Daycare Program Philosophy

At Brookview Montessori Child Development Center our philosophy is based on “Learning through Play“. The primary focus of the Montessori program is intellectual development of good work habits. In order to enhance the children’s development as a whole person, we offer a variation of the Montessori program that is more flexible and focuses on all areas of development: social, emotional, intellectual, physical and creative.

The Montessori Method is based on the prepared environment, a carefully planned arrangement of surroundings, equipment and materials. We will be fostering moral development and emphasizing such components as cooperation, self control, order, responsibility, patience, and common good. We believe, as Maria Montessori did, that children learn best by being active and by doing. For this reason, we will be using sets of materials developed by her that are self correcting, need little supervision, and that can be used in a sequence from simple to complex. These materials include specifically designed blocks of various colors and sizes, cylinders, rods, and shapes. These and other materials are used to teach concepts of form, size, color, weight, temperature, taste, smell and sound.

The children will learn to recognize and match identical stimuli, as well as contrasts and extremes, and to discriminate among similar items. The children will also have access to materials such as numbers, letters and worksheets that can help them learn the basics of writing, reading and arithmetic. The children will be given time each day where they will have opportunities to focus on the Montessori materials. The teachers sit and work more closely with the children during this time. They are intended to be resource people who provide emotional support and help, along with their skilled observation that helps them determine when children are ready to advance to the more complex materials. During this structured time the children make their own choice as to what Montessori materials they would like to use. The Montessori materials are available throughout the day along with many other toys and activities.

Our goal is to provide an environment that will enable the child to develop to his/her optimum potential in all aspects of development. Our qualified staff facilitate this environment and work to enhance the children’s sense of self respect, self control, responsibility, and independence.

When the child enters in the morning, he is greeted by his teachers, and then he/she is given the freedom to explore the various learning activities and interest centers that have been prepared before his/her arrival: House Keeping/Dramatic Play Center, Library and Music Center and the Sand/Water Centre. The centres are always available and the materials in them are changed weekly basis on the learning theme. The learning centres are not arranged for ease of movement and convenience of use, but rather for maximum challenge to the body and mind. A teacher is always nearby to support when the child when needed. We are always available to answer any questions, offer a challenging statement, or make a suggestion in keeping with each child’s current level of achievement, interest, ability, and needs. The children are given time to grow, room to explore, experiment, to discover, to play and to be a child.

Out of School Care Program Philosophy

At Brookview Montessori Child Development Center we believe that children are entitled to opportunities which support and encourage their emotional, intellectual, social, cognitive and physical development. We believe that children are important individuals who develop at different rates and in their own ways. We seek to stimulate and develop children’s creative thinking and problem solving skills through both staff and child directed activities. We strive to promote a positive self image for each child by encouraging exploration, fostering the development of social skills, cultivating friendships and promoting a strong sense of community. We believe that children learn through play and personal experiences which foster each child's growth and development. We believe that children's programs should create an environment of trust where friendships are encouraged and each child learns a positive sense of him/herself. We support and encourage cooperative partnerships between parents and staff in order to meet the needs of all the children in our care.

The most important goal of our program is to give children a positive sense of themselves. Children are encouraged to try new things, ask questions and express themselves. Our staff members spend a lot of time interacting with the children, continuously making positive comments about children's activities, curiosities and accomplishments. We strive to help children develop confidence, independence and a desire to learn.

Our program sets goals for each child in all areas of development:

Social: to encourage children to be comfortable at the Centre, to make friends and to feel part of the group.

Emotional: to encourage children to feel pride and self-confidence, to develop independence, self-control and a positive attitude.

Physical: to help children enjoy indoor and outdoor play, to develop large and small muscle skills and independence in self-help skills, to provide equipment and experiences for children to challenge themselves and others.

Cognitive: to encourage children to ask questions, make decisions and solve problems, to encourage trying out new ideas, to help children become excited about learning, to provide cooperative team experiences where children learn group dynamics and working with others.

Creative: to provide opportunities for children to express themselves and their feelings through art, music and drama, to encourage and support imaginative thinking, to provide a variety of "projects" for the children to explore and create.