Bryden Academy's Developmenatal Program
- Our program offers a variety of activities and learning experiences not only for preschool and school age kids but for infants and toddlers as well.
- We recognize that children learn best by doing and being actively engaged in their environment! When it comes to curriculum we feel that it is more than just worksheets and lessons from manuals! Learning comes from daily routines that happen in the classroom and outside the classroom as well! From meal times and singing to playing with toys or walking to the lunch room, every minute of your childs day they are learning new things! New things that they will continue using their entire lives... We never miss an opportunity to teach!
- Our center has a theme based curriculum where each week of the month a different theme is set, then each caregiver plans her calendar around those themes, We feel this helps the center, each classroom, teacher and child stay connected in a way if everyone is talking and learning about similar subjects. Also with the theme, there is a Letter, Shape, Number & Color for the week as well
- Each class also has a daily schedule and lesson plan that provide a variety of opportunities for children to express their individuality and help them grow. These include “Planned Activities” and “Free Play activities”...
*Free Play” Activities - We believe that “free play” is the most important part of your child’s day! Your child will learn & express more through free play experiences than any other time throughout their day. “Free play” provides the children with the opportunity to direct their own learning using their imagination & creativity.
During Free play they are developing:
-Social Skills - Pretending helps children express their opinions and will help them learn to deal with real life situations.
-Cooperation - Learning to play and get along with other children and learning to work together in problem solving.
-Fine Motor Skills - Using scissors, paints, coloring or writing during this free play time will help the children strengthen certain small muscles movement
During Free play they are developing:
-Social Skills - Pretending helps children express their opinions and will help them learn to deal with real life situations.
-Cooperation - Learning to play and get along with other children and learning to work together in problem solving.
-Fine Motor Skills - Using scissors, paints, coloring or writing during this free play time will help the children strengthen certain small muscles movement
*Planned Activities- Activities that are teacher directed that will introduce the children to new concepts or review concepts already learned before. Scheduled activities may include:
- Large Motor Activities - These help children develop physically in a fun positive way rather than a competitive way.
- Fine Motor Activities - Which help children learn important small muscle and movement skills they will need as they get older, such as matching, sorting, buttoning, zipping, sequencing, puzzles, stringing beads, practice writing skills etc..
- Language and Listening Activities - Activities that encourage children to interact with the teacher and other children by singing, reading stories, circle time activities, number, letter, shape & color recognition & activities that require listening and following directions.
- Art & Creative Play - Your child will participate in many open ended art activities that encourage children to use their imagination with a wide range of creative art activities like painting with different types of mediums, coloring, sculpting with play-dough, gluing, cutting and other craft activities that they can express themselves with.
- Music & Rhythm - Activities in this area may include singing songs, listening and dancing to many types of music from all around the world, playing musical instruments and using other rhythm toys.
- Science, Cooking & Self Help Activities - These activities are done at least once a week, they introduce new concepts and experiments involving a variety of hands-on activities.