Arcadian Day School

During the early years, learning is so fun that most children do not even realize their play is their learning. We thoughtfully encourage this love of learning and wonder through the activities of our early childhood curriculum. Play is the young child’s natural way to develop physically, socially, emotionally, and academically. This play is especially beneficial in an environment that has been th

oughtfully prepared for young children's development. Thus, each part of our day and our learning environments, both indoors and outdoors, are prepared to encourage imagination, and creativity; develop of early literacy and numeracy skills; focus on fine and gross motor skills; understand the importance of both activity and rest; engage in both imaginative and practical work opportunities. The children’s imaginations and creativity are stoked by painting, storytelling, puppetry, and by imitating the gestures, songs and verses in circle time. The rich language content and repetitive elements of our daily activities and circle times help develop the listening and attention skills that are so important in the development of literacy. Numeracy skills also unfold naturally through activities such as baking, building with blocks, and setting the lunch table. Ample time is given to practice fine motor skills and gross motor skills both indoors and outddors. Children naturally want to share in the practical work of the world around them, too. Each day, they help by feeding and gathering eggs from our chickens, preparing snacks, or weeding and watering our gardens, each opportunity to participate in life in an age-appropriate way helps the children to develop their capacities and skills as growing human beings. A special focus is placed on free, self-directed outdoor play each day. We know, and research has shown, that freely chosen outdoor play allows children to practice many of the skills necessary for success later including social competence, problem solving, creative thinking, and skills involving safety and risk. Children are able to grow by developing an appreciation for their environment, participating in independent and cooperative play, and acquiring an understanding of how to use simple tools to accomplish a task. Outdoor play also offers children opportunities to explore their world; enjoy diverse sensory experiences with dirt, water, sand, and mud; find or create their own places for play; collect objects and develop hobbies; and increase their physical activity. Our outdoor play space has been thoughtfully designed to encourage activities as detailed above.