Our Philosophy

Learning through play, inspired by Reggio Emilia.

At Gonzales Co-op Preschool, our aim is to keep alive the wonderment and awe that are natural in children.

Our learning-through-play philosophy is a child-led process that is creative, engaging and enjoyable.  There is no prescriptive play or predicted outcome. Instead, we empower children to use their innate curiosity to discover and make sense of the world around them, on their own terms.

The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children and their environment at the centre of its philosophy. Children are viewed as competent and curious learners that are able to successfully lead their own learning outcomes through play.  Children are seen as researchers and they are given endless opportunities to explore, observe, hypothesize, question and discuss.

Our program provides experiences that promote intellectual, physical, social, emotional, aesthetic  and artistic development - with a whole lot of fun!

Our learning objectives:

Try new things

Expand the child's range of experience, through exploration of a wide variety of materials, equipment, and situations.

Build confidence

Encourage the child’s sense of self-worth by providing situations where they can be successful.

Think big

Encourage imagination, creativity, curiosity, and initiative.

Feel capable

Cultivate developmentally appropriate physical skills. Develop responsibility through tasks and routines.

Connect with nature

Foster the child’s awareness of, and sensitivity to, the environment.

Communicate

Increase the child’s ability to communicate through language development, listening skills, and social interaction.

Connect with others

Encourage the development of social skills: consideration for the rights and feelings of others, sharing, taking turns, and cooperation.

Handle emotions

Help the child to handle emotions in positive and constructive ways, encouraging the development of self-discipline.

Learning through play, naturally.