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“I Am, I Can”
Through the years we have developed a strong mission,
which guides all we do. It’s the “I am, I can” philosophy. The child’s
positive self-image is the “I am” The child’s positive interaction with
those around is the “I can”
At BUSY BEE that means:
• “I wet my pants but I changed my clothes all by myself.”
• “I spilled my milk, BUT what a good job I did cleaning up the mess.”
At BUSY BEE, we allow children to make mistakes. We believe children
should do everything they can do for themselves. Children need to be
free to take risks, even if it means making mistakes. It’s by taking
risks and making mistakes that children learn new things.
Especially important to preschool children is the development of social
skills. Between two and five, children move from a totally self centered
point of view to a socially cooperative one. Helping children to make
that transition is our most important goal.
We take pride in the homelike environment
we’ve created. We’re even proud of our slightly untidy toy
shelves because each member is a participant and the children themselves
tidy up their own toys, thus creating not only a terrific lifetime
habit, but developing self esteem through this accomplishment. If we
straightened up after them, it would diminish that accomplishment. And
because self esteem is a life long journey, we want to make sure that
every child gets a good start by providing the same tools that any
responsible parent would provide for a child.
These early years are critical for
emotional growth. We help children learn how to handle anger,
frustration and self-doubt. We teach them how to solve problems and get
what they want in socially acceptable ways. It’s simple and easy, once
we teach them to understand logically that we must all be:
• Safe
• Healthy
• Considerate of others, and
• Respectful of property
We believe that even the smallest task provides an opportunity for both
teaching and learning. With that in mind, children are encouraged to
learn about responsibility through personal experience. They are
respected enough to make choices regarding appropriate dress in relation
to body temperature. They are given personal space to “work out”
differences with their peers. Motivation can be lost when self-esteem is
not developed properly. If we do something for the child that children
can do for themselves we deny them the pleasure of feeling capable. This
is how children and their abilities can be handicapped. It’s OK to set
limits. Children will understand the logic when explained, but if they
are told exactly what to eat and wear they will never learn to make
choices by themselves. At Busy Bee, we trust children to make good
choices.
Individuality, Responsibility,
Cooperation and Communication
One of our goals at Busy Bee is to help children learn about appropriate
behavior in a social setting. We challenge children to “think”. We
comfort and encourage, We do NOT coddle. We believe that children must
have a safe outlet for emotional expression. It is okay to cry and yell,
or to laugh and dance. It is never okay to “hurt” anyone else,
physically or emotionally. Dramatic play is one of the most healthy
outlets for children to express themselves. This is a place where they
resolve conflict. This is how they figure out how to live. If they are
victims in play, they will be victims in life.
“What about academics?” is a
frequently asked question. We incorporate academics through play, songs,
humor and the daily tasks of life, rather than in a sit down classroom
setting. There is plenty of time for formal academics in a child’s life,
after a sound emotional foundation has been laid that incorporates the
understanding that we must all be: safe, healthy, considerate of others
and respectful of property.
It is our belief that by combining academics, problem solving skills,
and peer interaction, we are providing your child with all the tools
necessary to be successful in life. Self esteem, self reliance and self
determination are the most important building blocks that we can give
your child. With a sound foundation, there is no limit to what any child
can accomplish. |
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