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Programs

"Education is the most powerful weapon which   you can use to change the world". Nelson Mandela
Infant Program

 

Our Infant Program is the cornerstone of our center. Babies develop through relationships and experiences. Our Infant program is nurturing and warm and welcomes learning at an outstanding rate. We strive to stimulate healthy ,mental, physical, and emotional development through the close relationships developed between each staff and student.

We Help Reach and Recognize These Milestones:

Social/Emotional

o Is shy or nervous with strangers

o Cries when mom or dad leaves

o Has favorite things and people

o Shows fear in some situations

o Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story

o Repeats sounds or actions to get attention o Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing o Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”
 

Language/Communication

o Responds to simple spoken requests

o Uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no”  or waving “bye-bye”

o Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)

o Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”

o Tries to say words you say
 

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

o Explores things in different ways, like shaking,  banging, throwing

o Finds hidden things easily

o Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named

o Copies gestures

o Starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from  a cup, brushes hair

o Bangs two things together

o Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container

o Lets things go without help

o Pokes with index (pointer) finger

o Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy”

Movement/Physical Development

o Gets to a sitting position without help

o Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”)

o May take a few steps without holding on

o May stand alone

Toddler Program
Our talking and tumbling toddler classroom is full of movement ant communication. Our toddler program is designed to smooth the transition from "just" social to full out socialites. Teachers use our Mother Goose Curriculum to help develop social, emotional, mental, and physical growth.
 
We Help Recognize and Reach these Milestones:
Social/Emotional
o Likes to hand things to others as play
o May have temper tantrums
o May be afraid of strangers
o Shows affection to familiar people
o Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
o May cling to caregivers in new situations
o Points to show others something interesting
o Explores alone but with parent close by
 
Language/Communication
o Says several single words
o Says and shakes head “no”
o Points to show someone what he wants Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
o Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone,  brush, spoon
o Points to get the attention of others
o Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed
o Points to one body part
o Scribbles on his own
o Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures;  for example, sits when you say “sit down”
 
Movement/Physical Development
o Walks alone
o May walk up steps and run
o Pulls toys while walking
o Can help undress herself
o Drinks from a cup
o Eats with a spoon
Two-Year Old Program


Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities describes the will power and moral of our Two Year Old Program. Our staff presents some of the first real challenges and critical thinking opportunities. This program uses the Mother Goose Curriculum to introduce new learning experiences, this classroom also implements the first real encounter with structure, scheduling, and potty training!

We Help Recognize and These Milestones:

Social/Emotional

o Copies others, especially adults and older children

o Gets excited when with other children

o Shows more and more independence

o Shows defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to)

o Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning  to include other children, such as in chase games

 

Language/Communication

o Points to things or pictures when they are named

o Knows names of familiar people and body parts

o Says sentences with 2 to 4 words

o Follows simple instructions

o Repeats words overheard in conversation

o Points to things in a book Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

o Finds things even when hidden under two or three covers

o Begins to sort shapes and colors

o Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books

o Plays simple make-believe games

o Builds towers of 4 or more blocks

o Might use one hand more than the other

o Follows two-step instructions such as “Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet.”
o Names items in a picture book such as a cat, bird, or dog

 

Movement/Physical Development

o Stands on tiptoe

o Kicks a ball

o Begins to run

o Climbs onto and down from furniture without help

o Walks up and down stairs holding on
 

Pre School Program

Our Pre School program is Texas School Ready! We are preparing our early scholars for kindergarten with the Mother Goose Curriculum, monthly professional development, in-class coaching, and child progress monitoring. We celebrate everything about becoming a kindergartener, while still providing the fundamental skills needed to suceed.

We Help Recognize and Reach These Milestones:

Social/Emotional

o Wants to please friends

o Wants to be like friends

o More likely to agree with rules

o Likes to sing, dance, and act

o Is aware of gender

o Can tell what’s real and what’s make-believe

o Shows more independence (for example, may visit a next-door neighbor by himself [adult supervision is still needed])

o Is sometimes demanding and sometimes very cooperative

 

Language/Communication

o Speaks very clearly

o Tells a simple story using full sentences

o Uses future tense; for example, “Grandma will be here.”

o Says name and address

 

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

o Counts 10 or more things

o Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts

o Can print some letters or numbers

o Copies a triangle and other geometric shapes

o Knows about things used every day, like money and food

 

Movement/Physical Development

o Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer

o Hops; may be able to skip

o Can do a somersault

o Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table knife

o Can use the toilet on her own

o Swings and climbs
 

© West End Child Development Center

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