Programs
Growing Explorers is licensed by the State of Minnesota to care and serve infants (6 weeks to 16 months), toddlers (16 months to 33 months) and preschoolers (33 months to kindergarten). Our programs and educators are focused on encouraging mental and physical growth as your child progress through the early years of life.
Curriculum
At Growing Explorers Learning Center, we provide a child-centered and developmentally appropriate program for our children. We believe that the best way to support young children in being successful is to teach them to be creative, confident thinkers. Thus, we utilize the play-based learning framework of Creative Curriculum® in our classrooms. The Creative Curriculum® is a national recognized, research-based curriculum that features exploration, play, and discovery as a way of learning. Every day is filled with meaningful and engaging experiences designed for all children.
The Creative Curriculum® provides extensive guidance for teachers to support children's learning in the content areas of literacy, math, science, social skills and the arts. The children are learning a variety of skills while playing and exploring through project-based investigations in the classroom. The themes and topics of study are exciting, engaging, and relevant to the children's everyday experiences. The studies tap into each child's natural curiousity of the world around them, resulting in a learning environment that is both fun and intentional.
Growing Explorers Learning Center uses the Minnesota Department of Education's Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs) as the framework for observation and assessment of each child's development. Our experienced staff use the ECIP's to observe and communicate each child's progress and development to parents. Daily anecdotal notes and observations are shared through our parents communication application and Parent Teacher Conferences are held twice a year for all age groups.
The Creative Curriculum® provides extensive guidance for teachers to support children's learning in the content areas of literacy, math, science, social skills and the arts. The children are learning a variety of skills while playing and exploring through project-based investigations in the classroom. The themes and topics of study are exciting, engaging, and relevant to the children's everyday experiences. The studies tap into each child's natural curiousity of the world around them, resulting in a learning environment that is both fun and intentional.
Growing Explorers Learning Center uses the Minnesota Department of Education's Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs) as the framework for observation and assessment of each child's development. Our experienced staff use the ECIP's to observe and communicate each child's progress and development to parents. Daily anecdotal notes and observations are shared through our parents communication application and Parent Teacher Conferences are held twice a year for all age groups.
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Infant Program (6 weeks to 16 months) - Our philosophy for caring for infants is child-driven and varies based on the needs of each child. We believe in creating an individualized care plan to ensure the infants have all their needs met. At Growing Explorers, our experienced teachers provide engaging interactions with infants by singing, talking, playing, reading, soothing and holding them to provide a safe and nurturing atmosphere for each infant. We believe communication and language are critical; therefore, we utilize baby sign language as part of our curriculum.
Toddler Program (16 months to 33 months) - Our toddler classroom will provide stimulating experiences for children where they can learn through play. The emphasis during the toddler years is to build self-confidence while fostering the natural curiosity each child possesses. Our curriculum for toddlers will focus on actively engaging each child in age-appropriate activities by establishing routines and learning through a responsive and engaging environment.
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Preschooler Program (33 months to kindergarten) - The preschool program prepares each child for the critical transition from preschool to kindergarten. The program assures that each child will be ready for the academic and social challenges of the kindergarten classroom. This will allow the children to learn through exploration and discovery by enabling the child to develop confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills. Studies will be introduced in the preschool curriculum which are hands-on, project based learning which focus on a specific topics and apply to every day experiences.