Creative Hands-On Learning Experiences       We provide enough stimulation (play) to make them think and the freedom to explore, experiment, and create to satisfy their curiosity and their cognitive, physical, spiritual, emotional, social and creative growth. This is done in a Christian atmosphere with loving, understanding teachers who express Christian ideas and attitudes. Learning new things makes them want to learn more and more. Learning must not be stifled.       We want a child to develop in his/her own time in his/her own way, to be excited about learning and education. We provide many play experiences and activities according to the unit or units of study. We focus our teaching on the individual child in small groups or learning centers daily, such as: Nature & Science & Sensory Center, Book Center, Home Center, Puzzle and Individual Instruction Center, Art, Light, Music, Block Centers and more. Activity Center Goals       Within each center are numerous different play activities, games, pictures, toys, and hands on age appropriate developmental play activities including: SELF IMAGE       Our activities are presented in a warm and loving atmosphere, to build the young child's self concept. Studies show by age four a child has already developed definite ideas concerning self worth. For this reason the two and three years are important years for laying the foundation of a positive self concept. A child learns who he/she is through interactions with family, teachers and peers as part of their social and cultural environments with historical influences, too. PRAYER, AND BIBLE STUDY       Children are introduced to prayer, the Bible, Jesus and Church. We use Bible stories and shortened Bible verses such as "Be Kind," "Love One Another," "Be Ready to Share" so they can understand the meaning and begin to memorize scripture. We pray prayers for things we see and feel, using simple words, thanking God for our cookies, apples, or friends, asking God to help us share and be kind, etc. Children understand these words and like to talk to God. CREATIVE ARTS       Children discover creative arts by exploring freely art materials with many different colors and textures. Colors and textures are enhanced daily by painting, drawing, gluing, play doe, fiber optics, light and prisms.        Children choose and decide how to do their work and what to use. The process is more important than the product. The children, not the teacher, do 99% of the work. The children are introduced to art appreciation, documentation and developmentally appropriate visual art education.       We combine music and creative movement with art, to have activities for children to express themselves. We also sing, play instruments, march, hop or move creatively. For self expression and developing fun listening skills, we use all types of cassettes, records and CD’s appropriate for this age. We also do fun music listening activities using circles, bean bags, paper towel tubes, fire hats, water hoses, etc. LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT (play), PRETENDING & LISTENING       We use nursery rhymes and words with the letters or beginning sounds this age is learning to pronounce. Photos and books are a favorite of boys and girls as they learn about the world around them. The stories come alive as we use puppets, art, games, activities and drama, acting them out. Very young children are learning to communicate and are forming speech patterns. Also they are learning to express feelings, to listen and learning the English language by naming and labeling everything, (preparing for reading comprehension.) COGNITIVE  BRAIN GROWING & FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT        Using our five senses, we provide many creative science & sensory experiences that help them be aware of God's beautiful world around them, the seasons, animals, plants, etc., especially while caring for the school animals.        For two's and three's, math is more than 1, 2, 3 and shapes. It is stacking, dumping, fitting, spilling, pouring, building and measuring how much and how big. Through play they are learning about shapes, numerals, counting, sorting, classifying, matching, etc.        Our fine motor developmental play activities are more fun including blocks, puzzles of all sizes and types, such as wooden puzzles, put-together building blocks or games, pegs, and several kinds of board games, matching games on the individual instruction table. They help develop the child's ability to think, reason, solve problems, work independently, and at the same time improve his/her pre-reading and writing coordination.