Curriculum

The following goals guide our curriculum:

1) Physical Development: This has a predetermined sequence and proceeds at a rate that is individual to each child. The rate of a child’s growth may be enhanced or slowed by the environment to which your child is exposed and also by the extent of development- facilitative skills possessed by the adults who influence your child’s life. We aim to support all of your child’s physical needs.

2) Cognitive Development: Most toddlers are at the sensorimotor or preoperational stage of cognitive development. In the sensorimotor stage, a toddler primarily bases all experiences on their own perceptions, derived from their own concrete experiences. In the preoperational stage, new characteristics develop. In understanding their feelings, we hope to facilitate their transition through these stages by helping them inquire why, how, and when things happen. The key to understanding is questioning, and at Garden Friends on Main, no question goes unanswered and no feeling is ignored.

3) Language Development: One development that proceeds at a very rapid pace during toddler years is language/ communication skill. When language skills are first developed, a child’s vocabulary may consist of ten words. As they continue to develop, their vocabulary will build as well as their communication skills. It is not unusual today for children who have had exposure to articulate parents, television, and movies to have a high degree of skill with language. For our friends, we incorporate many elements such as song, television, stories, and general communication between our friends and their teachers to enhance language skills so that your child’s vocabulary continues to grow at a rapid pace.

4) Psychosocial Development: According to psychoanalysts, the toddler period in terms of growth consists of two crucial social- emotional skills: autonomy and initiative. As children begin to develop self-help skills such as feeding, dressing, and toileting they need the encouragement and support of the adults in their lives. As your child’s social development changes, we will nurture their various emotions so that they will feel comfortable. In developing these emotions, we encourage children to choose their actions in order to gain independence. Children are able to choose areas of play, arts & crafts, discipline, toilet training, and dressing & undressing.

Admission Policies

If you wish to enroll your child into our program, please contact Director: Michelle for a tour. We can sit and discuss all the possibilities for our tuition rates. We are here to help you in this parenting journey any way we can which is why whether you need 2 days per week, 3, 4, or full time, we are able to assist. We also offer a half day program as well!

Please note that there are a few items required to have your child begin school at Garden Friends on Main. To begin, a registration packet along with our registration fee must be provided. All students must have a physical exam by their doctor. Two medical forms are required as per the NJ Department of Children and Families, the Universal Child Health Record and updated immunization records.