother, Autumn, fell in love with GTP and returned with her enrollment paperwork within days. Val’s first few days were shorter to give her and her parents time to adjust to the new environment, but Val did amazingly well from day one. Val is a happy, active toddler who loves to dance and sing, and is teacher her parents the songs she learns at school. She has learned the names of all of her friends and is familiar with the daily routine. Her parents again have peace of mind knowing that not only is she in a safe and loving environment, but that she is also happy throughout the day and learning along with her peers.

Val’s father, Paul, had this to say about their experience: “We had always believed one-on-one, nanny-style care was the best thing for all children in all cases, and we were glad to have that for the early months of Valentina’s life. But around 16 months or so, it became clear she wasn’t thriving in an environment like that anymore. She was unhappy and disruptive, and ultimately our caregiver recommended we explore other options. Autumn toured GTP, and we started Val there within a couple of weeks. The change was immediate. Val took to GTP amazingly well. The structure, the teachers, the other children, the meals; Val loves every bit of it. Every morning she recites the names of all her classmates and is always excited to go to “scoo”. She’s done so well there. We’re so grateful for the care she receives at GTP.”