Early Childhood Education Philosophy

Jesus expressed His love and care for children in Mark 10:14-16:  “Let the children come to me…then He took the children in His arms…and blessed them.”  Young children are unique creations of God who bring various experiences to their first years in school.  In order to best meet the needs of the young children enrolled in the early childhood program at St. James Lutheran School, the program’s staff will endeavor to do the following:

• Provide a Christ-centered curriculum where children will daily learn about Jesus and His love.
  
• Create a safe and secure environment in which young children will experience enjoyment and success as activities are planned that match the ages of the children and individual levels of development.
  
• Develop the children’s independence and ability to think for themselves while instilling a strong foundation for living in this world as contributors to society using their abilities and God’s gifts to the fullest.
  
• Nurture the development of the whole child in order that each child might develop his/her full potential spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally, and creatively.
  
• Provide children with the opportunity to create, explore, and discover in their own individual way.
  
• Affirm the importance of play as children’s work and the wonders of socialization that occurs in the environment of young children.
  
• Recognize each child for his/her unique qualities and foster healthy self-esteem so that each child might become all that God created him/her to be!