

Our Curriculum
We use Fun Shine Express curriculum® which is a comprehensive, researched-based curriculum designed to implement developmentally appropriate practices and offer responsive daily routines and meaningful experiences that nurture learning and development.
Our Center Programs

Infants: 8 weeks to 12 months
Our Infant Program serves children from the age of 8 weeks through the age of 12 months. There will be approximately 4 infants assigned to this classroom with consistent caregivers.
Our Infant Program serves children from the age of 8 weeks through the age of 12 months. There will be approximately 4 infants assigned to this classroom with consistent caregivers. Each infant will have an individualized schedule based on the child’s developmental needs. Our Infant Program will focus to creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure with lots of love. It is our goal to ensure each child receives a lot of love and attention at this age and to reinforce trust and a positive relationship between child and caregiver. We will provide you with a detailed report of your child’s day, you will not miss a moment of your precious child’s growth. Each child will be assigned to a primary caregiver to make sure that we can provide the maximum amount of attention to each individual child. We use Fun Shine Express curriculum® which is a comprehensive, researched-based curriculum designed to implement developmentally appropriate practices and offer responsive daily routines and meaningful experiences that nurture learning and development.

Early Toddler: 12 months – 18 months
Our Early Toddler program will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure. By providing you with a detailed report of your child’s day,..
Our Early Toddler program will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure. By providing you with a detailed report of your child’s day, you will not miss a moment of your precious child’s growth. Each child will be assigned to a primary caregiver to make sure that we can provide the maximum amount of attention to each individual child. We use Fun Shine Express curriculum® which is a comprehensive, researched-based curriculum designed to implement developmentally appropriate practices and offer responsive daily routines and meaningful experiences that nurture learning and development.

Toddlers: 18 months to 24 months
Our Toddler Program will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure.
Our Toddler Program will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure. These years are very crucial to a child’s positive development in all areas. Children are encouraged to explore the world around them in “free play” centers. Our teachers will implement lesson plans which will increase their developing skills in a variety of age-appropriate activities. Each morning the children will participate in group time, in which they will work on recognizing shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. They will also introduce the calendar and weather elements. In addition, we will encourage healthy social interactions by making sure each child is aware of their friends’ feelings and helping them to engage in constructive play with other children. The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon (weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground with age-appropriate equipment where they can climb, run, and ride bikes.

Preschool: 2 years old
Our two-year-old program will focus on creating an environment where children can discovery their environment through play and learning.
Our two-year-old program will focus on creating an environment where children can discovery their environment through play and learning. Children will discovery their independence with things like handwashing and potty-training. That’s why sinks, toilets, and furniture in our classrooms are all kid-size—so they can build confidence knowing they can do it all by themselves. Children at this age thrive on routine, and are filled with so much wonder and curiosity, and That’s why we offer plenty of toys and materials to keep children engaged in activities and learning. Children will also begin to learn the basics; language, alphabet, numbers, counting, social skills and manners, and working together with others. We use a schedule with simple pictures to show them what’s coming up next! This keeps them feeling confident about what to expect for the day and be part of the plan. We’ll talk about our day in morning circle and have lots of visual reminders everywhere. The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon (weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground with age-appropriate equipment where they can climb, run, and ride bikes.

Preschool: 3 years old
Our Early Preschool classroom will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure.
Our Early Preschool classroom will focus on creating a nurturing learning environment where your child can feel safe and secure. Children are able to learn and grow when they feel safe and cared for, are appropriately challenged, and guided and have strong relationships with nurturing adults. That is our main objective to lay this foundation at an early age. Our staff will work with your child’s individual needs to become fully potty trained if they are not already. We have developed a system that is sure to make potty training a rewarding experience for both parent and child. Teachers will begin largely focusing on the children’s fine motor skills. The children will learn the correct way to hold and handle a pencil, use scissors to cut a straight line, and trace letters and numbers. Our teachers will implement lesson plans that will increase the children’s developing skills in a variety of age-appropriate activities. Each morning and afternoon the children will participate in group time, where they will continue to work on recognizing shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. Along with mastering the recognition of shapes and colors they will also work on letter and number recognition, as well as recognizing their name in print. In addition, teachers will assist your child in letter recognition, number recognition, one to one correspondence, patterning, early writing skills, and more. The children will participate in teacher facilitated lessons such as circle time, reading, writing, and math activities each day. The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon (weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground with age-appropriate equipment where they can climb, run, and ride bikes on the bike track. The Fun shine Express for Preschool features studies which are hands-on, project-based investigations relevant to the children’s everyday experiences. These studies tap into the children’s natural curiosity which then results in a fun and intentional learning environment.

Pre-Kindergarten: 4 years to 5 years
The pre-kindergarten classroom will focus on content areas that the children will need to be familiar with upon entering kindergarten.
The pre-kindergarten classroom will focus on content areas that the children will need to be familiar with upon entering kindergarten. Beginning reading skills, mastering letter recognition, phonics, as well as the introduction of sight words are just a few of the main focus areas in our pre-kindergarten classroom. Children will also focus on mathematical skills such as patterning, graphing, mastering number recognition, and understanding numbers 0-30. The children will be exploring the outside world with outside play time, both in the morning and afternoon (weather permitting). The children will enjoy a wonderful playground where they can climb, run, ride bikes, swing, and play basketball.

Pre-Kindergarten Club Focus: 5 years old
We offer transitional kindergarten for kids who missed the cutoff date. Your kindergartener’s classroom will follow a daily schedule, including group activities,..
We offer transitional kindergarten for kids who missed the cutoff date. Your kindergartener’s classroom will follow a daily schedule, including group activities, time to play outside, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. Kids take lead roles on projects and complete them in small groups, talking and getting ready for kindergarten, and much more! Kindergarten is a critical year for young learners. Experienced Little Friends Learning teachers will tap into your child’s natural curiosity to help boost school readiness. Our curriculum program will make the most of current technology while offering plenty of hands-on play and exploration.

School Age Program
School-age children will experience a very open-ended curriculum. The children will assist the teachers in planning activities for when they are not in school, such as summer and holiday breaks.
School-age children will experience a very open-ended curriculum. The children will assist the teachers in planning activities for when they are not in school, such as summer and holiday breaks. When the children are in school, we provide them with materials and teacher support to assist them with their homework. We will also provide them with age-appropriate activities to engage in before and after school.
School Age
We serve the Colonial school district, Eisenberg Elementary, Thomas Edison Elementary and Charter School of NewCastle Delaware students ages 5 year to 12 years of age.
Before School Care:
We provide our before care students with a nutritious breakfast along with quiet, more relaxed activities. We feel each child should have a positive relaxed morning, before attending school.
After School Care
Students returning for after care will be provided with an afternoon snack. We offer variety of indoor play with special planned activities & outdoor play, with homework assistance every day.
