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Curriculum
Developmentally Appropriate Learning
Our curriculum for our youngest children is also
individualized and combines early childhood theory and research along with the
Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers and Prime Times Approach to early
learning and education. This curriculum, developed by Jim Greenman and
Anne Willis Stonehouse, takes into consideration each child's learning style and
development as well as ages and stages. Observation and assessment is a
critical component because no two children are exactly alike and each will reach
milestones at different times. Therefore activities and strategies must be
pre-planned based on the needs of the individual child. Our Emphasis on
children's learning is the value of the process rather than the product or end
result. Therefore, our learning environments are planned and organized to
maximize:
 | Large and small experiences: for younger
babies: looking, reaching, grasping, holding, crawling in, out, over and
under;
for toddlers: gripping. throwing, walking, climbing, pushing and pulling. |
| Sensory experience: object permanence, spatial
relationship, classifying, collecting and dumping, cause and effect
experiences and problem solving. |
| Language: adult - child conversations, labeling,
books, music, baby signs, rhyming and sound explorations. |
| Social experience: caregiver to child, one to one,
child initiated interactions, guiding, modeling and positive peer
interactions. |
| Expressions: art, movement, doll and soft toy play,
imitation and beginning dramatic play. |
Our Prime Times learning environments are designed to:
| Empower each child to become a confident, lifelong learner
and a secure caring person. |
| Promote all aspects of development, large and small motor,
cognitive, perceptual, social, emotional, language, creative and expressive. |
| Nurture a positive self-concept, which includes acceptance
of cultural and family background. |
| Be free of racial or sex role bias or stereotype and to
encourage children to accept and enjoy diversity. |
| Provide a wonderful place for a childhood. |
Individualized Care
Our Prime Times program prides itself on providing responsive and
appropriate care to each child when the child needs it. Our practices are
designed to empower the child and to promote a positive sense of self. Our
personalized care includes:
| Assigning each child with a primary care giver. |
| Flexible, individualized schedules. |
| Continuity of care givers. |
| Consistency of care practices between home and the center. |
| Smooth transitions and articulation plans from classroom to
classroom |
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