Play is a child's work. Preschool teachers' work involves understanding, encouraging, and facilitating play in young children's lives. The Center considers the most current understanding of child development, children's learning styles, age-appropriate activities, experiential learning, multiculturalism, and performance-based assessment. It is both child-centered and result-oriented, the results being socialization skills,  love of learning, valuing "self." Children learn that they have many choices from which to select their activities all day long. Encouraged to think independently and creatively, the children know that they are respected and valued as autonomous and unique.

There are strong differences in the needs of 3 and 4 year olds - the younger need to experiment with materials and skills, colors and shapes, the older need to have more open-ended experiences and explorations. Teachers are encouraged to plan curricula for their individual groups. Teachers set up their own spaces, plan the daily schedule, assist in ordering materials and supplies, and are facilitators who support children as they learn by doing. Curriculum includes conflict resolution or negotiation, problem-solving, cognitive skills and  cooperative learning. The Center staff is continually evaluating and reflecting on its curriculum.

Parents are welcome to be as involved as they choose to be. They may come for lunch, participate in activities, or seek guidance and counsel. Visitors to the Center will find happy children, a warm, nurturing climate and the sounds of music and laughter.

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The Family Resource Center offers workshops - FREE OF CHARGE for parents and children. Parent workshops, covering a wide variety of parenting issues, are scheduled one afternoon or evening during the week each month. Interactive workshops for parents and their children are offered one Saturday each month. All workshops are based on the interests of parents and their children. For further information about upcoming workshops, please see our calendar. To register for a workshop, please call 201-200-3342. Throughout the year, there are many special events for families enrolled in the Early Childhood Learning Center. Open house, parent conferences, class trips, parent meetings, class pictures, and special guest speakers are some of the events taking place each year. In order to be fully involved in your child's education, we recommend that you read our monthly newsletter, which is available on-line and in print, and check out our calendar for upcoming events. We welcome parent participation in our program.