The staff of the Furman Child Development Center believes that all children grow and learn in unique ways.  The program strives to meet each child’s needs through an individualized approach to learning which stresses the child’s active participation in the development of projects that focus on the whole child.  The CDC utilizes teaching strategies that incorporate all areas of learning into meaningful, real world projects that are based on the children’s interests.  Every day the children are involved in making choices about the activities and materials they use.  The learning areas are structured to incorporate various developmental levels as well.  Children’s learning occurs naturally through play and teachers carefully guide children through age-appropriate activities, seeking to move them along sequentially and successfully.

The staff believes that young children learn best in safe and nurturing environments in which they take some ownership.  The CDC is located in a house for this very important philosophical reason.  The children do take ownership of their “Little Furman” and take an active role in cleaning up, helping others, and even preparing snacks at times.  They are very comfortable in the established environment.  The staff also believes that part of the home-like setting is the multi-age approach to learning.  The children spend time together each day in mixed age groupings.  The younger children learn from the older children and the older children become “teachers” to the younger children.  It is very natural, almost like in a family environment.  The CDC recognizes the important role family plays in each child’s development.  The center maintains that parents are a child’s first and most important teachers and encourages parental participation, visitation, and communication.  Weekly newsletters provide information about that week’s curriculum and upcoming events.  Formal conferences are held twice a year and as requested by either the parent or the teacher. 

To read more about project-based teaching and multi-age learning, please see the “Links” page on the website.