Children learn directly through their senses – (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) and that’s why there is such a focus on sensory play in all of our programs. Allowing children to explore through different mediums promotes an array of foundational skills such as language development, socialization, problem solving, fine motor development and self-help skills. Sensory
exploration also promotes healthy emotional regulation which sets the foundation for a child’s overall well-being. They might get a little messy but that’s all the fun of sensory play!

We find many ways to allow children to be creative, to think imaginatively and explore ideas. Children should have the opportunity each day to express their unique ideas and be curious. There are multiple avenues in the curriculum for children to explore different mediums through art supporting each child’s self-expression and creativity. We offer a variety of mediums and open ended opportunities to explore, create and foster individual artistic styles.

Music can be heard throughout the day in all Creative Kids programs. Music offers numerous developmental benefits, builds confidence and engages children in an enjoyable and creative way. Music fosters social interactions as well as individual expression. You’ll here an array of genres in the classrooms, from classical to kids style hip hop and everything in between! Music ignites all areas of the brain, enhancing memory function and emotional regulation! We even sing our instructions of the day as it resonate as a game with the children!

Children from birth to 5 have such rapid brain development, they learn so much through these early years. By offering them an environment that fosters learning and awareness of the world around them in these formulative years establishes the foundation for future learning. We “Plant the Seed for Further Education”! The more they learn now, the more they will want to continue to learn. It’s not just their abc’s and 123’s, its also understanding relationships including themselves and how they relate to the world around them. Learning their boundaries, their likes and dislikes, short and long term memory abilities and everything in between! The more we can expose their minds to within these PreK years, broadens the children’s ability to absorb and retain information. Math, science, literature learning all starts here! It’s really quite fascinating and the very foundation for our curriculum - to explore as much as they can!

Children begin to communicate at birth, their initial response is to cry if they need something. Effective communication and self expression develops over time as children build on their vocabulary, understand verbal and non-verbal cues, explore their feelings their ideas and relationships. Offering a wide range of activities to explore and being positive role models within our programs consistently promotes communicative abilities and supports self expression and empathy for others.

During these early learning years, socialization and inclusivity are intertwined and crucial for
development. Socialization in the group setting supports children to learn essential social skills, while inclusivity ensures everyone feels valued and has equal opportunities to learn and participate, fostering empathy and respect for diversity.
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Throughout their day at Creative Kids, children have multiple opportunities for developmentally appropriate interactions with their peers and educators to learn essential social skills such as sharing, taking turns, cooperation and conflict resolution.
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Creative Kids fosters a diverse community within each one of our locations, creating a welcoming environment that helps each child and their family feel valued regardless of their background, abilities or learning styles. We adapt activities and gather resources to meet individual needs fostering accessibility and ensuring equal access to learning and play. When children are exposed to diverse cultures and abilities in an open and accepting environment they can better learn, understand and appreciate differences that promotes empathy.

In early childhood, health and wellbeing encompass a child's physical, mental, emotional, and social development. It's crucial for building a strong foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Working alongside parents, we aim to provide a holistic approach to ensure each child has access to adequate nutrition, physical activity and appropriate social-emotional connections. We encourage a sense of belonging, help children understand emotions and provide a safe and caring environment. Building strong relationships with their peers and educators, children should feel safe, valued and nurtured promoting an overall healthy well being. Risky play is encouraged and outside play is a large component of this. Not only is it mandated for each child to spend at least 60 minutes of outdoor physical activity every day, we think it’s a good idea too! This is where children learn best about their physical limitations and capabilities of their bodies – climbing, running, jumping, rolling, skipping etc. Not to mention all the sensory awareness that can occur outdoors! Children may fall, they may get a bump or a bruise – these are typical for children learning the parameters of their bodies. Our educators will be there right alongside to guide and support the children’s physical endeavors and all staff are first aid certified for when those little tumbles occur.

Exposing young children to the natural world, fostering their appreciation, understanding, and respect for it can be cultivated through various activities like outdoor play, nature walks, and environmental education. One effective way to promote environmental awareness is by incorporating nature-based activities into the curriculum. We highlight natural components in our loose parts play in the classrooms and always have live plants around the room. Outdoor field trips, gardening projects, and sensory exploration allow children to develop a deeper connection with nature.