CURRICULUM COMPONENTS

Community & Group Learning

Our classrooms begin each day by building connections through group learning experiences that encourage children to participate, communicate, and develop a sense of belonging. Through songs, stories, discussions, games, and collaborative activities, children strengthen social skills, practice listening and communication, and develop confidence sharing their ideas with others. These experiences are designed to support both academic growth and the social-emotional skills that help children thrive.

physical development

Children engage in a variety of activities designed to strengthen both gross and fine motor development. Outdoor play, movement activities, games, and classroom experiences help children build coordination, balance, strength, and body awareness. Fine motor experiences such as drawing, painting, cutting, building, and writing preparation activities help develop the hand strength and coordination necessary for future academic success.

Hands-On Learning & Discovery

Children learn best through active exploration. Through manipulatives, building materials, puzzles, sorting activities, and sensory-rich experiences, children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and early math skills. Hands-on learning encourages curiosity, creativity, and a deeper understanding of concepts as children investigate and discover through play.

STEAM, Math & Science Exploration

Our Frog Street curriculum incorporates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) experiences that encourage children to question, investigate, and explore the world around them. Through experiments, observations, building challenges, cooking activities, nature exploration, and problem-solving opportunities, children develop foundational math and science skills while building confidence as young learners.

Language & Literacy Development

Language and literacy are woven throughout every part of the day. Through stories, conversations, songs, rhymes, dramatic play, and writing experiences, children develop vocabulary, communication skills, early reading readiness, and a love of books. Infants are introduced to baby sign language to support communication, 

Sensory Exploration

Sensory experiences help children learn through touch, sight, sound, movement, and exploration. Through a variety of hands-on materials and activities, children engage their senses while strengthening cognitive development, problem-solving skills, creativity, and self-regulation.

Music & Movement

Music is an important part of learning and development at Next Steps Learning Center. Through our Frog Street program, children participate in songs, movement, instrument exploration, storytelling, and musical experiences that support language development, early literacy, social-emotional growth, and physical coordination. Music brings joy to learning while helping children build important developmental skills.

Creative Arts

Creative expression encourages children to explore, imagine, and communicate in unique ways. Through painting, drawing, crafting, and open-ended art experiences, children develop creativity, fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and confidence. Our art experiences focus on the process of creating rather than the finished product, allowing children to express themselves freely and develop a sense of accomplishment.

independence & Life Skills

Building independence is an important part of early childhood development. Through daily routines and intentional guidance, children are encouraged to develop self-help skills such as handwashing, dressing, cleaning up, problem-solving, and caring for their environment. These experiences foster responsibility, confidence, perseverance, and positive self-esteem.

Child-Led Play & Exploration

Play is at the heart of learning. During child-led exploration, children have opportunities to make choices, follow their interests, and engage with their environment in meaningful ways. Through imaginative play, building, creating, and exploring, children develop creativity, independence, decision-making skills, and social relationships. This balance of purposeful instruction and child-directed learning helps foster a lifelong love of learning.