What does Quality Learning Look Like?
- A safe, healthy, and child-friendly environment
- Stimulating activities and appropriately structured routines
- Educated, attentive, and engaged teachers and staff
Child Friendly Environment:
- Children offered breakfast, lunch and a time to nap
- Children participating with teachers and each other in individual, small-group, and large-group activities
- Children receiving a variety of stimuli in their daily routine using indoor and outdoor spaces and age-appropriate language, literacy, math, science, art, music, movement, and dramatic play experiences
- Children who are allowed to play independently
- Classrooms that are well-equipped with sufficient materials and toys
- Classrooms materials and activities are placed at eye level for the children to utilize
- Materials and toys that are clean, sanitized and neatly displayed
- Frequent hand-washing by children and adults
- Centers that encourage safe, outdoor playtime
- Visitors welcomed with appropriate parental consent
- Qualified and effective teachers with specific training in early childhood education
- Low child-adult ratio
- Teachers who crouch to eye-level to speak to children, and who hold, cuddle, show affection, and speak directly to children
- Families and teachers exchanging information about the child’s development and learning progress
A high quality early care and education program has positive effects on a child’s cognitive, social and emotional development as it relates to self-confidence, curiosity and love for learning. All of these factors help prepare a child for school and life.
-Source: DC Parent and Family Engagement Summit conversation