HIS GROWING GROVE
CHILD CARE CENTER

The Early Childhood Program Standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) are based on research as well as professional experience.  Collectively, the 10 program standards define what NAEYC believes every early childhood education program should be.  His Growing Grove meets and exceeds all of these standards in order to be accredited by NAEYC

The 10 Program Standards are displayed below, with the primary focus area being Children and the other focus areas, Teaching Staff, Partnerships, and Administration each having standards all to establish an effective and durable support structure for a quality program.

At His Growing Grove, children enhance their communication skills by using receptive language (understanding gestures, words, directions, questions, and routines) and by practicing expressive language and practicing participating in conversations. Moreover, children develop beginning reading and writing skills by listening, questioning and responding to various types of books, developing print awareness, retelling familiar stories and practicing the writing process starting with scribbles that represent letters, and making representational drawings.

Children at His Growing Grove are encouraged to develop a positive self-concept and learn pro-social skills by expressing their feelings and learning to respond to other children’s feelings by developing friendships, a sense of competence, by learning cooperation and other pro-social behavior such as understanding and respecting differences. Our goal is to help children learn to regulate their emotions, and resolve conflicts constructively.

At His Growing Grove, children explore math concepts such as color, shapes, pattern, size, matching, weight, measurement, and number as well as the use of logical thinking, memory, and creativity.  They use their five senses to observe, explore and experiment with scientific phenomena. These concepts and skills can be acquired when children play with blocks, water, sand, and manipulative materials, as well as during dramatic play, cooking, literacy and outdoor activities. Also, children have access to technology, and learn to appreciate art, music, drama and dance in ways that reflect cultural diversity.

Children at His Growing Grove enhance their gross motor skills by learning to control their body movement (balance, strength, and coordination), and to practice perceptual motor integration. They improve their fine motor skills by coordinating eye-hand movement (reaching, holding, completing puzzles, using crayons, pencils with control,  cutting, chopping), and using small muscles for self-help skills including feeding, dressing self, and hygiene habits.