CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Children Today's EcoHouse provides trauma-informed child development and preschool services to children and families experiencing homelessness or maltreatment. We take great care to create environments that address the unique circumstances of each child and that promote social and emotional development, which is the basis of all learning.
EcoHouse is open Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5:30 pm.
Learn more about our programs
Infant Program
Our infant program serves children from 6 weeks to 18 months. We have a ratio of one teacher to three infants.
Toddler Program
Our toddler program serves children from 18 months to 3 years. We have a ratio of one teacher to four toddlers.
Preschool Program
Our preschool program serves children from 3 to 6 years of age. We have a ratio of one teacher to eight preschoolers.
WHEN A CHILD ENROLLS
When a child begins in our child development program, he or she is assigned a primary caregiver. That teacher is responsible for ensuring that the child's social, emotional, physical, and educational needs are met. Within the first few weeks of enrollment, an individualized plan is developed based on the child's unique history and interests.
During this time, the primary caregiver is nurturing this new relationship to help that child develop a safe and secure attachment to him or her. Attachment is a theory concerned with the bond that develops between child and caretaker that allows the child to build a sense of security in the world. Children who have experienced trauma have a susceptibility to attachment disorders, either becoming overly trusting of any adult, or incapable of being separated from their parent.
At Children Today we combat this by providing support to our children and their primary caregivers so they can develop consistent, predictable routines. They eat meals together, play together, and the caregiver makes sure basic needs, like toileting, hygiene, and napping are met.
THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Our program is designed with guidance from the California Department of Education's Learning and Development Foundations and Curriculum Framework.
Teachers use the Creative Curriculum - a widely used and respected evidence-based early childhood curriculum whose focus is on responsive caregiving through routines and experiences, and features exploration and discovery as a way of learning. Using the Creative Curriculum as a guide, teachers:
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Conduct careful observations of children to understand their development, needs, and interests;
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Create a variety of tools and teaching methods to address individual and group needs;
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Respond appropriately and specifically to each child; and
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Plan different interest areas to promote exploration and learning.
