At Hearts & Minds, children are respected as inquisitive and competent individuals who are capable of informing their own learning when nurtured in an enriched, developmentally appropriate environment. It is the teacher’s role to create this environment. Drawing from aspects of Reggio Emilia and Play-based early childhood education philosophies, teachers encourage children to explore their interests through teacher-designed projects as well as self-guided experiences. Our curriculum equally incorporates learning in the following developmental areas; social-emotional, cognitive, language and literacy, and physical development. A strong belief in the educational benefits of art, music and hands-on learning is reflected in the curriculum. While structured activities occur at points throughout the day, free-choice activities are available to children throughout the entire day.