Philosophy
Children learn best through play and are able to develop to their full potential in an environment where teachers guide exploration. We believe children learn by experiencing the curriculum for themselves, so teachers set up interest areas for children to experiment and explore their environment. Through our STEAM approach children communicate the findings of their projects.
Educational Approach
At Enlighten, our approach is to use play as the foundation of the learning process. It's based on the idea that children learn best when they are actively engaged and exploring in a way that's meaningful and enjoyable.
Our approach helps children to develop a variety of skills, including:
- Social and emotional skill: Children learn to create and navigate relationships and conflicts with peers and trusted adults, develop empathy and emotional maturity, and develop a strong sense of identity.
- Cognitive skills: Children develop reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that help them understand and navigate the world. These skills are the foundation for scientific reasoning and mathematical thinking.
- Language and literacy skills: Children develop both their expressive and receptive language skills by interacting with peers and teachers, using language to learn new concepts and make sense of the world. Literacy skills such as print recognition and function are necessary for children to become capable readers and writers.
- Cognitive self-regulation skills: Self-regulation is critical in a child's development; skills such as impulse control, flexibility in thinking, sustained attention, and the ability to hold and manipulate information are integral to the development of executive functioning.
Learning at Enlighten is child-initiated, but teachers can support the learning process by encouraging children to learn through interactions. For example, a teacher might ask open-ended questions to a child who is building a structure with blocks.