The Value of Early Childhood Curriculum

As a parent, one of the most beneficial things you can do for your child is invest in their education. But because the first years of life are the most critical period of growth and development, learning should begin far before children start elementary school. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that high-quality early education and childcare for young children is linked to improved physical and cognitive outcomes for the children and can result in enhanced school readiness. We know this, which is why we prioritize a specialized curriculum that puts your child on the right track to successful learning and growth.  

A Focus on Emotional, Physical, and Social Development 

According to the article, Why Early Childhood Education Helps Kids with Emotional Development, early social and emotional development plays a big role in your child’s ability to learn, supporting skills like literacy, numeracy, and overall cognitive growth.  

At each of the JBJ centers, we create developmentally appropriate experiences that help children understand and manage their emotions, build confidence, and form positive relationships with others. We also emphasize physical development from an early age, encouraging children to stay active, build strength, and maintain good health. Throughout the day, our students are given opportunities to make their own choices about the activities they participate in, fostering independence and decision-making skills.  

Prioritizing Cognitive Growth

 Cognitive growth refers to how children grow and strengthen their mental abilities, such as thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and memory. It plays a key role in overall brain development and sets the stage for lifelong learning, academic success, and even physical and emotional well-being. Children build these skills through play-based learning, hands-on activities, language and literacy, and problem-solving experiences in engaging environments. At Jelly Bean Junction, our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to support every area of early development, with cognitive growth at the forefront of our teaching. 

Some examples of how we develop cognitive growth in our classrooms: 

Classroom:	Activity:	Cognitive Growth Achievement:
Infant	Sign Language	Language
Toddler	Sensory Play	Reasoning/Problem-Solving
Preschool	Play Experiences	Thinking/Reasoning/Memory
School Aged	Hands On Experiences	Thinking/Problem-Solving/Memory
Summer	Enrichment Field Trips	Thinking/Problem-Solving/Memory

To learn more about our programs at Jelly Bean Junction and how we foster cognitive growth, click here. 

Fine-Tuning Motor Skills 

Motor skills are another key part of early childhood development, helping children gain strength, coordination, and independence as they grow.  According to Brown University Health, motor skills are how the body uses muscles to perform everyday tasks like crawling, sitting up, walking, or grasping a toy. These skills are grouped into two types: fine motor skills, which involve smaller muscles in the hands and fingers for activities like picking up objects and improving hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills, which use larger muscles for movements such as rolling over, crawling, and walking.  

We support motor skills in every classroom, providing infants with objects to grasp and space to move, and offering toddlers safe, engaging equipment to explore. Play-based activities are integrated into every day to strengthen both small and large muscle groups, and all children enjoy daily playground time to move, build strength, and stay active. 

When you send your child to a Jelly Bean Junction Learning Center, you can feel confident knowing they are part of a curriculum designed to nurture their emotional, physical, and social development, as well as cognitive growth and motor skill development.  

Visit Jelly Bean Junction to learn more about our programs and what we offer for working families or schedule a tour today!