FunShine Tells: Understanding Child Development

When we talk about child development, we talk about the different steps and stages of growth and learning that a child goes through from birth to adulthood. It is important to understand that while there are many frames of reference, goals, and expectations for what children should be doing at a certain age, each child grows and develops freely and at their own pace.

FunShine Tells: Why Use Curriculum?

Charlie’s Cues: Using the Alphabet Word Cards

The sounds, words, songs, rhymes, and illustrations children are exposed to influence the ways they speak and communicate. This is why an environment rich in writing, letters, and vocabulary offers them the opportunity to develop strong language skills.

Charlie’s Cues: Using the All About Me Cards

Independence, perseverance, attention to detail, and taking interest in a variety of tasks are some of the lessons that we want to teach children from an early age. We can do this through modeling behaviors, reading books, observing images, and last but not least, through experience.

Charlie’s Cues: Using the Counting Cards

We are exposed to math concepts from the time we are born and this continues as we grow. We learn how and when to communicate when we are “all done,” and how to ask for more when there is a little bit of food left. Through transitions, we begin to learn the concept of time, and then we continue to learn math concepts through stories, rhymes, and songs. As teachers and caregivers, we also make math part of the children’s day by counting toys when cleaning up, counting the days of the week on the calendar, or when we celebrate birthdays together. Math is everywhere!