At Puddle Jumpers Learning Center, we believe that children learn through play. They are developing their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills while at play. A child playing with blocks is developing their problem solving skills as well as their fine motor skills. A child pounding on play dough may be working through their feelings of anger. While playing, the child is learning from the interactions they are having with their environment, with other children, and with adults. Play provides an important role in the development of the whole child and that is why we believe in the play-based early childhood education program.

Our curriculum includes all areas of the child's development. We are concerned for the development of the whole child. Children are provided with activities that are developmentally appropriate; activities that will help them to develop physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally.

Some of the activities that will be offered to the children:

1. Free play: a time for child-initiated activities. The children may choose an activity that they would like to do. Some of the choices will be play dough, the dramatic play area, puzzles, art, blocks, books, or the computer. This is an opportunity for emotional, social, cognitive, and fine motor development.

2. Outdoor playtime allows the children to improve their large motor skills by riding on the tricycles, climbing on the climbing structure, playing with balls, using the slide, and playing running games.

3. Art activities will provide development of small motor skills through the use of scissors, crayons, chalk, and painting with Q-tips to give just a few examples. We are concerned with the process not the product.

4. Circle time is a time for teacher directed activities, such as flannel board stories, songs, books, and games. This activity develops cognitive and social skills. At our center, we believe in grouping the children in mixed age groups because we believe that the younger children have the benefit of learning from the older children. It also allows the older children the opportunity to develop a patience and acceptance of the younger children.

The teachers in our program have created a curriculum and a classroom environment that is developmentally appropriate. They make sure that the needs of all of the children in our program are met. Also, the teachers are there to support, guide, and encourage the children in their preschool experiences. We believe that guidance issues with the children should be addressed in a positive manner. Children are more likely to listen if they are being addressed in a positive way. Positive guidance is respectful of children's feelings. When children are treated with respect, they grow in self-confidence and self-control. Using positive guidance with children helps them to understand what behaviors are acceptable. Positive guidance allows your child to feel that they are in control of their own behavior because they are offered choices.

We encourage parents to be involved in their child's program. Parents play such an important role in their child's development. You are your child's first teacher! We believe that good communication between parents and the center is so important in making your child's preschool experience the most effective it can be.

We expect parents/guardians to read and be familiar with operating procedures in the handbook, to read supplemental notes and newsletters, and that parents/guardians keep the lines of communication open with the center. Any concerns parents have will be addressed immediately. Concerns may be addressed in a written communication, a telephone call, or a parent-teacher meeting.

THREE GOALS OF OUR PROGRAM We hope to achieve the following three major goals with our program:

1. To develop the child's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills. This goal will be achieved through our developmentally appropriate activities.

2. To have parent involvement in our program. This goal will be achieved through parents volunteering to help in the classroom.

3. That the needs of all of the children will have been met and they will be ready to make a successful and happy transition into kindergarten.