MISSION
Kids Crossing is a ministry of First United Methodist Church of Canton. It has been established to provide spiritual, social, and emotional growth in a Christian
environment, where self-discipline is learned and creativity is expressed. We
believe this program reaches out into the community as we strive to meet the needs of children and their families.
PHILOSOPHY
Children develop and acquire skills through a predictable sequence of stages. At Kids Crossing, we provide a learning environment that allows a child to build upon existing skills. Children accommodate new information by interacting with concrete materials and experiencing the environment through their senses.
Curiosity is an important method of learning for preschoolers. Children can learn best when they are given the opportunity to ask questions and find different solutions to a problem.
Repetition and imitation are necessary for learning to occur. As a preschooler repeats actions, songs, words and routines, he/she increases skills and understanding. He/She observes and imitates others who models attitudes and actions.
At Kids Crossing, we want to provide an atmosphere where a child feels loved and accepted as a special person created by God. Children experience God’s love and a sense of self-worth through love and acceptance. Parents and teachers working together, along with the Church, providing positive learning experiences for our children - when this is accomplished, we can look forward to the promise of Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it".
GOALS
Teachers will provide activities to meet the following goals:
- To encourage each child’s expression of his/her feelings and needs in
constructive ways.
- To strengthen awareness of individuality, independence, and self confidence.
- To encourage each child to learn appropriate forms of cooperation with the other boys and girls and the teacher, while maintaining his/her sense of independence.
- To engage in large muscle movement and to provide opportunities to explore small muscle skills.
- To explore various play and structured learning activities such as blocks, books, art, music, movement and games; to sharpen observation skills while keeping the fun in learning.
- To provide parental involvement as an integral part of the educational program for young children.
- To provide each child with the opportunity to grow in awareness of the love of God and our natural world.
