Program Philosophy

• We strive for open communication with families to help us understand the significant events in each child's home life, and to share with families the significant events that occur while children are in our care.

• We strive for a diverse staff who care about young children, and have the necessary tools to provide a developmentally appropriate environment in which children can learn and grow.

• We strive to help the staff in their quest for excellence, with ongoing training and professional support.

• The Center is not affiliated with any religious or other organization.

• We recognize the individuality of each child and family. We also recognize the unique role that spirituality and religion can play in each person's life. We therefore believe it would be presumptuous for us to attempt to define that spirituality or religion for the children of the families we serve. 

 

The Center has a yearly Piaget-based curriculum, stressing the need to utilize all senses for the most effective learning.  Activities are based on the specific age and development level of the children in each group and include art, science, pre-reading and math skills, dramatic play, music, and language development.  The Center's curriculum and policies are all religious neutral.  Lesson plans are posted weekly.

Schedule

This is a general schedule for each Center.  Each group has a specific schedule posted in the classroom.  A typical day at the Center includes the following:

• Arrival, Free Play, Snack
• Concept Time
• Breakfast
• Cognitive Activities, Art, Outside Time
• Music, Language Development, Stories
• Lunch, Tooth Brushing, Clean-up
• Nap
• Put Beds Away, Table Toys
• Music, Language Development, Stories
• Afternoon Snack
• Outside, Large Motor Activities, Supervised Free Play
• Evening Snack, Free Play, Close

Discipline

At ELDC we believe that discipline is involved in all of the activities throughout the day; not just when inappropriate behavior occurs. The consistency of the daily schedule, the clarification of rules and expectations of the children, as well as clarification of the consequences of misbehavior, are all a part of a positive approach to discipline and are necessary to minimize the opportunity for inappropriate behavior. The staff at ELDC are trained to use positive techniques to promote desired behavior and to respond to problem behavior at each child's developmental level. Corporal punishment is not administered in any form.