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Communication
Programs
The Learning Tree strives to meet all your weekday child care needs. We offer the following programs.
Click on a program title for an introduction to each of our programs.
Curriculum
The philosophy of the curriculum at The Learning Tree is to engage children actively in the learning process, provide a variety of developmentally appropriate learning experiences, and encourage children to pursue their own interests in the context of life in the community and world.
The developmentally appropriate curriculum provides for all areas of child development — physical, emotional, social, and cognitive — in an integrated
approach. Appropriate curriculum planning is based on our teacher's observations and assessments of each child's special interests and developmental progress.
Our curriculum planning emphasizes learning as an interactive process. Teachers prepare the environment for children to learn through active exploration and interaction with adults, peers and materials. Activities are designed to concentrate on furthering emerging skills through creative
activities and intense involvement.
The learning materials and activities used in our program are real, concrete and relevant to the lives of the children in our program. Learning takes place as young children touch, manipulate, and experiment with things and interact with people.
Basic learning materials at The Learning Tree include sand, water, clay (and accessories to use with
them), blocks, puzzles, many types of games, a variety of manipulative
materials, dramatic play props, a variety of science investigation equipment and items to
explore, a changing selection of appropriate and aesthetically pleasing books and
music, supplies of paper, paint, markers, crayons and other materials for creative
expression and equipment to develop large muscles.
Learning is also enhanced through field trips, classroom responsibilities, positive interactions with other children and adults, and problem-solving opportunities.
Our program provides for a wide range of developmental interests and abilities, rather than providing for a single age group.
The Learning Tree teachers are prepared to meet the needs of children who show unusual interest and skills outside the normal developmental range.
As children work with activities or materials, teachers listen, observe and interpret children's behavior. They can then facilitate children's involvement and learning by asking questions, making suggestions or adding materials to an activity.
Children's play is a primary vehicle for, and an indicator of, their mental growth. Play enables children to progress along the developmental sequences from the sensory motor intelligence of infancy, to preoperational thought in the preschool years, to the concrete operational thinking exhibited by primary grade children. In addition to its role in cognitive development, play also serves important functions in children's physical, emotional, and social development.
Therefore, at The Learning Tree, child-initiated, child-directed and teacher-supported play is an essential component of our curriculum from our Infant Program through our School-age Program.
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