WISDOM Learning Path

“In the first few years of life more than 1 million new neural connections form every second.” — Harvard Center for the Developing Child 

A substantial amount of brain development, shaped by experience, proceeds at an incredibly rapid rate in the first 2-3 years after birth. This makes early childhood a critical time for physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth for young children. High-quality childcare settings with a safe, nurturing, and facilitating environment have been shown to help children develop the proper brain architecture. 

“Wisdom begins in wonder.” –Socrates 

Children should feel delight in learning. This is fundamental. At its core, our goal at Safari Kid is to nurture the whole child by addressing each of the primary domains of early childhood development—cognitive, social, emotional, physical, language & literacy, and our added area of learning, health & care. Our curriculum is designed to address each of these domains. But curriculum design alone does not stimulate brain growth and create a whole child. It is important to understand how we do this. How does Safari Kid help children to grow and develop? 

A Path to Growth

Safari Kid’s WISDOM Learning Path is how we get there. It is our comprehensive framework which considers the various learning patterns, stages, needs, and interests of children. This learning path entices children by first igniting their wonder, their innate curiosity, and exuberance about the world, through the environment. As they begin discovering they will be led through a variety of creative, hands-on explorations in which we encourage children to connect deeply with their surroundings and participate in discussions that ultimately lead them to growth. On this journey, our mentors nurture and observe children in a safe and supportive environment to make sure they are joyfully progressing to the next stage in all domains, setting a strong precedent for their future education. Through this learning path, we know that our students will eventually leave us with the WISDOM they need to succeed-- not just in school, but in life. Because as we all know, wisdom is so much more powerful than just knowledge alone!

A Learning Adventure that Nurtures WISDOM! 

WISDOM Learning Path is the overarching framework that reflects Safari Kid’s beliefs about how children grow and how we use our time, energy, and resources to develop the whole child. 

It is a path leading children on a learning adventure full of: 

• Wonder – Through an environment that inspires children to want to explore, our children embark on a learning journey full of discovery with sensory-based learning and hands-on explorations. 
• Imagination – Opportunities to pretend, play, and create abound- embracing a child’s natural inclinations, and through the acknowledgment that children learn differently than adults, their potential to feel inspired by learning is unleashed. 
• Security– A safe and nurturing environment is a foundational necessity for children to open themselves to learning and in order for them to feel comfortable to take intellectual risks. 
• Discussion- An emphasis on communication skills, encouraging children to ask questions and join in on conversations as they learn how to both express themselves and listen to others, recognizing through practice the importance of effective interaction. 
• Observation –Noticing and describing what has been discovered and making sense of it, while at the same time being observed by mentors to monitor growth and look for developmental milestones according to the ages and stages outlined by early childhood experts. 
• Mentorship – Passionate teachers who are trained to meet children where they are, providing a safe place for them to wonder, imagine, and observe, while also bringing parents along as their partners on this journey.