Our 4 Core Values
Learning
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” Albert Einstein
Kindergarten readiness means being socially, emotionally and academically ready. Four Square is passionate about promoting curiosity in our kids as we believe it is the underpinning of learning and is always a top priority in our academic approach. That curiosity plays a critical role in becoming lifelong learners. The more curious a child is, the more eager they are to learn!
Our play based, child-centered approach promotes the deepest kind of learning, encouraging kids to become self-directed learners who explore, communicate, collaborate, problem solve and make choices as they continue to discover more about themselves and the world around them. Our carefully selected monthly themes provoke creativity and child exploration outside and inside. When a child plays they are developing listening, language, cognitive, motor, social and self-esteem skills that are critical to their development. Simply said, a child’s job is to play and when they play they learn. Best of all- they develop these skills while having fun in our loving, relaxed nature-inspired environment.
Self-Discovery
Childhood is a time for children to seek and make meaning of the world and themselves. At Four Square, building a healthy sense of self is one of our top priorities. Through the process of self-discovery children gain a healthy self-esteem allowing them to appreciate their own self-worth and importance, take responsibility for their actions, and show respect and care for the world and everything in it.
The Nurtured Heart Approach is the social-emotional component to our curriculum, and the strategy we use at Four Square, instilling greatness and transforming negative behaviors into positive behaviors. Four Square teachers actively look for the greatness in each child and each moment, providing positivity, support, empowerment and love. We focus on what the children are doing right with the goal of helping each child become the best version of themselves. In result, children have a positive outlook, accept themselves, take chances and feel confident.
By using love and respect, and setting clear and consistent rules, a toe over the line is a toe over the line, we help the children develop self-control, make decisions that are socially responsive and express their feelings in acceptable ways. We use language that is intentional and purposeful when communicating the successes we are seeing, with a goal to have the children more interested in not breaking the rules.
Four Squares all center THREE RULES:
- Be KIND to others
- Be KIND to yourself
- Be KIND to objects
Love
More than a childcare center, Four Square is a family over flowing with authentic love. The culture is unique and powerful, needing to be experienced to truly understand. We are a family that is committed to each other and accepting of others. Together we are stronger and that strength allows us to maintain and environment that is worthy of a child, one where they belong.
The feeling of belonging, contributes to inner well-being, security and identity. At Four Square children know that they are accepted for who they are. They understand that what they do can make a difference. Together we will discover who we are, making room for who we will become.
Fruits of the Spirit
A good character is built from good values. At Four Square we believe that moral development can and should be nurtured from birth. Children naturally care about the world they live in. They want to belong. They want to do right. They want to make a difference. Every day we are reminded of a child’s big and pure heart motivating us to cherish and preserve that precious gift.
Using the Fruits of the Spirit as a guide, together we grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! We send children into the community who have the ability to positively function in a group, spreading laughter, kindness and love. Children who are strong on the inside, with minds to think, hands to create and hearts to love.
“I am convinced that when we help our children find healthy ways of dealing with their feelings, ways that don’t hurt them or anyone else, we’re helping to make our world a safer, better place.” Fred Rogers