Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad Children's Garden

Carlsbad Children's Garden program is unique. Our small, home-like setting welcomes children to environments inside and out that inspire discovery and entice children to learn, to develop theories, and to master skills. Carlsbad Children's Garden was created through the efforts of the director who had reached the conclusion that we were not meeting the needs of the children in our care. Without enough time, natural materials, or opportunity for children to construct knowledge, we had succumbed to the institutionalization and commercialization that is standard at conferences and seminars we attended. Believing that young children deserve a meaningful and relevant early education experience, we embraced the opportunity to create an environment that reflects our belief in children as co-creators of learning.

We were drawn to the Reggio Emelia Approach to Early Childhood Education -- to the philosophy, the beauty of the environment, and the openness of the learning process in these Italian schools. We were amazed at the depth of learning that occurs! As typical Americans, we were impressed with the end products -- the drawings, paintings, three dimensional art pieces and the stories created! These very young children produced beautiful, complex works. But the end product is not the goal. There is no assessment, no testing, no scales of measurement typical in American preschools.

So, in embracing this philosophy, how do we reassure you that your child is learning? We must document what they are thinking. Are they suggesting alternatives to problems? Are they learning to work collaboratively with others to find solutions? Are they able to think independently and act upon their theories? Are they persistent enough to problem solve? Are they posing new theories? While vocabulary and facts are a critical part of learning, your children must be able to think creatively, to come to conclusions because they understand the theory that provokes them. Children are intensely fascinated with the physical world and how it works. We provide them with hands-on materials to explore, to manipulate, to support their learning. We provide them with the time to learn. We must simultaneously honor childhood and the need for play while promoting a love of learning. We must inspire your children to achieve their dreams, not work toward the minimums of standardized tests.

In furnishing our school, we have carefully selected furnishings and accessories that feel like home. We have things that may seem unusual in a preschool -- a leather couch, jars (not plastic) full of paint, books on art, rocks, bridges, and architecture to read and enjoy; paintings by the masters on the walls. By placing intriguing discoveries in their environment, your child's brain is enriched and neural pathways necessary for more complex learning are expanded. We incorporate things that provoke a sense of mystery and wonder, creating curiosity about how these things work, where they came from, and what can be learned from manipulating them. We intentionally chose equipment that encourages children to work together or to get help in executing an idea.

Children deserve the best our world has to offer. They deserve to be surrounded with beauty, softness, and comfort as well as order and attention to health and safety. Childhood is a time of wonder and magic and is filled with a powerful desire to learn and understand the world around us. The most productive learning occurs when children are offered interesting materials, ample time and opportunity to investigate, transform and invent -- without contrived interruptions. So we provide large blocks of uninterrupted time, ample natural materials to manipulate, explore and with which to invent.

The most critical element is the teacher, who facilitates the child's construction of knowledge and encourages their curiosity. Without question, we have the best teachers!

source:

Our day begins with an Opening Meeting. We greet friends, sign-in, and discover changes in the environment. This discussion creates the day's routine or schedule -- our "Planned Possibilities". A pictoral documentation of "Planned Possibilities", a typical day for that group, is created when children are able to articulate what their day entails.

source: