Special Needs Care near Dumfries, VA

Infant class

A warm, nurturing environment where infants receive personalized care, gentle routines, and rich language interactions. We support early development through play, tummy time, and meaningful teacher-child connections.

Toddler class

Toddlers explore, move, and learn through hands-on activities and guided play. Teachers support language, independence, and social skills using the STREAMin³ model to turn everyday moments into learning.

Special Needs Care

Special Needs Care

Loving Arms Academy provides nurturing, continuity care for infants to build trust and security. Our teachers focus on comfort, sensory play, music, and movement. Supporting early development and laying the foundation for lifelong learning and kindergarten readiness.

Toddler Care Program

Our toddler program inspires curiosity and independence through play, music, art, and discovery. Children learn to communicate, explore, and grow while developing early skills that prepare them for preschool and kindergarten success.

Special Needs Care

Special Needs Care

Special Needs Care

Special Needs Care

Special Needs Care

Special Needs Care

Special Needs Care

Baby Steps

The Baby Steps program focuses on the growth and development of infants through nurturing and individualized care. It fosters language development and trust between infants and caregivers with activities like singing, reading, and playing. The program emphasizes real-time communication with parents and uses a literacy-rich curriculum to support infants' social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.

Toddler Explorers

Our Toddler Explorers program caters to children aged 16-24 months, providing a nurturing and safe environment. Individualized lesson plans, designed by early care professionals, support social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. The program emphasizes daily communication with families, ensuring parents are informed about their child's activities and progress. Classrooms are thoughtfully arranged to create a home-like atmosphere, with age-appropriate materials and outdoor play spaces to encourage exploration and learning.

Baby Steps

Infants are assigned a primary teacher who will build a loving relationship with them typically staying with their teacher for a full 12 months before moving to the next classroom. Our specifically trained teachers design individual lesson plans using our literacy-rich curriculum and research-based active learning experiences that support emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. This promotes brain development and allows infants to learn about the world around them. Your child will be introduced to the basics of American Sign Language, and elements of Baby Yoga with periodic assessments to evaluate a baby’s growth and progression, and to share in the joy as they reach their next stage of development. We truly believe children learn best in a loving environment implementing this philosophy into everything we do, from the materials in the classroom to loving interactions. In our Baby Steps program, infants will take their first steps down the path to a lifetime of learning.

Preschool Explorers

When your toddler comes to Minnieland, he or she will have many opportunities with which to be engaged. When you visit an Explorers classroom you will see preschoolers painting at an easel, creating a collage at the art table, singing and playing rhythm instruments, building with blocks, stringing beads, playing in the home living area, scooping and pouring at the sensory table as well as interacting with puppets and books in the library. Your child will enjoy the fresh air and exercise in our extraordinary outside learning environments. The student’s actions and ideas generate the weekly activity plans, which enhance the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of each child. Our teachers design exciting group lesson plans and add theme-related objects to enrich the environment.

Infant Classroom

In the Infant program, our teachers provide your baby with all the cuddles and care they need, as well as opportunities to begin learning about the world around them. Our proprietary education program, Wonder of Learning™, celebrates your baby’s natural curiosity within the classroom environment and models how to explore safely. Nurturing teachers narrate your baby’s experiences to build a strong foundation in 21st century skills for problem solving and building relationships.

Toddler Classroom

As toddlers are rapidly developing both physically and cognitively, the Toddler classroom is where their natural curiosity is fostered, and their language and communication skills are nurtured. A lifelong love of learning starts early, and we believe in providing brand-new learners with the tools they need to be successful. In the Toddler classroom, our proprietary education program, Wonder of Learning™, comes to life as expert teachers harness children’s natural curiosity, guiding them to explore the world around them through hands-on learning, play and asking questions. Teachers support your child's social-emotional growth while helping them develop important physical skills. Your little one will build social awareness, form meaningful connections with others and have plenty of opportunities to strengthen essential skills like persistence and independence.

Infants

Families love the balance of nurturing care and milestone development in this program. In a warm, safe, stimulating classroom, children have a primary caregiver to attend to their needs. Plus, our exclusive, milestone-focused curriculum, Learn from the Start™, was developed by our educational experts to focus on key developmental milestones specific to infants. We emphasize each child’s development, rather than specific age, because all children grow and learn at their own pace, and in their own unique way. We’re also here when you need us. Ask your school about flexible enrollment options to fit your family’s schedule.

