The philosophy of the W.C. Christian Academy program is to foster development in children that will enable them to take an active part in society and to support children’s growth spiritually, emotionally, socially, creatively, intellectually, and physically. We firmly believe that children learn through play-based experiences that are meaningful and relevant to their lives. With this in mind, we adhere to several underlying principles of development that guide our thinking and the implementation of this program. Each classroom is set up so that children can explore various materials on their level in blocks, manipulatives, art, writing, science, library, dramatic play, computer, and the outdoors. Thus, we believe that giving children a wide variety of opportunities to actively explore, manipulate, question, and discover can best facilitate cognitive development for future life-long learners.

LITERACY IN PLAY

Pretend play and early literacy go hand in hand. Both help children use imagination, symbols, and problem-solving skills. As we learn more about how young children develop reading and writing before school, play is recognized as a powerful and natural way to support literacy. Today, playful learning—like using books during guided play—is a strong foundation for helping children grow as readers.