The Creative Curriculum is designed for early childhood programs serving children ages 3-5 years.  It is nationally recognized as providing a comprehensive approach to learning for all children.  The framework of the program is a foundation of theory and research regarding early development and learning.  Program goals of The Preschool Creative Curriculum (Teaching Strategies, 2002) are:

 1. Development of social competence as the key focus of preschool years.  fostering a strong relationship that enhances confidence, independence, curiosity, motivation, persistence, self-control, cooperation, empathy, and the ability to communicate.   

2. Constructive purposeful play is a vehicle for meaningful learning:  handling materials, becoming a creator, organizing materials, and sustaining attention.  Planning to engage children in goals and options to achieve them; and reflection / remembering with analysis provides opportunities to develop thinking skills. 

3. Curriculum and assessment are linked :   to support learning, to identify special needs, for program evaluation and monitoring trends, and for program and school accountability. 

4. Families are partners in learning:  when parents are involved; children do better in school.  The more options provided to a family, the more likely to be successful.  Proactively connecting with families to communicate and problem solve together provides a strong foundation for learning. 

5. Teachers role is vital in connecting content, teaching, and learning  observing, responding, guiding , and assessing children’s learning simultaneously provide critical connections for learning.

6. All children, including special needs can thrive in an appropriate preschool classroom:  increasing independence, self control, learning to take initiative, communicating effectively, working together in a group, and providing learning opportunities for special needs: (gifted or disabled), and cultural / linguistic differences.