Our Philosophy

It is our mission at SALMON Centers for Early Education is to provide an informal atmosphere and a child-oriented curriculum where children learn through play and the exploration of their environment.

We follow the recommendations of the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, which advocates developmentally appropriate activities for children. Such activities promote success because they are geared to the developmental stage and individual abilities and interests of the child.

Children’s play is the essential component of a developmentally appropriate curriculum.	Children have the opportunity to become independent and confident in this educational environment, begin to successfully solve problems, and learn to express their ideas and feelings. Our program philosophy is based on the premise that children learn about the world around them through play (active involvement with other children, adults, and materials). Children need plenty of experience with real objects and events before they are ready to understand the meaning of symbols such as letters and numbers. Learning takes place as young children touch, manipulate, and experiment with things and interact with people. Children’s play is the essential component of a developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Because our program is designed to maximize individual growth and promote developmentally appropriate practices, our activities focus on the process of learning. Therefore, the emphasis is on the experiences of the children rather than the results of those experiences. For example, painting is more important than what is painted; building with blocks is more important than what is built. Each child has his or her own set of possibilities, and we help those possibilities unfold. Days are filled with planned and spontaneous moments of learning. There’s time for active outdoor play, imaginative games, independent discovery, and group experiences.