The Centre uses a "Cognitive - Interactionist Approach" to early childhood education; this approach allows the children to develop/enhance their own physical, social, emotional, and cognitive knowledge through child-directed learning in a variety of interest centres. The children are free to choose activities, to move about, and to talk to one another to increase their knowledge about the world.
Goals for Children
The goals for the children are to:
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Exercise initiative and establish/achieve their goals;
- Act creatively with materials and objects in their environment;
- Make choices and solve problems according to their developmental level;
- Learn to understand and accept their emotions constructively;
- Develop a strong sense of self identity and self worth;
- Understand the importance of other people and learn respect for the rights of others;
- Share attention, materials, and space within a group environment;
- Become responsible for belongings and environment (at their developmental level);
- Become aware of limits within the environment as a means of learning what are acceptable and unacceptable social behaviors; and
- Develop self confidence in their abilities.
Goals for Teachers
The goals for the teacher are to:
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Welcome parents into the classroom to observe, question, and become actively involved in their child's intellectual learning;
- Foster independence by encouraging the children to find their own solutions;
- Provide a wide choice of materials, objects, and activities for the day;
- Encourage the children to interact and to share ideas and materials;
- Promote social awareness and involvement within the program;
- Respect the children's rights as individuals and their individual pace for learning;
- Set a positive example through language, voice tone, expression, gesture, and manner;
- Encourage the children to find their own solutions to their conflicts but, when necessary, give choices which respect the rights of all the children involved;
- Work with co workers to improve and contribute to the children's overall learning experiences; and
- Pre-plan with the developmental levels of the children in mind.
Goals of the Curriculum
The goals of the curriculum are to:
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Provide opportunities for children to manipulate and explore media in art, music, science, math, language, dramatic play, and large and small muscle activities;
- Be flexible in meeting the individual child's interests;
- Be open and active; allow the children time to choose their own activities and initiate their own learning;
- Incorporate real and concrete materials and experiences into the program to enhance the children's understanding of the subject matter;
- Provide the opportunity to grow on a cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical level;
- Provide opportunities for children regardless of their mental, physical, or emotional capabilities;
- Reflect the developmental levels of the children in the program; and
- Comply with the Day Nurseries Act and Regulations and the requirements of the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
