Child-Initiated Curriculum

Children initiate group activities based on their areas of interest at Thomas Learning Centers. This child-initiated curriculum gives children full involvement and encourages their social and emotional development and creativity. Our teachers follow the children's lead in developing fun learning programs.

This spring, at our Lakewood Learning Center, the children wanted to explore camping. Soon, the playground was filled with tents, sleeping bags, camp songs and s'mores (yummy!). The kids loved it. And though they didn't know it, they learned all about planning ahead, about bugs, safe plants, and weather, a little first aid and a lot about the buddy system!

At our Green Mountain Learning Center, gardening is a favorite among the kids. The children are planting and caring for flower and vegetable gardens on the grounds of the Center. They will be able to watch the flowers bloom and once the beans and squash are ripe, the children will harvest them and take them home to their families! They'll learn the science of nutrition and growing things, what living things need, and cooking. Of course cooking leads to all kinds of neat science and math fun including measuring and hygiene.