Our Early Childhood Education Philosophy

Recent studies continue to convey that the most important years in an individual’s brain development occur from birth to age 5, a period commonly referred to as “early childhood.” Every experience is new, and children arrive in this world as blank canvases.  
 A combination of genes, nurturing, and experiences- these are what will shape childhood development. As a childcare center, we serve children in the “early childhood” stage of development, but recognize that we only have some modicum of control over how the child is nurtured while in our care, and the types of experiences they have on a daily basis.  We take our responsibility seriously and want to help others understand our early childhood education philosophy. 
Montessori, nature-based learning, Walldorf education, and cooperative learning; these are just a few of the many popular philosophies shaping early childhood education programs in the United states. While approaches to early childhood education may differ, all credible philosophies share a common belief that children learn best through play. According to world-renowned human rights organization UNICEF, “Play sets the foundation for the development of critical social and emotional knowledge and skills.” We agree with this assertion, and therefore see our philosophy as “play-based,” meaning all learning revolves around play. 
Our early childhood education philosophy is based on five core beliefs.  Future blog posts will explore each of these beliefs in depth, and also how they contribute to the daily culture at Discovery Days and Kids Connection Child Care Centers.  
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