Washington County Head Start / Early Head Start and Child Care Programs, New York

Educational: In the Education Component we provide a socialization experience for children in a group setting of 17 children with 3 adults. The classroom is set up with many different learning areas for the children to initiate play and explore. Through play the children develop pre-reading, writing and math skills. We encourage the development of language and literacy skills by helping children to express their wants, needs, and feelings throughout the day with adults and their peers. We use the High/Scope curriculum that follows the principle of "active learning". The daily routine provides a consistent and predictable schedule which allows the child to feel in control, develop trust with adults, and makes them feel safe.

The education staff encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom. This enables parents to spend time with their child, become aware of their child's developmental skills, and gain new ways of working with their child that are appropriate for the child's age. Teachers meet with the parents 4 times a year to discuss the child's development and how they can work with them at home. In this component we expand the child's knowledge about their world by going on field trips to community providers and other businesses in the area. With support from the other components we bring health, mental health, and nutrition activities into the classroom to help teach the child how important it is to take care of their body.