Infant Curriculum: Bright Beginnings for Our Youngest Students
No matter how young your child, we believe they are ready to learn. Our 3 E's: Foundations for Excellence™ curriculum provides a balance of experiences to meet the dynamic changes of your child's important first year. Creative World teachers create an individualized plan which includes daily education, enrichment and exploration activities.
No matter how young your child, we believe they are ready to learn. Our 3 E's: Foundations for Excellence™ curriculum provides a balance of experiences to meet the dynamic changes of your child's important first year. Creative World teachers create an individualized plan which includes daily education, enrichment and exploration activities.
Infants are innate problem solvers and whether they are mouthing rattles or banging on a toy, they are discovering what they can do and how their environment reacts.
Language: We believe infants should be exposed to as much language as possible to support emerging language skills. Our teachers are talking all the
time, describing what they are doing, what is happening next, repeating what the infants "say", singing and reading. They plan a variety of activities
in the following areas: Listening/Talking, Early Reading, Early Writing.
Math: Even very young babies use mathematical thinking to understand and explore their world. To strengthen their understanding, our teachers help
them experiment with the following concepts: Distance/Space Relationships, Number/Quantity, Size/Shape and Color.
Science: When they are awake, infants are busy almost every moment figuring out their world. As they explore with their senses,
they are like young scientists. Our infants become "investigators" as we present engagements that encourage problem solving. Each week, our teachers
plan activities that include the following: Nature Activities, Cause & Effect Experiences and Engagements that Promote Curiosity.
Through music and creative experiences, infants playfully interact with their world. They learn that they make a mark from their first scribble to building a block tower.
Music: Music is an important aspect of the environment we create in our infant rooms. The songs and music selected introduce babies to a variety
of different types of music and create moods for different times during the day. Our teachers also create music with babies by interacting with a variety of musical toys.
Blocks: Grasping, stacking, and building are favorite activities for infants. At first, young babies can grasp, hold and drop blocks. Later
they begin stacking, loading, pushing and building. We have a variety of blocks in our infant rooms that are used to inspire their building.
We also provide boxes and canisters to explore nesting and fitting together.
Creative Art: We introduce infants to a variety of art materials. Art for infants is all about the exploration of materials, not in the products they
create. Art activities for older infants can include any of the following: painting, stamping, scribbling, smearing, gluing, sticking, etc.
Dramatic Play: Infants are delighted by simple props that spark their emerging imagination. Small animals, dolls, hats and a variety of
play props encourage their language and creativity. As we pretend to talk on the phone, we model important imaginative play.
Infants grow and develop quickly. One day they are grasping for a toy and it seems the next they are turning over. We create the environment
and plan activities that support the rapid development of infants.
Fine Motor: Infants are developing their ability to use their hands and fingers with coordination, control and strength. To exercise their small muscles,
we provide them with a variety of materials to hold, grasp, shake, pick up, and pull apart. As these skills develop, we vary the size of what they are grasping.
What older infant doesn't love to practice these skills by picking up cheerios?
Gross Motor: Infants need to move, stretch, wiggle, turn over, push up, pull up, walk, etc. The role of our teachers is to support, challenge and
encourage these emerging large muscle skills. For younger infants, large muscle activities include the following: holding up their head, turning their
head, waving arms, and kicking their legs.
Sensory: We facilitate babies' explorations of the world by providing a variety of sensory experiences around our five senses. We are
busy feeling, hearing, smelling, looking and tasting all the time! This type of exploration is natural to babies and important for their development.
Teachers provide water play weekly, such as splashing in a one inch tub of water or squeezing a sponge. Beyond our planned activities, our environment
also supports sensory play and encourages this type of exploration.
Creative World infant teachers know that every baby is special and a unique individual. We begin by getting to know your child's routines. How often do they eat?
What time do they like to nap? This information is used to customize each baby's day at Creative World.
All of these daily routines are potential learning moments as our loving caregivers interact by talking, singing and playing.
An infant's day at Creative World:
Meals & Snacks
Our babies have different schedules and we work with parents closely to ensure consistency throughout each day. In this room, because each babies needs are so different, meals are provided by families until children are ready for table food. We provide a daily record of each meal so parents know how much and when their child ate.
Large Motor Activities
We encourage babies to be active! Inside activities include tummy time, rolling, crawling, pulling up, reaching and more. Each day we also provide outdoor experiences so children can benefit from fresh air and the wonders of the outdoors. We also take babies for stroller walks on our playgrounds.
Reading Aloud
We love a good book! It is never too early to start exploring books with children. We make time every day to look at pictures and read aloud to our babies.
Our babies have different schedules and we work with parents closely to ensure consistency throughout each day. In this room, because each babies needs are so different, meals are provided by families until children are ready for table food. We provide a daily record of each meal so parents know how much and when their child ate.
Large Motor Activities
We encourage babies to be active! Inside activities include tummy time, rolling, crawling, pulling up, reaching and more. Each day we also provide outdoor experiences so children can benefit from fresh air and the wonders of the outdoors. We also take babies for stroller walks on our playgrounds.
Reading Aloud
We love a good book! It is never too early to start exploring books with children. We make time every day to look at pictures and read aloud to our babies.
Care Routines
Hugs and cuddles are essential to every baby. We promote this closeness by taking time during regular routines to talk, sing and interact. Washing hands and even diaper changes become a special time for close one-on-one interaction. We want every baby to trust their caregivers and know they are loved.
