Early Childhood

At Community Day School, our Reggio Emilia–inspired approach begins with a deep respect for each child’s natural curiosity and creativity. We see children not as empty vessels, but as capable, resourceful learners with unique perspectives on the world. Our role as educators is to nurture that spark—guiding and equipping students to chart their own meaningful paths of discovery.

Through a project-based curriculum, children are active participants in their learning. They ask big questions, explore ideas that matter to them, and engage in hands-on experiences that bring learning to life. Along the way, they build critical skills—creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience—while also learning to connect their discoveries to the world beyond the classroom.

At Community Day, Reggio Emilia is more than a philosophy of learning—it is a way of shaping who our children become: thoughtful, confident, empathetic individuals ready to live their values and lead with curiosity, courage, and kindness. Our students know that their voices matter and their ideas can make a difference. 

Research overwhelming supports play-based learning

At Community Day School, we understand that play is the work of childhood—and one of the most powerful ways children learn. Play-based learning gives students the time, space, and freedom to follow their own ideas, experiment with new possibilities, and discover the world around them in ways that feel natural and joyful.

In our classrooms, play is not separate from learning—it is at the very heart of it. Children explore concepts by building, pretending, experimenting, and creating. A tower of blocks becomes a lesson in physics and cooperation; a pretend market turns into a study of math, communication, and cultural traditions; a nature walk inspires wonder about science, art, and storytelling.

Through this approach, children not only gain knowledge but also develop essential life skills: confidence, collaboration, empathy, and resilience. They learn to test ideas, solve problems, and express themselves in ways that are both meaningful and authentic.

At Community Day, play-based learning is more than a method—it’s a joyful philosophy that affirms every child as a capable, curious, and creative learner, and it lays the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

 Link here for research commissioned by the United States Department of Education documenting the signifigant benefits of play-based learning outcomes. 

Learning in Early Childhood at Community Day

At Community Day School, we know that young children learn best when they are active participants in their own growth. Our HighScope Preschool Curriculum embraces this belief, placing joyful, hands-on learning at the center of everything we do. Children explore, ask questions, and make discoveries through play, projects, and meaningful interactions with their teachers, peers, and environment.

The curriculum is built around eight key areas of development that nurture the whole child:

• Approaches to Learning

• Social and Emotional Development

• Physical Development and Health

• Language, Literacy, and Communication

• Mathematics

• Creative Arts

• Science and Technology

• Social Studies

Within each of these areas, our teachers are guided by 58 key developmental indicators for Early Childhood learning (KDIs)and 42 key development indicators for Infants and Toddlers. These indicators outline important learning goals while honoring the many ways—and many timelines—through which children grow.

Because every child’s journey is unique, the KDIs reflect a broad continuum of development, allowing us to celebrate progress at every stage. They give teachers the tools to scaffold learning thoughtfully—challenging each child at the right time, offering support where it’s needed, and always affirming the joy of discovery.

In this way, our curriculum ensures that every learner is not only nurtured but also inspired to reach their fullest potential across all areas of growth.

How the HighScope Approach Comes to Life

• Observation with Purpose
  Teachers use KDIs as a lens to notice what children say and do, helping them plan intentional interactions and experiences.

• Meeting Each Child Where They Are
  The developmental continuum ensures that expectations are both supportive and realistic, recognizing that every child’s path unfolds at their own pace.

• Play as Learning
  Children’s play is seen as the most powerful tool for growth—whether building with blocks, telling stories, exploring nature, or solving problems together.

• Thoughtful Planning
  With this framework, teachers design daily activities that balance individual needs with whole-class experiences, fostering a classroom that is both structured and full of joyful discovery.

At the heart of our curriculum is active learning—the belief that children gain knowledge best through direct, hands-on engagement with people, ideas, and the world around them. In our preschool classrooms, this means every day is filled with opportunities for curiosity, creativity, and connection—laying a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and living our values.