Crèche practices an individualized, developmentally appropriate approach to early childhood education, using criteria from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Our approach to preschool curriculum embraces components of many different theories and practices. The unique characteristics of each individual child are carefully considered in addition to group dynamics when planning classroom activities, as is common in Montessori preschools. Children learn from educated teachers using Creative Curriculum — a program that features the latest in early childhood development research — and a positive, non-denominational monthly Christian supplement. Each week the teachers implement goal-oriented lesson plans, which include process art, literacy, individual exploration, hands-on STEM lessons, small and large motor skill strengthening, early print work, music time, and more. Children begin their meals with prayer, in addition to learning early table manners. Although Christian values are taught, honoring and respecting the diversity of all families is a strong value. Children are encouraged to participate in all classroom activities but are never forced to do so.
Crèche utilizes several different theories and best-practice approaches to early childhood education, including concepts from Emilia, Maslow, Piaget, Erickson, and Vygotsky. Our educational philosophy, along with the Creative Curriculum, borrows from theories that have found genetic makeup and environment (nature and nurture) to be more or less equal factors in pre-K social and educational outcomes. Child development experts have concluded that the environment of a child’s earliest years can have effects that last a lifetime. Research tells us that early childhood development is the result of experiences, coupled with the way a child interprets, recognizes, or modifies those experiences.
