What differentiates good from mediocre, experts say, is a commitment to a curriculum that encourages children to learn, and a resolve not to be overcome by the obstacles that frequently arise. Finding a curriculum that you can really teach your staff so that they can give it to the children is a very important piece. There are all sorts of philosophies about early-childhood education but what everybody knows is that it is important. Teachers invite curiosity and encourage participation. We set up the environment in such a way that the children have access to all of the materials.
Recent studies suggest that they are even more important than previously had been thought.
That is because the links developed in a child's brain over the first two years set the pattern for learning and behavior in later life. Negative experiences, or the absence of appropriate stimulation, can have an especially powerful impact on children's development. Beyond the curriculum, both Rainbow Chimes and Rosa Lee Young offer a variety of services that contribute to a better learning environment, according to parents, teachers and other day-care providers familiar with the operations. Sheppard, of Rosa Lee Young, said that a great deal of effort is put into raising funds to keep child care affordable, including soliciting funds from private and public sources, and money from the United Way. What the family pays is decided by their needs based on a county formula.