Curriculum

Our curriculum is focused on the Social, Emotional, Cognitive and Physical development of the whole child. In keeping in line with the University mission of a student-centered environment, the Loyola Marymount University Children’s Center’s curriculum is based on a child centered environment that trusts children to learn at their own pace. We strive to provide an exciting environment with opportunities for exploration, discovery, challenge and accomplishment. The curriculum is based on the process of interacting with materials, environment, and peers, and not on the product of that interaction. Children are provided with several activities to choose from each day and a wide variety of activities are available throughout the week. The activities are at varying levels of competence so that children may challenge themselves or seek out activities that stress skills with which they are already comfortable. We strive to build a learning community where children share explorations with adults, peers, and younger and older children.

The Indoor and Outdoor environments are carefully planned to facilitate the children’s learning. Each room provides the learning center that reflects the diverse interests, abilities and needs of the children it serves. The rooms are furnished with moveable equipment so that the children can arrange their environments to meet their own needs and interests. The playgrounds reflect our desire to make the outdoors a true “nature’s classroom.” Filled with various forms of ground covering, plant-life and play equipment, the sky is the limit for what children will experience while playing outdoors. Each room is designed with its own door to the playground to allow flexibility for children to explore the outdoor environment.

Above all else, the indoor and outdoor environments were carefully designed to meet the highest of Heath & Safety standards and to allow for use by all, regardless of ability as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).