Early childhood education is fundamental to academic, creative, and career development.
Research published by the National Library of Medicine found that adults who received early education achieved higher educational milestones in life. Test scores are noticeably higher among this group, from preschool to college.
The presence of early educational intervention also leads to positive health outcomes, with fewer adults reporting mental health conditions, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Austin daycare programs are designed to nurture early childhood development, allowing working families to prepare their children for success. These programs provide the foundations to help children achieve educational outcomes, including college and career goals. Children are also given the tools to develop healthy social skills and leadership qualities.
Parents are encouraged to start this journey early. Learn more about the benefits of the best daycare in Austin.
Recognizing the Senses
Immersive learning experiences start early at Austin daycare programs like Happy Bunnies. The youngest enrollees start by engaging their senses to develop a clear understanding of sight, sound, touch, smell, and hearing. This curriculum includes a range of sensory experiences, including early childhood education designed for young minds.
For example, Happy Bunnies integrates textured toys to create a sensory learning experience that helps children differentiate between soft, hard, bumpy, sandy, and more textures. Shaped toys with textures teach children about form; this exercise builds the early foundations for understanding the relationship between textures and shapes.
The above educational toys also come in various colors, enhancing children’s sensory development. This element helps children grasp the relationship between color, shape, and texture. Children can apply this sensory knowledge in the real world. They’re able to communicate that an orange is round, the color is orange, and an orange has a textured surface called a peel.
These foundational skills encourage children to build with blocks, allowing them to create structures inspired by color and shape. As children develop roleplay skills, they start to ponder the concept of function; for example, a child may want to build a fire station out of blocks or a city.
Outdoor Play at Austin Daycare
This sensory curriculum continues with outdoor play for toddlers. Outdoor imaginative play fosters physical exercises, sensory exercises, and roleplaying. Children also develop the necessary foundations for critical thinking and problem-solving. They start building their knowledge bases for the outside world, including names for animals, plants, weather, rivers, and more.
Toddlers at Happy Bunnies develop stronger social skills and bonds at this age. Outdoor activities encourage kids to work together to solve challenges, like running a pretend camp or exploring the “great outdoors.” This curriculum helps toddlers better communicate ideas, problems, and solutions.
Outdoor play reinforces the importance of daily fresh air for children. Research studies from the Child Mind Institute found that children who spend more time outdoors are mentally happier, less anxious, and more attentive to people and surroundings.
The study revealed the following about child development:
- Children who spend time outdoors are more confident
- Young children become more responsible
- An increase in imagination and creative problem-solving
- Improvement in cognitive function
- Fewer instances of fatigue and stress
The study also compared outdoor and indoor curricula through the lens of the Attention Restoration Theory. The theory postures that indoor environments force children to ignore distractions to improve focus, but this method may potentially cause brain fatigue. On the other hand, outdoor programs allow for an attention model called soft fascination which creates delight, not brain fatigue.
Austin Preschool Options
Happy Bunnies models its preschool curriculum on the “Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.” This learning model presents six “bands” of curriculum that overlap with one another, leading to the next band. The model recognizes that each child is unique and develops at different rates, allowing for more learning flexibility.
The first learning track is designed for the first year of life, starting at the infant stage. Childhood development professionals help babies develop a sense of security, creating an environment for learning and growth. This track is necessary for the second level, 8 to 20 months old; this is where children start developing through sensory play, roleplay exercises, mimicking, and mirroring.
The third learning track is for children between 16 and 26 months old. Children strengthen their social skills and empathy by learning about emotions and responsibilities. Toddlers learn how to label emotions to better understand and respond appropriately to each emotion.
The fourth learning path is designed for children between the ages of 22 and 36 months of age. Enrollees start to understand the concept of rules, patience, and order. These milestones are foundational for leadership development and academic success.
Children between 30 and 50 months of age may advance to the fifth path to achieve a better understanding of resilience. This track is vital to excelling in the next track designed for ages 40 to 60 months. Children start to hone their listening and communication skills.
This 6-band learning program is undergirded by a culture of support, where children and parents are free to ask questions, voice concerns, and feel supported. Happy Bunnies takes great care to ensure children are making friends and getting the emotional and creative support they need to thrive in daycare.
How to Start Child Care In Austin
You’ve already completed the first step in this journey, research!
The next step is to apply to an early childhood education program. Start by filling out an application form; this step requires registering for a free Brightwheel account. Families may also join a waitlist through their Brightwheel account.
Parents are also encouraged to book a tour of early learning centers to see this curriculum philosophy in action.
Discover the Possibilities of Enriching Childcare
Your child’s Austin Daycare experience should be an educationally enriching journey. Review our 6-band learning approach while considering the best options for your family. Read our testimonials for happy parents who are seeing real results from our program.
We’re proud recipients of the highest honor from Texas Rising Star, earning four stars for our early childhood development program. Our leadership team is licensed and trained with a true passion for early childhood success.
Book a tour or contact us to learn more about our program!
