Dive into fun and learning with our curriculum!
Our goal at Cowlicks and Pigtails is to plan our curriculum according to specific goals for each age while incorporating fun at the same time. We offer a nurturing and safe environment to play and learn. We want our children to expand their knowledge with smiles on their faces.
Did you know there are 9 main areas of development?
-Social and Emotional
-Cognitive
-Math
-Science and Technology
-Social Studies
-Language
-Literacy
-The Arts
-Physical
Here at Cowlicks and Pigtails, we tailor each classroom's curriculum to address these areas appropriately according to each age group.
Infant Care and Development
Currently we have 2 infant classrooms, Little Lambs and Baby Bears.
We enroll infants as young as 8 weeks old and our infants typically stay in the infant classrooms until they are 15 months old.
We have the most fantastic educators in each of these rooms that care for the children deeply.
While much of infant care involves lots of cuddles, rocking, and soothing; as infants grow older, they hit milestones faster than any other age group!
Much of infant care involves fostering a safe environment to meet these milestones. The main milestones we see involve:
-Holding their heads up
-Sitting up with assistance
-Sitting up on their own
-Rolling from front to back and vice versa
-Scooching
-Crawling
-Standing up while holding on to something
-"Cruising" or walking along furniture
-Standing up independently
-Walking
& even some first words!
We work a lot with infants on getting used to sensory play and textures, as well as language development.
One large focus in our infant classrooms is safe sleep practices. Each child is placed on their back to sleep until they are able to freely roll over. We use signs at each infant's crib to indicate whether each child can be placed on their back or belly to sleep! Families are encouraged to use sleep sacks if they are concerned about their infant being cold or if it will help their child sleep. These are only allowed before infants can stand. Warm pajamas or outfits can take their place!
Only pacifiers are allowed in children's cribs. At 12 months, we may begin transitioning children to rest mats to prepare them for the Toddler classrooms.
Infants all follow their own home schedule for mealtimes and naps. Each child has a written visual schedule that helps educators plan out their large daily classroom schedule, which shows when all infants need to be changed and fed next. As infants grow older, we help families adjust them to a schedule that will prepare them for a smooth transition to Toddlers!
Toddler Care and Development
We currently have 3 Toddler Classrooms: Tiny Toddlers, Toddler 1, and Toddler 2.
Children are typically in our Toddler classrooms from 15 months to 2 years and 9 months, but this may change based upon development and availability.
We have the most fantastic educators in each of these classrooms, and they all form a relationship with each of the children so that transitions between each of the 3 rooms is easier!
Toddlers are very busy! As we work with their short attention spans and their contagiously happy energy, we dive into a lot more skills with our Toddlers!
This time is essential for early development as Toddlers intake a lot of information. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Toddlers are like sponges” and it is so true! Our toddler educators implement developmentally appropriate activities to help foster learning during these critical years. These activities are adjusted according to the ability of each child in the classroom.
We work on a variety of important skills in our Toddler classrooms, including but not limited to:
-Sitting at a table for mealtime with peers
-Social emotional development (managing feelings, expressing emotions)
-Language
-Expressing thoughts and needs using words
-Sharing
-Following a routine
-Independence
-Fine motor skills such as using crayons and markers
-Using scientific inquiry skills such as exploring through the senses
-Self-help skills such as washing their hands, buttoning their coats and dressing themselves
-Potty Training
-Cleaning up after themselves
-Expressing interests to drive experiences
-Meaningful interactions with teachers and peers
-Following directions
-Understanding and expressing language, thoughts, and needs
-Beginning literacy skills
-Cognitive skills such as recalling experiences, solving problems, & more!
Preschool Care and Development
We currently have 2 Preschool classrooms: Preschool and Pre-K. While many centers group all children 2 years and 9 months to 5+ years together, we find it works best to separate them into two different age groups. This is because both age groups tend to be at different levels - one group transitioning from Toddlers and adjusting to larger class sizes, while the other is preparing for Kindergarten!
We have a fantastic team of educators that work in both classrooms! Our educators work hard to combine academic and social emotional development with fun.
In both groups, Social Emotional Development is of upmost importance! Many times, families and even educators prioritize academic studies when thinking of Kindergarten Readiness.
However, if you ask many Kindergarten educators what truly helps in the transition to Kindergarten, they will most likely say some of the following:
-Children dressing themselves (buttons, zippers, hats, tying their shoes, etc.)
-Children serving themselves (opening containers, packages, bottles, etc.)
-Social emotional skills (sharing, expressing feelings in an appropriate manner, following directions, etc.)
We foster all of these skills and more, while focusing on all areas of development, on a daily basis. Many times we use child-led play, allowing children to freely explore materials and work at their own pace.
We are HUGE on "Process" vs. "Product". This means that no matter that the child is doing or making, what's important is them understanding the process, and not focusing on a "perfect" product.
Positive affirmation is key at this age! Not just "good job!", but truly interacting with the children about what they are doing such as "I love the way you used the tube as a tunnel, that was so creative!" We aren't just building these children's skills, but their confidence as well!
