At the Early Education Center, we are always working to prepare children for beginning kindergarten as eager, confident learners. Our knowledge of child development provides a foundation for our teaching. We know that children learn best in an environment where their physical and psychological needs are met because they feel safe, valued as unique individuals, and are actively involved in acquiring new skills and knowledge. We use the Vermont Early Learning Standards to guide our curriculum development. If you would like to sign out a copy of the Vermont Early Learning Standards, it is in our family library.

Readiness is:

• A child who is happy because he likes himself and believes he is a worthwhile person.
• A child who expresses emotion and accepts hugs and signs of affection.
• A child who listens when people speak to her, because people listen when she speaks.
• A child who loves to do the simple tasks she can do because she is proud of her abilities.
• A child who wants to learn to do other tasks not yet tried because he has succeeded and knows he will get the help he needs to succeed again.
• A child who asks questions knowing that she will be answered.
• A child who speaks for himself because he knows that people think what he has to say is important.
• A child who loves rhythm and sound.
• A child who can sit peacefully for a short period of time to accomplish an activity.
• A child who notices the differences between shapes and colors and who notices similarities.
• A child who is eager to visit places and people outside the home.
• A child who feels the thrill of being capable and is increasingly able to cope.
• A child who can follow simple directions to complete a task.
• A child who enjoys using new sounds, and finding the names of new things.
• A child who can make simple decisions and live with them.
• A child who has learned to identify a problem and to choose a solution.
• A child who understands that his actions cause things to happen.