Our children's program is planned to nurture the whole child (social/emotional cognitive, language, and physical development) through an integrated curriculum. Children are guided through learning experiences appropriate to their individual capabilities and readiness.
The program provides opportunities for challenge and mastery, peer interactions and expression of the children's individual needs and interests. An integrated curriculum provides opportunities for exploration of the environment through language and literacy, creative activities, science, math, sensory experiences, and motor activities. The program provides active and quiet activities, child-directed and teacher-directed activities, and group and individual activities throughout the day.
Children learn best in an environment with consistent limits where they are allowed to make choices. This approach leads to self-direction, independence, and responsibility. Children are encouraged to think, reason, recall and experiment as they work. Meeting the needs and interests of children and their families includes consideration of the diverse values and cultures of individual children. Active participation from students and parents is important to the quality of our total program.
The Center is located at 16th and B streets. For additional information, call (619) 388-3205 or drop by (License Numbers 370805154 and 370806172).
Program Philosophy
Our childrens' program is planned to nurture the whole child (social/emotional, cognitive, language and physical development) through an integrated curriculum. Children are guided through learning experiences appropriate to their individual capabilities and readiness. As a lab school for child development, we are a training facility that provides an environment for college students to observe, interact, and implement the ideas and theories that are presented as part of the college program. As a parent participation program, parents enroll in a specially designed child development course that includes a lab component. During lab participation, parents have an opportunity to observe children and gain an understanding of children's readiness and interaction skills. Interaction with other parents in the program provides them with a support group. Parents also have the opportunity to use their lab classes as a part of a child development career ladder.
Infants and Toddlers
We serve infants and toddlers from 6 months to 36 months and their families. Infants
and toddlers have an environment that is interesting, challenging, consistent, and
trustworthy. They are encouraged to initiate activities and involvements while responsive
caregivers extend and follow their leads. When infants and toddlers are able to trust
an appropriate environment, are listened and responded to, and make choices for their
own exploration, they are on their way to becoming competent individuals.
Preschoolers
In our program we serve children 2.5 through 5 years. Our program provides a balance between structured and unstructured activities. Structure may be provided either by the teachers or instructional assistants working with small groups of children on special projects or with materials in the learning centers. Open-ended questioning leads to critical thinking and is essential for children growing up in a world of constant change and new technology with many problems to be solved.
Facilities
The Early Education Center is housed in a park-like setting. The outdoor classrooms hold places to climb high and crawl with bugs. There are obstacle courses to challenge motor skills and quiet places to read a book. Children run and investigate with the assistance of parents, child development students and staff members. The indoor classrooms have a variety of centers with natural wood furnishings. Children choose activities, come together in groups and follow a schedule that allows for flexibility, child-directed and teacher facilitated learning.