Goals and Curriculum

Children learn through: 1) being; 2) doing; and 3) feeling.

The child center is a place for providing good physical care in a friendly, happy, health, challenging environment with the leadership of competent, mature, responsible adults. The physical, emotional, mental and spiritual development of the children is considered vital. The Program will offer appropriate opportunities to stimulate growth and development for each age level child enrolled.

These opportunities will include interaction between the elderly and the children. This would be in the form of short skits, story-telling parties and sing-a-longs, etc. As both groups would benefit, thus our "circle of love" would be complete.

Two-Year-Old Program

The goal of the two-year-old program is language development. This is accomplished by reading and telling many stories, nursery rhymes, singing songs, and doing finger plays. Two-year-olds are encouraged to explore their world through their five senses, and by actively participating in activities. These include art work (pasting, collages, finger painting, using play dough and crayons) dramatic play, cooking experiences, music and language activities.
Self-help skills (buttoning, zipping, etc.) are encouraged and worked on. Motor activities are designed to improve body control and to begin to develop fine muscle control. The two-year-olds work on color recognition with their vocabulary activities.
The main emphasis of this program is oral language development through stories, songs, and finger plays.

Three-Year-Old Program

The three-year-old program continues with oral language development. They are ready for more social interaction with each other. The three-year-olds continue working on color recognition, begin to recognize their first and last name, and their birth date. Some rote counting and number recognition is begun, More emphasis is place on classification, sequencing and patterning activities
Three-year-olds begin to work more on fine muscle control and use more complex puzzles, lacing, gluing, and some scissor activities. Gross motor development is expanding to hopping and jumping, changes in directions and levels.
Music and dramatic play activities are more involved and complex as the three-year-old's interest and ability level increases.

Four-Year-Old Program

The four-year-olds are encouraged to work more independently, to care for their own belongings and to develop self-motivation. The four-year-olds are able to follow directions and complete more independent projects.
The four-year-olds learn their phone number and address. Some letters and sounds are introduced as appropriate. Many manipulations are used to learn more/less, big/small, first/last concepts. Sequencing, classification and patterning continue to be part of the curriculum. The four-year-olds enjoy a strong readiness program that addresses physical, emotional and cognitive development. They continue to explore their world through their art, cooking, social and dramatic play, and physical activities.

Discipline

We believe that proper behavior can be maintained through rewarding positive actions and using appropriate actions and using appropriate consequences for improper behavior. Children will be advised of the group rules and expectations. They will be rewarded individually and as a group for appropriate behaviors.
Individual rewards include specific verbal praise, hugs, stamps and stickers. Group rewards include treats, extra play time, and special activities. Inappropriate behaviors could result in: 1) verbal reprimand to the child; 2)time out within the group; 3) time out in the office; 4) a note home to the parent; and/or 5) a conference with the parent. If the child's behavior proves dangerous or disruptive to himself of others, and the above reasonable alternatives have failed, dismissal will result.
We believe each child deserves optimal care and attention. This is not possible if one or two children are allowed to disrupt the group. Your cooperation and support in this matter is expected and appreciated.