White hand overlapping an purple hand symbolizing helping

The Learning Center

Curriculum Statement

Little Steps’ Center-based curriculum hinges on two fundamental aspects of childhood: play and daily routines. Little Steps uses learning centers with developmentally appropriate activities and a play based daily routine to ensure skill development through their play. Children are given the opportunity to choose and experiment in the learning centers within the classroom.
We believe that learning center activities are opportunities for children to learn skills in large muscle movement (gross motor), small muscle movement (fine motor), understanding and communicating with others, doing things for him/her self (adaptive/self-help), developing relationships and feelings about one’s self (social emotional), thinking and problem solving (cognitive) and child initiated art and music (creativity). Little Steps enhances these opportunities for children to learn by allowing them to explore the environment and support them with many teacher child interactions throughout their play and daily activities.

Little Steps Learning Center Values


SAFETY:



  • Making the health and well-being of children our #1 responsibility

  • Controlling the access to our facility to protect our children and staff

  • Providing a healthy, clean, emotionally safe atmosphere


CHILD DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION:



  • Employing skilled teachers who foster a warm nurturing environment

  • Understanding that the laughter of happy children is essential to their growth

  • Providing lesson plans, field trips, activities and other learning opportunities

  • Only exposing children to appropriate materials, behavior and language

  • Accepting children’s differences in an inclusive environment

RESPECT:

  • Believing in the contribution of all employees, parents, teachers, children and volunteers
  • Displaying personal pride in Little Steps and in ourselves
  • Providing rewards and recognition for Little Steps employees and volunteers
  • Demonstrating respect for others, for property and rules

COMMITMENT :

  • Recognizing the volunteer efforts of parents and community members
  • Having employees who care about making a difference in  a child’s life

COMMUNICATION:

  • Encouraging parents and teachers to share information about children for  better understanding
  • Being open and honest in all interactions between parents, teachers, staff and children
  • Creating and reinforcing clear policies for our business
  • Being available just to listen

PARENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS:

  • Promoting a supportive relationship between parents and teachers
  • Providing consistency for children between home and daycare
  • Knowing parents really appreciate how much the teachers do