La Casita is a parent co-operative, child development program for children ages 3 to 6. At La Casita we strongly believe in play. Play is essential for children to learn. There are many types, all of which are valuable for young children. The best learning experiences for children happen when children choose what they want to do. This is called free or self-directed play. We offer a wide variety of play experiences, expressive materials, and learning experiences not available at home. The children are free to choose, observe, explore, create, and learn in a literacy rich environment especially designed for them. They are free to spend their time as they wish, provided they are not destructive and are not interfering with other children. The teacher provides a setting where each child can grow at his/her own pace, according to his/her own needs. Our concern is the total development of the child: social, emotional, physical, and intellectual. In an atmosphere in which the cooperative spirit is valued more than the competitive, each child gains a sense of his/her own worth. Open-ended questions are often asked to help children to think. It is hoped that each child will explore all areas of interest in the school as he or she is ready to. If a child persistently spends time in one activity and does not reach out to new experiences, the teacher will try to discover the reason why. ...read more