At Westview Child Care Center we recognize the importance of play in a child’s development. That’s why we are committed to providing myriad opportunities for children to engage in different types of play, such as free play, guided play, and structured play. We believe in play-based learning that is engaging, effective, and developmentally appropriate.
Our high-quality, catered programs are designed to foster young children’s joyful learning and maximize the opportunities for each and every child to reach their full potential.
Interactions between your child, your child’s teachers and caregivers, and their peers lay the foundation for healthy social relationships and emotional well-being throughout life. We focus on broadening social skills by providing opportunities for positive interactions; sharing toys and taking turns, encouraging empathy and communication, cooperation and modeling positive behaviors.
Children learn language through a variety of playful activities, including pretend play, storytelling and games. For example, our dramatic play areas feature a farmer’s market, kitchen, doctor’s office, and dress-up wardrobe where your child can engage in pretend play by imitating real-life scenarios, such as playing house or pretending to be a doctor. Through this kind of dramatic play, you child can learn new vocabulary, practice using language to describe actions and emotions, and develop their conversational skills by taking turns and negotiating roles. Another classroom fan-favorite for language development is our Music and Movement time, which features songs, nursery rhymes, and finger plays that are a fun and engaging way to help your child develop their phonemic awareness and vocabulary, as well as their rhythm and memory skills.
Our games and activities are tailored to support your child’s creativity and imagination while helping to develop cognitive skills such as problem-solving, spatial awareness, critical-thinking, and memory. For example, your child might build a structure with blocks or learn how to fit puzzle pieces together. Through this type of play with blocks, puzzles, and other manipulatives, your child can develop critical thinking skills, learn to recognize patterns, learn to think creatively, practice trial-and-error problem-solving, and develop their understanding of spatial concepts such as up, down and sideways.
Play is an important tool in the development of emotional regulation, or the ability to manage and control one’s emotions. Many games with peers involve following rules, communication, cooperation, and taking turns, which helps your child develop patience and impulse control. Play can also be a way for your child to express their emotions in a safe and controlled environment, such as playing a competitive game to practice losing gracefully. Our teacher-led Arts and Crafts activities such as drawing, painting, and sculpting can help your child process their emotions and express themselves in a nonverbal way. Through these opportunities to play and explore emotions, our skilled teachers and caregivers can support your child in their ability to manage their emotions effectively and navigate social situations with confidence.
Whether inside or outside, our facility lends itself to be an amazing place for kids to stretch and grow. We prioritize providing regular opportunities for physical activity, such as outdoor play, movement breaks, and structured physical activity programs for our school-age children. Play activities such as running, jumping, playing tag, climbing and using our state-of-the-art playground equipment can develop and improve your child’s fine and gross motor skills, balance and coordination. We are proud to offer a professionally installed Play Safe synthetic turf multisport field, where your child can safely practice in all weather conditions everything from ball skills to team building activities.
At Westview Child Care Center, we want play and fun to create positive associations with learning. With endless opportunities to explore, experiment, and learn, we can prepare the children in our care for a bright future with a love for learning that lasts a lifetime!
Posted on April 19, 2023
by Katy Holzer
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