The Children’s Center Preschool is a caring and progressive preschool that provides a high-quality, developmentally appropriate program to children 2.9 until kindergarten age. Children learn in a holistic manner; we teach the whole child with a program fosters the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative growth of the child. Utilizing an integrated curriculum, learning centers, and a low teacher ratio, we provide rich learning experiences that enhance all of the developmental domains. We believe learning is best done through a discovery process that encourages experiential, “hands-on” learning. We provide an environment where the child can reach as far as his /her development allows.
Our program is grounded on the developmental philosophies of Piaget, Erikson, and Vygotsky, and their principles about the growth and development of children.
We believe that play is the child’s natural way of learning. Our preschool indoor environment is created to offer a wide variety of choices in the block building, reading, art, writing and drawing, science, puzzles and manipulatives areas. Our outdoor environment offers a variety of physical experiences including the climbing structure, swings, trikes, large and small sandbox, and water table. We offer a program and environment that has different levels of difficulty so that children can make choices that are challenging and exciting yet lacking in undue stress. When children play a significant role in choosing the experiences of their day, they explore what is meaningful to them as well as develop self-reliance and independence.
We feel it is essential to provide a setting where children feel cared for, valued, nurtured, and encouraged. Only then will they feel secure enough to move out into their school world, make choices, try new experiences, and face new challenges with confidence and be comfortable making mistakes and trying again. In an emotionally safe environment, children are stimulated to ask questions, to share thoughts and ideas, and to explore creative solutions to problems. In these ways, children will develop the self-esteem that is so important to a healthy self.
Within a climate of teacher caring and support and a child’s good sense of self worth, we seek to help children recognize their many and varied emotions and to help them develop skills to safely express them. We also work to develop a child’s understanding of self in relation to others, to learn to recognize other children’s needs and feelings, to develop concern and empathy for others. Through many prosocial activities, we help the children refine their skills in order to develop and keep friendships and solve problems with one another. We utilize circle time (and other activities) with storytelling, book reading, singing, moving, listening and taking turns to help children develop good group skills.
We value a diverse community, ethnically, racially, culturally, and religiously. We explore the rich heritage, customs, and traditions of our community and the larger world. We want each child to begin to discover the uniqueness and value of themselves and every other person. We have an anti-bias curriculum that permeates the learning life of the children.
Parents and other caretakers are a vital part of children’s lives at the school. We welcome and encourage parents to be actively involved in the children’s school lives. Through parent conversations, both formal and informal, parent gatherings, education meetings, and volunteering, each family can find ways to be part of the school life that offers both parents and children opportunities for growth, caring, and support. We encourage your involvement, however, we recognize that each family has its own time demands and interests.
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