Little Sunshines  Early Learning Environment is a play-based learning program.

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Being play-based means that although we do some guided activities throughout the week, we focus mainly on all forms of play!

Many don't realize the importance of play and the impact it actually has on your child.

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Although parents may sometimes worry that their child won’t be academically prepared for elementary school, children who are rushed into reading and writing too soon may miss important developmental milestones that will eventually strengthen their academic reading and writing skills.  A developmental, play-based program allows children the time they need to explore topics at their own pace.  Significant portions of time are dedicated daily to allowing children to make their own choices of free play.

During this time, what adults often see is “just play.” For children, however, this is a time of language development, fine and gross motor skill building, and gaining of concepts that may be invisible to adults. Children actually practice and gain proficiency in academic standards during play!

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FOR EXAMPLE:

Science: Science encourages children to observe, predict, and describe what they are doing which raises questions and promotes problem-solving helping them to grow in their thinking.

Art: Art is a cognitive activity that allows children to experience self-expression. When children paint and do other art work they are developing skills in creativity and experimentation. They become inventors. They are learning to accept different ideas—there is no right or wrong.

Dramatic Play: When children play in the dramatic play area, they are experimenting with social roles, supporting development in language as well as social skills. When children put items away in their appropriate places, they begin to develop logical classification skills.

Math: When children work with small manipulatives like cubes, pegboards, beads, and pattern/wood blocks, they are making patterns, sequences and are learning about differences in sizes and shapes. They are also further developing their fine motor skills.

Literacy: When children listen to adults read stories aloud, or when they look at books on their own, they are developing listening and language skills, and understanding concepts of print. When they scribble on paper, and later begin to make their own books, they are learning that writing is a means of communication.

Social/Emotional: It is through play that children have the best opportunity to engage with others in ways that strengthen their friend-making skills, their conflict-resolution skills, their leadership skills and their ability to communicate with others.

 

All of these are supported and modeled in our childcare program!

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