Creativity

Nurturing Creativity

At First Presbyterian Learning Centers

At our preschool, we are dedicated to nurturing confident, creative, and caring learners. Our approach is rooted in The Creative Curriculum®, a research-based program that emphasizes play-based, hands-on investigations. Our curriculum takes the best from the Montessori methods and then adds to them from other approaches based on the very best research in early childhood learning and development.   In other words, we choose not to be limited to only one approach as in a Montessori school, but rather to take the best from what research shows is most effective in early childhood education.

Creativity through Visual-Art

Visual arts can be paintings, drawings, sculptures made with play dough, clay, boxes or blocks, puppets, stamp art and collages made from magazine pages. Children may use crayons, pencils, water colors, markers, scissors, glue sticks, construction paper, newspapers and magazines. Age appropriate art materials are available throughout the day for all our students in low open shelves and in well organized and constantly maintained bins, easy to find and easy to put away after use.  First Presbyterian Learning Centers are fortunate to have a rich supply of any kind of art materials that preschool teachers may need. As a matter of fact, our art and school supplies are so extensive, that we had to create a resource room for the teachers, rather than just using a storage closet.  Our teacher assistants and support staff is always busy replenishing materials in the class rooms to ensure that teachers never run out of materials.  The artist in each child can’t help but be inspired and engaged in original art work.

Creativity through Dance

At our preschool, we foster creativity, self-expression, and physical development through our engaging dance program. Children explore movement and rhythm, enhancing coordination, balance, and timing. Exposure to various dance styles from around the world promotes cultural appreciation, while group activities build teamwork and social skills. Dance also supports physical fitness and provides an emotional outlet, helping children express their feelings and imagination. Our program nurtures a love for the arts, builds confidence, and enhances overall well-being.

Creativity through Music

Music starts for our youngest students with listening to the voices of teachers and care givers. At First Presbyterian Learning Centers we take care that the tone of our voices is pleasant and soothing. We know that with our voices we create first melodies in young children’s brains. As children progress in age, they will find a variety of musical instruments and sound makers in their class rooms. Teachers provide opportunities for children to hear many types of music, recordings of animal sounds and songs in familiar or foreign languages. Children can also play simple instruments such as drums, cymbals and castanets for their enjoyment.

Creativity through Drama

Drama is found in children’s pretend and dress up play. Through action, conversation and movement children communicate with their friends and teachers. They may use props from the house keeping area or dramatic play area, the block area or engage in role play on the playground. First Presbyterian Learning Centers provide dress up clothes, props like dolls, trucks, cars, plastic dishes, pots and pans to encourage dramatic play and the expression of play ideas amongst friends and play mates.