Austin Play Garden strives to promote social, emotional and intellectual growth through a rich environment emphasizing exploration, imagination, interaction, and communication. Our program is purposeful: the materials, curriculum, space, methods, and teacher attention are determined based on the best interest of the children. This produces teachers that are more focused on their students’ needs. They will make daily plans that respond to the needs and interest of students while promoting a variety of developmentally appropriate activities.
Cognitive
Play has been found to increase language development, thinking skills, and problem solving. We will provide multisensory experiences and utilize the outdoor areas of the school. We believe that play and social interaction are important contributors to children’s cognitive advancement.
Physical
Children will have plenty of freedom to move and pursue their own interests. The environment will be set up for both small and gross motor skills. Teachers will use their observations of students to encourage specific skills and development. Children will have the opportunity to use the skills they posses in a variety of ways.
Social Emotional
We want the children to love to come to school, to feel safe, happy, and valued. In safe, secure environments children are able to take risks. In these risks they learn and build confidence. We will help children achieve independence, self-discipline, social competence, self-knowledge, enthusiasm for learning, positive attitudes, intellectual growth, and an organized approach to problem solving.
Communication Development
We will focus on the expansion of ideas, help students make connections, problem solve, foster language and communication in all settings throughout the day. A vast majority of our day is spent in student directed play and interaction. In these situations children are motivated to communicate with peers and teachers.
Caregiver Relationships
The teachers are experts in child development and skilled at making decisions based on the individual needs and development of the children. Teachers are actively engaged with children throughout the day . They look for ways to join in with the children and nudge them to try something they might be ready for next. Teachers know that forming positive, trusting relationships is very important and work to connect with them.
Social Skills
We believe that young children who can listen, pay attention, remember directions, and control their behavior will benefit more from school and be better prepared for future learning. We will help children learn self-regulation and identifying their feelings. Attention to social skills helps children to manage their feelings, make friends, and solve problems.