Children's Center Philosophy Statement

Our Philosophy

The Adventist Health Glendale Children’s Center provides a warm and nurturing environment, which supports the developing child in reaching his or her full potential. We believe that each child is unique and should feel pride in his or her abilities, family, and culture. The program encourages a family-centered partnership, facilitating a comfortable transition from home to school, strengthening the positive interactions between parent, child, and center staff. Our center is a play-based program and our curriculum, The Creative Curriculum, is based on developmental theory and developmentally appropriate practices. We recognize that children progress through sequential stages, scaffolding on previously learned skills to expand their knowledge of the world around them. Our program teaches children to think creatively, so they may succeed in a complex and ever-changing world. Purposeful play is the most appropriate way to support each child’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical development. During a typical day, there will be structured and unstructured periods, enabling children to learn at their own rate and follow some individual paths toward fully engaged learning.

Values that support learning through play include:

• Children are viewed as thinkers, reflecting about their world.
• Purposeful play is when children learn through the process of their efforts.
• Children gain knowledge by building on a path of ever-increasing knowledge.
• Children are encouraged to make choices and practice individual decision-making.

Our classrooms and play yard environments support the philosophy by providing:

• Center-themed divisions of space (house, block, quiet, science, music areas, etc.).
• Materials and time for dramatic and imaginative play (manipulative toys, varied and extensive art materials, tools, sensory play material, etc.).
• Library areas for book and print exploration. Ample and rich print with access to writing tools and materials.
• Music and movement activities.
• Cooking experiences

Through the careful observation of day-to-day play and interactions, the teachers assess development during observations and planning times so that they can add challenges, make changes to environment or family conferencing as needed to further each child’s growth. Teachers take their cues from children, forming an emergent environment that is collaborative, and reflects our standards of high-quality care as well as the standards set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Our Center groups children in age-similar ways; however, placement and transitions between rooms is primarily based on the child’s individual development; this process enables us to provide the opportunity for each child to have the best experience possible every day.