Strong pedagogical vision
At Dikkie Dik, loving attention is the common thread for how we approach the children. The foundations for the child’s self-image and development are laid in the first years of their life. It is important to us that there is a safe and calm atmosphere where the child can go on a ‘journey of discovery’ and get to know themselves and the environment. In this way, children learn through play and the foundations for a positive self-image are laid in a natural way. In the baby groups, Emmi Pikler’s pedagogical vision is our source of inspiration. The key is to let the child discover, learn, play and move at their own pace and independently, without unnecessary intervention. Based on the pedagogical principles of Lois Malaguzzi (Reggio Emilia), we are inspired by the children’s creative process. We encourage children to create their own art and let children experience how something works, explore and experiment without having a predetermined end result in mind.
Team
Our team is knowledgeable, experienced, committed and enthusiastic. Good communication with children and parents is paramount. The team members have varied talents and backgrounds and have been affiliated with Dikkie Dik or IJsterk for years. For the children and parents, this means familiar faces before the group. In the absence of regular staff, we work with fixed stand-in workers. We constantly work on our expertise through training courses and lectures.
At IJsterk, each daycare has its own manager. Sara Baars is the manager at Dikkie Dik. Parents can always contact her if they have any questions.
Full of activities
The child’s experiences and perceptions are taken as the primary starting points for determining the activities on the agenda. We focus on what goes on in the children’s lives and tailor activities and themes accordingly. An artist comes by twice a month to spend extra time on the creative process. ‘Music with Young Children’ sessions are offered several times a year, where children can sing and play together in a group. Old and new songs are accompanied by an activity. Besides musical development, this helps train memory and concentration by memorising melodies and words.
Healthy lifestyle
Dikkie Dik employs its own cook and four days a week we enjoy a delicious, healthy and fresh hot meal at lunchtime. On the other day, the children will be given a healthy bread meal. We involve children in meal preparations. This helps them learn about ingredients and recognise the different tastes and textures of food. Spending time outdoors and exercising are also part of a healthy lifestyle. We go outside every day. Outside, the children have freedom to move and the opportunity to engage in other activities. If the weather is bad, we go to our large hall. We use play equipment and teach the children to play together, keep their balance and make all kinds of movements. This encourages them to dare to try more things and have lots of fun.
Characteristic building
Dikkie Dik is located in the eastern part of Amsterdam’s Centrum district. This daycare is housed in a beautiful 19th-century building that used to be a school. The building is bright and spacious, offering children plenty of space to play with each other. The spacious group rooms border a large sheltered garden. We also have a workshop and playroom.
Outdoor playground
All groups at Dikkie Dik have their own access to the outdoor area, a spacious enclosed garden. Here, the children experience plenty of adventures in the playhouse, the challenging cubby with slide or our large sandpit. We go outside every day where the children can ride their bicycles and run around in their various fantasy worlds.
