ACADEMICS
Philosophy
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Children learn academics and life skills through playful experiences within a supportive and creative environment. Children First believes that learning experiences start with the ideas of the children. Their interests help guide our curriculum, emphasizing the development of the whole child through inquiry, play, and intentionally planned learning experiences. We have committed ourselves to:
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Providing a secure, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children
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Appreciating childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle
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Recognizing that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society
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Supporting the close connections between the child and the family
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Enhancing young children's creativity, imagination, and critical thinking skills
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Supporting children's development of self-regulation
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Developing relationships that are based on trust, respect, and positive regard for children
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Practices that focus on respecting one another, problem-solving issues and conflicts, and caring for the environment
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We welcome parents to share our learning. We have an open-door policy anytime throughout the day.
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Ratios
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6 weeks - 18 months
Children First Day Care: 1 teacher per 3 infants
State of Ohio Requirement: 1 teacher per 5 infants
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18 months - 36 months
Children First Day Care: 1 teachers per 6 toddlers
State of Ohio Requirement: 1 teacher per 7 toddlers
3-5 year olds
Children First Day Care: 1 staff member per 9 children
State of Ohio Requirement: 1 teacher per 12 preschoolers
Curriculum
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We align our curriculum content to the Ohio Early Learning Standards. The five areas of learning we focus on are: Social Emotional Development, Approaches Towards Learning, Cognitive Development and General Knowledge, Language and Literacy Development, and Physical Well-being and Motor Development. Infants predict their own schedule based on their needs. We incorporate planned individual and group activities throughout the day.
Children First classroom teams include lead teachers, assistant teachers and teaching aides working together to provide a secure, nurturing and challenging classroom environment that enhances children’s growth and development. The classroom teams establish professional relationships and effective communications with families in order to provide individualized care and education to every child.
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