our goals for each child as they grow and develop…

At every stage of development, we believe that play-based learning is the most effective and joyful way for children to grow. Our hands-on approach supports learning in all areas—social, emotional, physical, and cognitive. Just as importantly, we value strong relationships with parents and families, working together as a team to create a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where every child can thrive.

Infants:

Our primary goal is to partner with you in providing loving, consistent care for your baby. We focus on creating a safe, nurturing environment that stimulates physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Open and ongoing communication between families and teachers helps ensure that each infant's needs are met with trust, respect, and compassion.

One-Year-Olds:

With our one-year-olds, we build on the foundational skills developed in infancy. We focus on:

• Physical development: Walking, climbing, and fine motor skills

• Cognitive development: Early problem-solving, memory, and language growth

• Social-emotional development: Recognizing emotions and encouraging positive peer interaction

Exploration through the senses and a supportive routine helps children begin to navigate their world with confidence.

Two-Year-Olds: 

This is a year of tremendous growth and discovery! Our two-year-olds are encouraged to explore their environment through play while continuing to develop independence, confidence, and curiosity. We support:

• Language and communication skills

• Social interaction and relationship-building

• Problem-solving and critical thinking

• Cognitive growth through puzzles, art, stories, and sorting activities

• Physical development through outdoor play and sensory activities
  We also begin introducing healthy habits, including self-care routines and classroom responsibilities.

Three-Year-Olds:

Three-year-olds begin to shift from parallel play to engaging- meaningfully with peers. We focus on:

• Self-help skills and growing independence

• Sharing, turn-taking, and emotional regulation

• Classroom responsibility (caring for personal items and materials)

• Language development through sentence formation and following multi-step directions

• Cognitive development via literacy, number recognition, and problem-solving

• Physical skills like cutting with scissors, writing, and gross motor activities

This stage helps prepare children for more structured learning in the years ahead.

Four-Years-Olds (Pre-K):

At this stage, many of our students are four or five years old and preparing for kindergarten. Our focus is on:

• Independence and self-regulation

• Emotional awareness—both of self and others

• Problem-solving and confident communication

• Pre-academic skills, including:

  • Letter and sound recognition (using Letterland, as used by Wake County Schools)

  • Early literacy and numeracy

  • Scientific thinking and critical reasoning

• Physical development through active play, nature walks, games, and art
  Throughout the year, children continue to grow through hands-on experiences and engaging play that fosters school readiness.

One of the most rewarding parts of our work is watching our students finish the year feeling confident, excited, and fully prepared for their next adventure in kindergarten!