At AUCP, we respect the child and the growth and development of the preschool years. We recognize children as individuals at various stages of development: physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally. We celebrate the individuality which is vital to your child's development.
The curriculum at AUCP is designed to promote the following:
- Self-confidence and independence. Our goal is a sense of individual worth for each child. A child who has a positive self-image finds it easy to develop good relationships with others.
- Physical and muscular development and coordination. Emphasis is placed on development of both large and small muscle control.
- Social development. Our classrooms offer places where a child can regularly interact with other children, thereby learning to get along and share in a group situation.
- Practical living. "Practical Life" is the recognition of and reaction to everyday responsibilities (e.g., cleaning up at the end of an activity).
- Cognitive Development. Our purpose is to instill in each child the excitement of discovery and the incentive to explore.
At AUCP we draw on the large body of knowledge equating early childhood education with developmentally appropriate, child-initiated activity.
Children can engage in purposeful learning while making decisions about their activities. A variety of equipment suitable for the sequence of a child's development is available. The children are encouraged to choose a piece of work, complete it, and return the equipment to the shelves.
Knowing that a child needs to practice and master a new activity, the school encourages the children to work as long as they want to at a particular activity. Approximately one hour per morning-the largest block of the day-is devoted to this "free choice" of equipment and areas of interaction.
Socialization with peers is encouraged in the block corner, sand table or water table, snack and lunch activities, circle time, and playground time. Each class offers many arts and craft projects, opportunities for the use of large and small motor skills, and exploration through daily multiple "interest centers." In all classes, the process ("how I did it") is stressed, not the product ("what I did").
Music and movement also are important parts of our curriculum. A music teacher provides a special program to the classes every week.