Whole Child Development at Safari Kid
Nurturing Children Beyond Academics
At Safari Kid, we believe in nurturing every aspect of a child's development to unlock their full potential. Whole child development is designed to foster growth across five core domains: physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and language. Along with a focus on health and care, we strive to provide a well-rounded curriculum and engaging education programs for young learners that promote academic success and a lifetime of happiness and well-being.
The 5 + 1 Domains of Learning
Our commitment to developing the whole child means we go beyond academics, addressing children's physical, emotional, and social needs to create an environment where every child can thrive. Safari Kid focuses on:
Cognitive Development
A focus on how children think, reason, remember, and learn new information, developing concepts and skills in areas like math and science through observation, exploration, and discovery.
Emotional Development
We recognize the impact of emotional learning on a child's growth and development, helping children recognize, express, and manage feelings to navigate relationships and interactions crucial to their well-being.
Language & Literacy Development
We enhance language and literacy development by focusing on communication skills through interactive and engaging activities like speaking, singing, and reading. Children are exposed to a rich vocabulary and diverse language experiences, laying a solid foundation for effective communication and literacy.
Physical Development
The growth and strengthening of the body and its muscles, which includes both gross motor (large muscle) skills and fine motor (small muscle) skills. We work on strength and coordination through fun active games and sports and engaging art projects. We also support the development of all senses including the vestibular and proprioception senses.
Social Development
Developing social skills at this stage lays the foundation for lifelong success, influencing not only academic performance but also emotional well-being, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal relationships. We teach children to effectively express thoughts and emotions, engage in conversations, listen attentively, and collaborate with others. They learn to negotiate, compromise, and see situations from different perspectives, fostering understanding and adaptability.
Health & Care - Our Specialized Area of Learning
To ensure well-rounded development we have incorporated skills from each domain to support this additional area of learning in which children recognize their own inner needs and how to attend to them. Through this self-awareness they learn to also recognize the needs of others and the environment, understanding that the health and care of each person and the earth is crucial for creating a happy and healthy community.
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Cognitive
We encourage curiousity and a love for learning that inspires children to explore and discover.
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Social
Children learn vital social skills through activities that emphasize cooperation and sharing.
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Language & Literacy
Communication skills are developed through interactive and engaging activities.
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Physical
We ensure children build strong, healthy bodies while fostering a love for movement.
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Emotional
Our approach to emotional learning helps children recognize, express, and manage feelings.
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Health & Care
Children learn to recognize and attend to their own needs, those of others, and the environment.
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Methodologies We Employ
Safari Kid employs various educational theories into our curriculum and teaching methods within our WISDOM Learning Path, ensuring every child receives a comprehensive education that supports their individual growth and development. These include:
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
We emphasize Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which states that a child's most basic physiological and safety needs must be met before developing a sense of love and belonging, building self-esteem, and ultimately achieving self-actualization. This can include making sure children are well-fed, rested, and safe and providing a nurturing and supportive environment that meets their emotional needs.
Play Based Learning
Safari Kid recognizes the research that underscores the significance of play in early education as one of the most impactful ways that young children learn. This is why we encourage exploration, experimentation, and learning in an engaging and stimulating environment. Children are given the time and space to interact with materials that interest them as we aim to nurture a natural desire for learning. Whether through imaginative play, sensory activities, or collaborative games, Safari Kid is helping children develop critical thinking skills while building social skills, and emotional intelligence.
STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art & Math)
When considering problems in the world today, it is important to understand that most issues do not fit into neat boxes of a single discipline. This is why Safari Kid believes STREAM education is so important. It reflects the real world by delving into projects that practice science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math skills in ways that are naturally interconnected. This interconnection of disciplines through hands-on projects helps to engage students, getting them interested and involved in problem-solving in a meaningful way. In these early years, learning foundational skills through STREAM projects can help a child’s brain structure itself in a flexible way which will be primed for innovation and critical thinking.
Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences
We embrace Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, recognizing that intelligence goes beyond academics. We recognize musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, linguistic, mathematical, naturalistic, intrapersonal, and visual smarts by creating learning opportunities that allow these various strengths to be celebrated, fostering self-worth and confidence.
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I would recommend safari kid to anyone looking for a great experience.Jill Turek
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The dedicated staff at Safari Kids create a nurturing and stimulating environment, making it a perfect place for early childhood development.Sushma Venkatayogi
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School environment is exceptional. Very colorful, bright, and playful environment, which attracts children’s attention.Katie LO
Our Health and Care Philosophy
We prioritize children's overall well-being, going beyond physical health and safety to nurture their emotional, social, and mental development. By teaching stress management, resilience, and positive self-image, we empower children with lifelong skills to lead balanced, fulfilling lives and positively impact their communities – leading to a brighter future for all!
Interested in enrolling in Safari Kid? Contact us today to learn more about our whole child approach and how we can support your child's growth and development.
Wondering where to start? Explore our early child education programs to learn more about specific age groups and curriculum options. You can also contact us online to find out more!