Time for 3 E's
Our curriculum activities are woven into every child's daily schedule. We Enrich, Explore and Educate at times when they are alert and ready for learning moments. Our teachers post their weekly activities on the classroom Communication Board and on their Lesson Plans so families can stay informed.
Naptimes
Babies have various nap schedules in our infant room and caregivers communicate closely with families to ensure consistency in their individual nap routine.
Hugs and cuddles are essential to every baby. We promote this closeness by taking time during regular routines to talk, sing and interact. Washing hands and even diaper changes become a special time for close one-on-one interaction. We want every baby to trust their caregivers and know they are loved.
Time for 3 E's
Our curriculum activities are woven into every child's daily schedule. We Enrich, Explore and Educate at times when they are alert and ready for learning moments. Our teachers post their weekly activities on the classroom Communication Board and on their Lesson Plans so families can stay informed.
Naptimes
Babies have various nap schedules in our infant room and caregivers communicate closely with families to ensure consistency in their individual nap routine.
We know communication is important! Each day, when families come to pick up their baby, teachers send a note home detailing important information about the baby's
day. We keep track of naps, feeding, diaper changes, etc. and notate frequency and time of day as well as any other relevant information.
When we all work together, we help create a wonderful future for young children.
Our Teachers
We know how important teachers are in the lives of children...especially in their earliest years. Creative World Teachers have an important
combination of experience, personality and educational background.
CW University oversees our teacher training program which provides training in the following areas:
Curriculum, Health and Safety, Literacy, Childcare Standards, Positive Guidance and Developmental Assessment
In addition, Creative World teachers participate in required background screenings, undergo Tri-Yearly Corporate Inspections, are CPR Certified, and attend monthly staff training sessions.
Our Families
It is a well documented fact that children's learning is enhanced when families are involved. We partner with parents and families in a variety
of ways:
Our Monthly Calendar
Special Events
Our Parent Share Newsletter
(download a Parent Share here).
Additionally, you are invited to join us anytime to participate in your child's day! Come have lunch with us, read a book to the children, join us on a field trip. We encourage your participation!
Our Community
Creative World schools connect with each of our communities. We help young children learn about where they live by inviting local experts,
such as firefighters, librarians, dentists, veterinarians, etc. to come share about their role in the community.
We model how to give back as we participate in food drives, clothing drives and other philanthropic programs.
To find about our community efforts in a specific area, click here to find a location near you.
Creative World Infant Classroom Features:
Our infant environment is very unique and designed with the health, safety and education of our youngest students.
Small Group Size- No More Than 8 Spots Available!
Limiting the size of our group fosters a strong bond between our caregivers and babies.
Soft Mats vs Rugs
In a group setting, mats allow our caregivers to sanitize and clean as needed. Rugs, while great in a home setting, are more difficult to clean when children are sharing the same environment.
Infant Table vs High Chair
We have a low feeding table that allows infants to sit together as they eat. High chairs (as well as infant swings) can be a hazard in a group setting as babies develop and begin to pull up and test their climbing skills.
Individualized Cribs
Each baby that joins our infant classroom is assigned their own crib. Cribs are sanitized daily and families help us by making beds each morning so each child starts their day with a clean, familiar bed.
Visitor Booties
For the health and sanitation of our special infant environment, visitors are required to remove shoes and wear disposable booties during their stay.
Low, Accessible Shelves With Age Appropriate Toys Within Reach
Creative World infant classrooms are designed for children to explore and make choices about their play. Babies have access to a wide variety of fun and educational toys.
Emphasis on Active Interaction
Active play is important for developing infants. We encourage lots of tummy time and interaction with caregivers is ongoing throughout the day. Outside time is also an important part of our everyday routine.
Creative World Portfolio Assessments
Your child's first year is full of amazing developmental milestones from first words to first steps. Our teachers keep track of their progress and keep you informed of their latest accomplishments.
We believe great teachers must have a firm understanding of child development and know each child's strengths and interests. As we get to know your child, we play and interact as we observe them in different contexts to keep track of their learning throughout the year. We also use a developmental checklist to make sure each child is progressing in their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development. Weekly, we integrate our 3 E's: Foundation for Excellence™ curriculum with your child's developmental goals to create an individualized learning plan.
Every child has a learning portfolio that is a compilation of teacher notes, reflections, photos and a collection of first drawings that tell their learning story. We believe that each child is full of unlimited potential and our job is to challenge, strengthen and help them grow.
Twice yearly, we hold an individual portfolio showing with families to share the progress and learning of your child. This is an opportunity to set goals and discuss strategies for enhancing their learning.
Your child's first year is full of amazing developmental milestones from first words to first steps. Our teachers keep track of their progress and keep you informed of their latest accomplishments.
We believe great teachers must have a firm understanding of child development and know each child's strengths and interests. As we get to know your child, we play and interact as we observe them in different contexts to keep track of their learning throughout the year. We also use a developmental checklist to make sure each child is progressing in their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development. Weekly, we integrate our 3 E's: Foundation for Excellence™ curriculum with your child's developmental goals to create an individualized learning plan.
Every child has a learning portfolio that is a compilation of teacher notes, reflections, photos and a collection of first drawings that tell their learning story. We believe that each child is full of unlimited potential and our job is to challenge, strengthen and help them grow.
Twice yearly, we hold an individual portfolio showing with families to share the progress and learning of your child. This is an opportunity to set goals and discuss strategies for enhancing their learning.
