The first five years are the most pivotal years in a child's development. During this time, children experience exponential growth, and are working to develop foundational language and literacy skills. High-quality early childhood education, like Christopher House's Early Childhood Development Services (ECDS) maximize each child's potential during this crucial time by fostering their social and cognitive growth. A 2006 report by the Committee for Economic Development found that children who participate in high-quality early childhood education are less likely to repeat a grade or require special education classes, more likely to graduate from high school, and less likely to participate in criminal activity during their juvenile and adult years.
Our ECDS program works with over 400 children each day to develop early literacy skills and encourage them to explore, problem-solve, and work with classmates.
Each of our classrooms works to maintain the lowest child-to-teacher ratio. Each classroom is led by a Master Teacher with a degree in early childhood education, supported by two Assistant Teachers. The majority of our Master Teachers have either a Type 04 Illinois teaching credentials, certifying them to work with children birth to eight; or an Illinois Infant Toddler credential.
Christopher House's ECDS program was one of the first in the nation to receive accreditation under the National Association for the Education of Young Children's new, more rigorous standards.
The dedicated staff and volunteers at Christopher House: • Nurture and stimulate infants/toddler through accredited early childhood education programs and engaging curriculum. • Ensure three- to five-year-olds will be school-ready through full-day early childhood education. • Provide regular assessments of each child's developmental progress, with a focus on individualized goals (including children with IFSPs and IEPs). • Foster strong parent involvement and communication. • Enable parents to work full-time knowing that their children are safe and well cared for.
The key indicator used to assess our impact in early childhood education is the percentage of children who leave our program ready to enter kindergarten. A student’s “readiness to enter kindergarten” is evidenced in part by their reaching Step III in the cognitive development section of the Creative Curriculum® Individual Child Profile.
For more information about enrolling your child in our Early Childhood Development Services, please call 1-855-318-8285 (se habla español) or e-mail infochristopherhouse.org with the following information:
“My daughter talks a lot more now. Since Christopher House has a curriculum, she is learning every day. She has a very good memory now, and she is very interested in reading."- Parent of a Christopher House ECDS student
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