The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) faculty and staff will deliver a planned curriculum of readiness activities and experiences to meet the needs of each child as they progress through the various developmental milestones. The Early Childhood development goals are as follows:

• Physical contact through cuddling, massage, hugs, etc.
• Songs and nursery rhymes
• Baby games such as "So Big," "Pattycake," "Sweet Eyes," etc.
• Language development
• Storytime
• Stimulation/sensory activities
• Free play
• Exposure to different types of music
• Exploration activities
• Muscle development (tummy time, crawling, sitting, pulling up, standing,walking)

• Gross/fine motor development
• Songs and nursery rhymes
• Language development
• Storytime
• Sensory/hands-on activities
• Free play
• Exposure to different types of music
• Exploration/discovery activities
• Art
• Group time activities
• Color exploration/activities
• Monthly themes
• Pointing to pictures or actual objects, such as body parts, animals, etc. when prompted
• Imitating/recognizing animal sounds
• Pointing to pictures/statues of Mary and Jesus when prompted
• Expressing love for Mary and Jesus

• Exposure to shapes, letters, numbers
• Sorting/matching activities
• Outdoor playtime
• Daily prayer time such as "Thank you, God, for..."
• Celebrating church seasons of Christmas and Easter

Language & Reading

• Songs, nursery rhymes, fingerplays
• Language development
• Storytime
• Exposure to different types of music
• Learning centers
• Arts and crafts
• Circle time
• Weekly themes
• Following simple directions
• Using materials properly

• Sensory/hands-on activities
• Color, shape, letter, number exploration and recognition
• Classification by color, shape, size, object
• Basic concepts such as same/different, big/little, etc.

• Gross/fine motor development
• Free play
• Outdoor playtime
• Learning how to take turns/share
• Following simple directions
• Cleaning up and putting toys away
• Using materials properly

• Simple Bible stories
• Religion concepts: We have a Guardian Angel, God made the world, Jesus died on the cross, Mary is Jesus' mother and our mother
• Celebrating church seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter
• Daily prayer: Sign of the Cross, Angel of God, Grace before meals, spontaneous prayer

Languge & Reading

• Sing the alphabet and recite nursery rhymes.
• Identify their written name and learn to write their first name.
• Recognize and write the capital letters of the alphabet.
• Identify letters and sounds.
• Understand the concepts of “same” and “different” and identify objects that don’t belong.
• Identify some rhyming words, opposites, and learn to put events in sequential order.

• Identify and classify colors and shapes.
• Rote count to 10, count objects to 10, and recognize numbers to 10.
• Arrange objects from smallest to biggest.
• Learn to identify and complete simple patterns.

• Learn that God made the world and the people in it.
• Learn that God gave us our 5 senses.
• Learn that Jesus died for us, identify Jesus as the Good Shepherd, and feel loved by Jesus.
• Learn that Mary is Jesus’ mother and our mother.
• Become familiar with Bible stories from the Old and New Testament, and lives of the Saints.
• Learn that God wants us to get along.
• Learn that we should always remember to thank God.
• Learn to make the Sign of the Cross.
• Learn prayers: Angel of God, Hail Mary, and Grace before Meals.
• Celebrate Holy Days and the seasons of the Church: Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.
• Learn about our Guardian Angel.
• Participate in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program.
• Pray the Way of the Cross during Lent.

• Learn to play and share with others and to take turns.
• Learn to participate in class activities, to listen and to follow directions.
• Learn to ask for help when needed.
• Learn to be quiet while others are speaking.
• Learn to clean up their mess and put toys away.
• Develop fine and large motor skills.
• Learn to hold a crayon and pencil correctly and how to use glue and scissors.