Why Room Arrangement Matters

The physical learning environment is so important at Especially for Children. We arrange our classrooms according to the guidelines set out in The Creative Curriculum so that children have opportunities to learn through play in a safe, comfortable and challenging environment. See more in this month's video blog.

ez Write at EFC

We introduced the ez Write curriculum for handwriting at our centers earlier this year. See how ez Write is helping children learn to write in a fun, creative and effective way! You can learn more about the program here.

Our Favorite Holiday Books

The holidays are upon us, and one of the best things about the season is the chance to share stories - whether real or imagined. We asked our center managers to tell us their favorite holiday books for children. Here's our list:

Christmas Trolls by Jan Bretts
Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Santa Claus by Rod Green, Carol Wright and Simon Danaher
The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
The Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell
Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

What are your family's favorite holiday stories?

New Videos on EFC's Website!

We recently added 4 new videos to our website. The videos help parents learn more about EFC and our programs. Below is our About Especially for Children video. You can find the Infant, Toddler and Preschool Program videos on our YouTube Channel. We hope you enjoy!

Field Trips at EFC

One of the very unique features of our program at Especially for Children is that we take field trips on a regular basis. In addition to being incredibly fun experiences for children, field trips enhance the curriculum by providing hands-on learning opportunities. Field trips also offer a chance for children to practice their listening skills and deepen their friendships. Check out some of the fun we've had on our recent field trips! And if you haven't already, feel free to join us on a field trip soon!

 

What children learn through art

Most young children naturally delight in art.  They love the process of applying paint to paper, gluing things together, and pounding a lump of clay. Art enables children to learn many skills, express themselves, appreciate beauty and have fun – all at the same time!!

Children start experimenting with art materials in our infant classrooms.  They learn that in art, “right” is whatever a child wants it to be.

Infants express themselves through color, motion and texture.  Art helps them develop eye-hand coordination and develop their small muscle skills. These are the same muscles that they will later need to use when learning to write!

Children in our toddler and preschool classrooms are given a variety of materials with which to create their own unique artwork.  Through their art, children express how they feel, think and view the world.  Art is an outlet that lets children convey what they may not be able to say in words.

Involvement with a rich variety of art materials instills confidence and pride. Through art children use their creativity to plan, design and construct an idea.  They experiment with form, line, movement, shapes and spatial relationships.

They learn science and math skills as they  manipulate materials.  And when seeing the art produced by their classmates, they learn to respect the artistic expression of others.

At Especially for Children we understand that in art, the process is important, not the product.  We encourage creativity and applaud their unique creations.

See some of our artists at work in this month's video!

What children learn from sensory play

Watch our latest video blog on sensory play. It is a wonderful way for children of many ages to make new discoveries about the world.