The young child absorbs the world through his senses and lives in imitation (role playing) and imagination. Children learn best by doing, and play is the serious work of childhood. At Carter's Webb Learning Center, children sing, paint and cook. They dress up, and transform blocks into ships and castles, houses and trains. Becoming fully engaged in imaginative play is the child’s best foundation and preparation for learning.
Daily activities are open-ended so that each child may explore possibilities and experiment with materials without adult determined models. The activities are teacher guided with child selection. Verbal expression of thoughts and feelings is encouraged during circle time, small groups, meal times and play times. Children play outdoors at least twice daily during the year on a mulched, fenced play yard with outdoor equipment, including climbing structures, bikes, swings, and sand play.
We believe children “learn by doing” and have set up an exciting indoor and outdoor learning environment for children to explore. Classrooms have learning centers with materials that provide a wide range of experiences in all skill areas. The goal of our curriculum, which is based on the Maryland Model for School Readiness and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education, encourages children to develop socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually, and spiritually.