What does it mean that the "Child is the Curriculum?"

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​We believe that a curriculum exists within each child that is particular to their development and culture. Through this approach, teachers thoughtfully plan the environment by offering many visible choices based on the child's interests, skills, and needs. Weekly lesson plans are posted in the individual classes.
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​Nature’s Edge Child Development Center is a small preschool with a bigger purpose: ​

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We are strongly committed to working with children and families. As early childhood educators, we believe we must understand parents’ needs and values so that we can best serve their children. Our goal is to provide a supportive and nurturing environment by building a sense of community among parents, children, and staff. We believe that children’s play is powerful, that the child is the curriculum, and that their environment is a teaching tool. How the classroom is organized, furnished, and enhanced has meaning for the children.​
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Gaia Valentino  - Hidden gem!! 
We are so sad that we will be leaving the center for TK :( My son was a student at NECDC for two years, and he was cared for in such a loving and supportive manner. The teachers are kind and professional and follow the kids very attentively. They give daily feedback on them and take a genuine interest in what’s happening to them. Meals are provided, and they are healthy and varied. This helped my son to develop a taste for some fruits and dishes we didn’t eat at home. 
Their learning style is play-based (Reggio), so each kid can be introduced to TK/K learning through play and at their own pace. The development I have noticed in my son is remarkable, even given that he spoke a different language when he first started, and is now fluent in two languages and knows a little Spanish.  

J.J. Anselmi - Great price
Nature's Edge has been a hugely positive experience for our family. Our kids have made lasting friendships, and we've gotten connected to an amazing community of parents. Everyone at Nature's Edge truly enjoys kids and helping them grow, which is evident in so many ways. I couldn't recommend the place more, especially for the price. 

Andrea Wandemberg
I’ve had an amazing experience with this daycare for both of my sons. The staff is incredibly caring and attentive, and it’s clear they truly love what they do. The teachers are fantastic, and I always feel at ease knowing my kids are in such good hands. Highly recommend!

Brandi O.
We are so thankful for the nurturing care our 2.5-year-old receives at Nature's Edge. She began Preschool here full-time 6 months ago, and she is thriving! She is in the caterpillar class and loves the sensory play, nature walks, and all the science fun they participate in. The school is helping us potty train, and it's going so well. Our daughter is not a great eater, so the school recommended that they log a food journal so that we know exactly what she eats during the day, and we can then take that log to our pediatrician. We could not be happier! The staff has gone above and beyond time after time, and we feel so confident in the care she receives! We started at their sister school (for under 2-year-olds), and transferred here when she turned 2. They've been in business for over 20 years, and we know why.... Because the children are cared for as if they were the staff's own children. Thank you,  Nature's Edge

Philosophy​

“We believe that the heart of children’s learning is play. Through play, they explore developmental themes and stages leading to physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we nurture curious, capable learners through nature, creativity, and meaningful exploration. Children are active, sensory learners and need multiple opportunities for self-chosen exploration, investigation, social interaction, and problem-solving.

Each child is regarded as an individual. We value and celebrate each child’s unique cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic background. In consideration of the whole child, we strive to nourish the mind, body, and sense of self for continued growth. Relationships are the core of our curriculum and philosophy. The single most important indicator of quality in an early childhood program is the interaction between and around the child.”
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Enrichment Activities​

​How to Recognize Quality Literature:
Books should be meaningful to the children, with subjects they can relate to and help them make sense of their world. Good books encourage conversation, invite children to use their imagination, make them laugh, and heighten their sense of fun.
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Illustrations should be visually pleasing but not overwhelming. Stories should encourage children to interact positively with others. Look for books that have a sense of rhythm where the same phrase is repeated over and over again so children can predict what is going to happen. Also, look for "sparkling language"; it is a misconception that books for young children should only have simple words.

Enviroment

​The environment is the stage for our curriculum, and this wonderful setting provides many spaces where learning is facilitated. A child can find a place to be alone, with just a few friends or gathered as a group.  It is a place for learning where the arts and nature come together. This setting provides constant connections to the outdoors and the natural world. We group our children of mixed ages in our classrooms. Early morning and the afternoon hours, we practice the mixed age group setting, including play together on the playground regularly. It is essential to our philosophical approach that children construct knowledge in relationships with others outside their age group.  Child Development Center at Nature’s Edge is designed with this vision in mind.
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Art Experience

​Utilizing art in the classroom has many benefits for young children, including aiding in fine motor development, cognitive development, speech and language development, creativity, and socialization. We encourage our students to use materials in open-ended ways to create beautiful works of art that they can share with the class or display at home. Further, we love when the children can work together to create something new. Having a way to express themselves is something that all children need, and art is one of the best ways to achieve this. When you give a child the right materials the possibilities are endless!

Science & Sensory Experience

​Sensory experience is one of the greatest ways to learn. A child's understanding of the world depends a great deal on their sense of touch, smell, sound, and taste. At Nature’s Edge Child Development Center, we strive to give the children many opportunities to explore the world around them and to really get their hands dirty! We have sensory areas both in the classroom and outside on the playground, including water tables and a sandbox area, so that the children can explore in different environments. Encouraging children to ask questions, make observations, and then make guesses is a great way to develop cognitive skills and make them feel confident and interested in the world we live in.​​

Imaginative Play 

Children's imaginations are endless. One day they are a superhero, the next a veterinarian, and then a rock star! An easy way to encourage this kind of play is to have a few prop boxes available. We love to cycle out the dramatic play area depending on what the children are demonstrating an interest in and to give plenty of options for creativity. Imaginative play isn’t just about dressing up and pretending to be someone else. It also fosters social skills, speech and language development, and gross motor skills. After all, a superhero needs to be able to fly! We don’t limit imaginative play to just inside the classroom, but outside as well. Seeing the children come together to create a dramatic play scene is so much fun!
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Outdoor Learning

At NECDC, the outdoor classroom offers our children a myriad of experiences. Any part of the curriculum can happen inside or outside. Art, literacy, science, dramatic play, music, small and large motor skill activities all come outside to further the children's interests. The textures, smells, light, and variety of spaces in the outdoors allow creativity to blossom and grow. We love using the outdoor space as another learning environment for the children, and they love it just as much! Doing something outside that you normally do inside is exciting and new for them, and it brings their focus back to learning and staying engaged. We encourage exploration in the outdoors, even when doing free play. You never know what you may find outside!
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Construction & Engineering

Children are little engineers by nature. They love figuring out how objects work together and constructing new and wonderful things. It helps stimulate their creativity and cognition. One of the best things to build and create with is natural wooden blocks. These blocks are fun to stack in different ways, sort into different categories, and create new places to bring dramatic play into. Building areas can become whole towns by adding transportation with traffic signs, carrier people, animals, and other figures. One child may see a forest filled with trees and places to camp, while another child may see a school with teachers and students. Constructing new things can be done individually or together in a cooperative style of play. The possibilities are absolutely endless, and the results will delight you!