Toddlers

You’ll love the safe environment for exploration, excitement, and exercise we provide for your active child. Toddler classrooms also feature our milestone-focused curriculum, Learn from the Start™, focused on the key developmental milestones specific to this age group, with learning experiences designed to address the individual needs of each child, in each classroom. We’re also here when you need us. Ask your school about flexible enrollment options to fit your family’s schedule.

Infant Program

At this age, your infant is mainly learning through observation and exploration. For example, as our Infant teachers talk and sing with your child during feeding, diaper changes and playtime, your little one is beginning to understand language and conversation. Nurturing interactions like these will fill your child’s day and can be adapted and personalized to meet their individual needs.

Toddler Program

In our Toddler program, you’ll find carefully selected equipment that our newest walkers love to climb on, crawl through and hide in while stretching their gross motor skills. Teachers also use books, toys, games and other materials to create exciting explorations into colors, shapes, science and more.

Baby Steps

The Baby Steps program focuses on the growth and development of infants through nurturing and individualized care. It fosters language development and trust between infants and caregivers with activities like singing, reading, and playing. The program emphasizes real-time communication with parents and uses a literacy-rich curriculum to support infants' social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.

Toddler Explorers

Our Toddler Explorers program caters to children aged 16-24 months, providing a nurturing and safe environment. Individualized lesson plans, designed by early care professionals, support social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. The program emphasizes daily communication with families, ensuring parents are informed about their child's activities and progress. Classrooms are thoughtfully arranged to create a home-like atmosphere, with age-appropriate materials and outdoor play spaces to encourage exploration and learning.

Infants

In our Infant program, we focus on keeping each baby happy, comfortable, and eager to explore their classroom. Teachers use positive interactions to support each baby’s mental, physical, and social development in a safe, nurturing environment. We follow babies’ cues and provide individualized schedules. Our Baby Sign Language program helps teachers connect with infants, building trust and supporting early language skills. Families stay connected with daily updates and photos through our Links 2 Home app.

Beginners

In our Beginner program for ages 2–3, children build confidence and independence through self-help skills like dressing themselves and washing their hands. Teachers support big emotions and encourage curiosity with hands-on activities. Our Links to Learning curriculum builds vocabulary, introduces early math concepts, and helps children begin to use simple reasoning. Spanish is gently introduced, enriching their learning environment.

Infants

Families love the balance of nurturing care and milestone development in this program. In a warm, safe, stimulating classroom, children have a primary caregiver to attend to their needs. Plus, our exclusive, milestone-focused curriculum, Learn from the Start™, was developed by our educational experts to focus on key developmental milestones specific to infants. We emphasize each child’s development, rather than specific age, because all children grow and learn at their own pace, and in their own unique way. We’re also here when you need us. Ask your school about flexible enrollment options to fit your family’s schedule.

Twos

This classroom is the perfect environment for terrific 2-year-olds. As your child grows more active, becoming an explorer, we provide a safe, engaging environment for them to develop. Learning experiences for 2-year-olds are based around key developmental milestones for this age group, as defined by our exclusive Learn from the Start™curriculum. We’re also here when you need us. Ask your school about flexible enrollment options to fit your family’s schedule.

Infants

Families love the balance of nurturing care and milestone development in this program. In a warm, safe, stimulating classroom, children have a primary caregiver to attend to their needs. Plus, our exclusive, milestone-focused curriculum, Learn from the Start™, was developed by our educational experts to focus on key developmental milestones specific to infants. We emphasize each child’s development, rather than specific age, because all children grow and learn at their own pace, and in their own unique way. We’re also here when you need us. Ask your school about flexible enrollment options to fit your family’s schedule.

Toddlers

You’ll love the safe environment for exploration, excitement, and exercise we provide for your active child. Toddler classrooms also feature our milestone-focused curriculum, Learn from the Start™, focused on the key developmental milestones specific to this age group, with learning experiences designed to address the individual needs of each child, in each classroom.