Educational Approach

We follow the maturist viewpoint. Each child has an individual pattern and rate of growth. As growth and maturity occur, these are the characteristics that are universal to young children in the age range of two to seven years old:

• Young children view the world with themselves as the center.
• Young children learn differently than older children.
• Young children learn through hands-on discovery, exploration and repetition.
• Young children’s ability to use words often proceeded their understanding of the ideas those words convey.

Given these characteristics of young children, it follows that any body of information (i.e. unit of study) can be presented to children in relation to their level of comprehension. A unit of study can be presented to the three-year-olds, and again to four-year-olds and again to kindergartners; the children will absorb something different each tie according to how they perceive the world at that time. The children learn through seasonal changes as well as many other areas of interest relevant to their maturational level.

The Chestnut Grove program is implemented through structured daily activities combined with flexibility. Children are encouraged to participate in all activities, given options for their interests, and time for them to explore different media in art, language, developmental math skills and the world in which they live. We follow the assumption of Gessell and Erikson with the emphasis on the development of the whole child.

©Copyright 2003 Chestnut Grove Child Development Center
PO Box 10, 3701 Sweet Air Road - Jacksonville
Phoenix, MD 21131
Phone: 410-592-9122
E-mail: hdoyle@chestnutgrovechild.org

NAEYC Accredited
Full License - Child Care Administration