During the first five years of life, a child accumulates and applies more information than in any other time in their life. Fortunately, kids are natural learners, eager scientists, driven to know and understand the world around them and their place in it. We see our role in this process as providing the atmosphere, environment, support, and encouragement to facilitate their enthusiastic explorations.

In order for this to happen, children need to trust that the adults in their world will provide the security necessary to feel confident enough to try new things, take chances, make mistakes, see how things work, ask questions, explore, and have fun doing it! At First Step Day Care we pay a lot of attention not only to what we do, but how we do it.

As an example, we start our day having circle time. The primary purpose of circle time is a vehicle for us to all start our day together. Within circle time, we give each child the opportunity to participate at their developmental level. This may be pointing to the day of the week, counting the days on the calendar, or putting up a weather picture. Each child may share with the group some special toy, book, blanket, etc. from home, and also tell anything they would like, the most important of which is “who is going to pick me up”. As a group at the end of circle time we all say “tasha dalay”, a Tibetan phrase that means “I honor the greatness in you”, followed by throwing kisses and hugs to all the people that they love in their world.

Circle time is just one of the anchor points in our day. There are many others (see Typical Daily Activities). All have in common the same underlying principles that recognize each child as an individual as well as a member of the group. This provides a sense of security and consistency that allows the children to relax and enjoy themselves, and the parents to go about their day knowing that their children are well cared for.