PHILOSOPHY
We believe that play, within the context of healthy relationships, is the primary way in which young children grow and mature into happy, productive students ready for a lifetime of learning. In the Early Learning Center (ELC), playful interactions with sensitive adults, their peers and an enriching environment enable children to learn about the world, themselves and each other. As children play, they test their ideas, learn new skills, develop strategies for problem-solving, acquire knowledge and communicate their understanding. As they play, they learn to master their minds, bodies and emotions. This cornerstone of the ELC’s approach to early education is supported by current research on child development. A report by the American Academy of Pediatrics states, “…free and unstructured play is healthy and – in fact – essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient.”
GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
ELC teachers are guided by a set of four core principles that inform educational practices, curriculum planning and decision-making process:
Socially and Emotionally Responsive:
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE:
CONTENT RICH:
CHILD CENTERED/EMERGENT:
OUR PROGRAMS

EARLY LEARNING CENTER
Quality education and nurturing child care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Pre-K readiness for children moving on to kindergarten. Read more

COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION
Counseling and support services to families, children, and pregnant and parenting teens as they address current challenges as well as past traumas. Read more

EARLY LITERACY SERVICES
Helps families challenged by poverty, limited education, or literacy barriers prepare their young children to enter school ready to learn.
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CAP⋅CHILD ASSAULT PREVENTION
Counseling and support services to families, children, and pregnant and parenting teens as they address current challenges as well as past traumas. Read more