Program and Curriculum

At Kind and Joyful we use a play-based curriculum that utilizes play to facilitate learning in a fun and engaging atmosphere. We believe that children are born learners who discover the world through play, and it is during play that children can experiment, observe and explore stimulating brain activity and creating pathways that lay the foundation for future learning.  By using a child’s innate desire to play, we can support their individual development in an engaging and holistic way.  Our teachers hold a key role by creating stimulating learning experiences/lesson plans that directly relate to the children’s developmental level along with their current interests. By implementing a combination of directed and free play, teachers are then able to guide children in their learning in areas such as critical thinking, physical, social emotional and language skills.  We at Kind and Joyful, take our jobs very seriously as we build the future one child at a time.


Classrooms

  • The Little Engine That Could class is our older two’s class. The children are using their growing language skills to talk with each other and are encouraged to work out problems together. The children are learning to use the potty, and the teachers support them as they transition to wearing underwear and taking care of their own bathroom needs. Letter, number and shape recognition as well as recognizing their own name are also being developed. The teachers celebrate the children’s growing independence and blossoming skills as the children play and learn together

  • The Oh the Places You’ll Go class is our 3–4 year olds. Children in this class are continuing to refine their social emotional learning by working with their classmate to solve problems and compromise with each other. Early school readiness, such as writing their own name, sitting for circle time and taking turns, is also being practiced as they get ready to go to 4k. One goal for this class is that each child will be able to advocate for themselves so they can confidently express what they need when they go to school.

  • Kind and Joyful offers a full day 4K program and uses the BJU Press “Footsteps for Fours” curriculum. Our 4K classroom is a place of active learning through meaningful, educational, and fun experiences. This is done using thematic units and hands-on learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate in math, science, social studies, reading and writing readiness. Our curriculum provides a biblical perspective allowing the opportunity for each child to not only see the world in which they live but also how God relates to the world and His creation.

  • Our Before/After School program provides an environment for school-aged children to socially engage with others while learning valuable social skills. We recognize that learning these valuable social skills can evoke various emotions as a result.  We hope to be a safe space that will help walk these school-aged children through these various emotions as they continue to grow and develop.  Our program hopes to provide opportunities where they may develop their communication skills, grow in independence and responsibility, and develop self-control while growing in kindness and empathy.  And ultimately, we hope to foster an environment that creates opportunities for exploration, play and fun.  

  • Our Summer Camp provides thematic all day care during the summer months.  Our purpose and goals are the same as our before/after school program, but now we have all day to create these opportunities.  We foster an environment that creates opportunities for exploration, play and fun.  During the play and fun of summer, school-aged children will continue to develop their communication skills, grow in independence, and responsibility, and develop self-control while growing in kindness and empathy.  These developing social skills are valuable for the child and our community. 

     

  • The Rainbow Fish class is the youngest of the center. During this first year our teachers get to spend a lot of time with baby snuggles and giggles as they start to roll, and crawl, pull themselves up and stand. This class is where drinking only bottles transition into eating purees to eating table food and learning to feed themselves. So many firsts happen in the class, and our teachers support and encourage them along the way as they develop into their own individual person. How exciting!

  • The Rumble in the Jungle class is our older infants and young one-year olds. This age is progressing from rolling to crawling to walking. First words are being said, and early friendships start to form. Creating relationships with the children is the most important aspect of this class and gives the teachers a front row seat to the excitement that is watching a child grow both physically and emotionally.

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar class is our older one-year olds. Routines are a big part of this class and give the children predictability and security which supports them in their emotional regulation and social skills. Within these routines children are learning how to take care of themselves, their environment and each other.  We want each child to feel welcomed and loved for who they are every day they are here.

  • The Chicka Chicka Boom Boom class is our younger two’s. In this class the children are continuing their social emotional learning focusing on how to verbalize what they need in a safe age-appropriate environment. The teachers in this class foster the children’s independence by allowing them time to do things for themselves such as putting on their own clothing, taking care of their own dishes after a meal and encouraging the children to take care of their room by cleaning up their own toys. Building strong relationships with both the children and their families is very important to us because by creating a strong partnership with families we are better able to support the growth of each child in all developmental areas.