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Mission
Pike Market Child Care & Preschool fosters a passion for learning by ensuring families access to quality early education in a diverse urban environment.
Pike Market Child Care & Preschool’s overall goal is to make high quality preschool available to all children, providing families with support and encouragement. Children in our program receive healthy meals, excellent care and build the social and learning skills necessary to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Families in our program have the opportunity to work, job search or go to school confident with the knowledge that their children are safe and nurtured. PMCCP believes that development prospers in a program that supports children's choices and play.
Philosophy
Pike Market Child Care and Preschool (PMCCP) is a community that works to meet the individual needs of all participants—children, families, volunteers and staff. Children learn by playing. During play, children interact with their friends and the environment. While playing they are learning about the world, other people and themselves. Play leads to knowledge through first hand action and the recreation of experiences. ‘Knowing’ is embedded in ‘doing'.
PMCCP provides a fun, stimulating community where children can explore, learn and grow at their own pace. Our program focuses on the development of healthy, high self-esteem, pro-active social skills and the empowerment of children and families. PMCCP is committed to providing children with the skills necessary to thrive in a diverse society. We value what each child brings to our program and work to reflect each family in our environment and day-to-day activities. Because bias and prejudice harm all children an anti-bias philosophy is integrated throughout daily classroom life. An anti-bias curriculum is intended to…
Nurture each child in the development of a knowledgeable, confident self identity — this includes both personal and group identity
Nurture each child in the development of comfortable and empathetic interactions with a diverse group of people.
Nurture each child in the development of critical thinking skills about bias.
Foster each child’s ability to stand up for themselves and others in the face of bias.
(from Derman-Sparks, L. (et al). (1989) Anti-Bias Curriculum—Tools for Empowering Young Children Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children. )
We believe that the achievement of these goals will provide children with the attitudes, knowledge and skills necessary for effective living in an increasingly complex and diverse society. Anti-bias work is challenging and requires a commitment from staff and parents to examine and confront the biases in ourselves, as well as in our work with children. PMCCP recognizes the family as the primary educator in the growth and development of children. Research shows that children thrive in atmospheres that celebrate and validate their home culture and experience. Therefore, building positive and productive relationships with each family is critical to children’s development. We invite families to participate in all aspects of the program—from curriculum and classroom assistance to membership on the Board of Directors and/or committees.
We encourage families to share their ideas, talents, stories and cultures. Communication and mutual respect between families and staff form the basis of healthy, strong relationships that best support the children and our entire community.