In fact, brain research that used to say 50 percent of what an individual learns over a lifetime occurs by age 5, now suggests that this might even occur earlier – as early as age 3. Acknowledging, during this vital learning period, The Tot Spot’s curriculum for infants through age two is based on the nationally recognized and tested Creative Curriculum for Infant, Toddlers, and Twos, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidelines, and Indiana Foundations (Birth to Five Standards).
At our Fishers Child Care center, learning and development are tied together around four areas of the child’s development – social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language — and are promoted through experiences that challenge and interest children.
The Tot Spot recognizes that children learn best when they take an active role in the learning process. We therefore have an array of activities that support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development, encouraging children to explore, experiment, and create. Specifically, the program includes: Daily, age-appropriate lesson plans for children individually, and as a group. In addition to encouraging children’s creativity and independence, The Tot Spot helps children learn to follow directions, to understand early math concepts, and to cooperate in groups. These are essential to Kindergarten and all future learning.
Examples of some of these experiences include:
- Exposure to various learning opportunities to develop skills needed to regulate the child’s emotions, behavior and attention.
- Engagement in one-on-one interactions and small groups to foster the development of social skills.
- Exposure to materials and objects of various textures, shapes and sizes that promote mathematical concepts.
- Exposure to opportunities that promote the use of their senses to learn about objects in the environment, discover that they can make things happen, and solve simple problems.
- Engagement with literacy experiences that build on the child’s interest and enjoyment of songs, rhymes, interactive games, and various types of books.
- Participation with opportunities to gain an appreciation of art, music, drama, and dance in all of its cultural diversity, through age-appropriate learning experiences and materials.
At Fishers Child Care center we observe the children and plan activities and experiences that provide optimal learning and development for every child. Additionally, a large part of our curriculum is centered on the responsive environment in which kids learn.