Our Curriculum

boys looking at plants
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Our Curriculum

Our Centers offer a rich and varied environment that affords children and adults the opportunity to explore, investigate, hypothesize and engage in social interactions in order to build new understandings. Authentic relationships within the context of social supportive learning are central to a child’s emotional development. Through these relationships and interactions with the environment, children will develop language skills, motor skills, memory retention, concept formation, self-confidence and the ability to distinguish reality from fantasy, and they will have opportunities to problem-solve and practice individual and group social skills.
 
Our educational approach builds a culture of learning in which all children are equally respected and valued and their natural curiosity is fostered.

babies playing
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Children 6 weeks to 36 months

Infant and Toddler teachers focus on meeting the needs of each individual child.  Infants are held, played with and talked to by their teachers in a warm and stimulating environment.  Teachers promote early language development with infants/toddlers and recognize their need for active play and movement.  

teacher with preschoolers
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Children 36 Months to 5 Years

The preschool classrooms offer a variety of stimulating explorations that promote the development of each child’s social/emotional skills, language, and fine and gross motor skills. Teachers design activities to promote self-esteem in children and to help children develop positive feelings toward learning.

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Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is rooted in the science of learning. Through play, experimenting with possibilities, problem solving, and project work, we provide children with the very best early education experiences possible.
Infant
Toddler / Twos
Preschool
Transitional Kindergarten

Babies enjoy classrooms made for exploring with teachers who support today’s big milestones and tomorrow’s leaps toward the future.

Our Infant Program
Health and Wellness
Literacy and Language
Social-Emotional Learning
STEM
Thinking and Learning
Toward A Better World
Visual and Creative Arts
Health and Wellness
Bright Horizons infant playing with a ball
  • Exploring growth and movement
  • Learning about basic hygiene
  • Enjoying nutritious foods
  • Gaining skills like washing hands
Literacy and Language
Bright Horizons teacher teaching an infant
  • Daily sharing and talking
  • Exploring books and songs
  • Reading with teachers
  • Using sign language
Social-Emotional Learning
Bright Horizons teacher and infant playing with maracas
  • Beginning to calm self
  • Beginning to express needs
  • Forming secure attachments
  • Developing a sense of trust
STEM
Bright Horizons infant and teacher examining items from nature
  • Science: Discovering the natural world
  • Technology: Beginning to use tools
  • Engineering: Building structures and designs
  • Math: Exploring numbers and shapes
Thinking and Learning
Bright Horizons infant playing with cars and ramps
  • Emotional Self-regulation: Self soothing
  • Executive Function: Focus and play
  • Mindset and Agency: Making choices
  • Creativity and Flexible Thinking: New things
Toward A Better World
Bright Horizons infant playing with a mobile
  • Beginning to understand needs
  • Beginning to care for others
  • Noticing differences and similarities
  • Exploring the natural world
Visual and Creative Arts
Bright Horizons infant playing with a piano
  • Exploring colors and textures
  • Exploring music and movement
  • Enjoying storytelling and play
  • Daily exposure to the arts

Newly independent toddlers are ready to explore and discover with caring teachers at their side every step of the way.

Toddler at Daycare
Health and Wellness
Literacy and Language
Social-Emotional Learning
STEM
Thinking and Learning
Toward A Better World
Visual and Creative Arts
Health and Wellness
Bright Horizons Toddler student eating lunch
  • Exploring movement and activity
  • Discovering safety and hygiene
  • Enjoying healthy foods
  • Learning about mindfulness
Literacy and Language
Bright Horizons Toddler Student reading a book
  • Following simple directions
  • Nurturing relationships with caregivers
  • Reading books together
  • Singing songs and hearing poetry
Social-Emotional Learning
Bright Horizons Toddler Students playing with gears together
  • Developing self-identity
  • Beginnings of empathy
  • Learning play skills
  • Caring for others
STEM
Bright Horizons Toddler student blowing a bubble
  • Science: Observing and exploring
  • Technology: Learning about tools
  • Engineering: Building and designing
  • Math: Exploring numbers and patterns
Thinking and Learning
Bright Horizons Toddler student and teacher
  • Emotional self-regulation: Recognizing feelings
  • Executive function: Waiting for turn
  • Mindset and agency: Making choices
  • Creative thinking and flexibility: Trying new things
Toward A Better World
Bright Horizons Toddler student and teacher observing a plant
  • Helping with simple class jobs
  • Recognizing physical differences
  • Treating friends kindly
  • Respecting animals and nature
Visual and Creative Arts
Bright Horizons Toddler Students drawing on the chalk board
  • Making simple art projects
  • Playing music and singing
  • Acting out stories or poems
  • Learning dances and movement

Preschoolers are active learners, collaborating with teachers and each other, as they explore ideas and make discoveries.

Our Preschool Program
Health and Wellness
Literacy and Language
Social-Emotional Learning
STEM
Thinking and Learning
Toward A Better World
Visual and Creative Arts
Health and Wellness
Bright Horizons Preschool Students stretching and yoga
  • Daily physical activity
  • Making healthy food choices
  • Basic safety and hygiene
  • Mindfulness and well-being
Literacy and Language
Bright Horizons Preschool Student with her teacher
  • Joy and confidence
  • Reading stories and poems
  • Writing simple words
  • Early alphabet learning
Social-Emotional Learning
Bright Horizons Preschool Students watering the flowers
  • Using calm-down techniques
  • Recognizing other’s perspective
  • Taking turns with peers
  • Showing empathy and care
STEM
Bright Horizons Preschool Students and their teacher
  • Science: Observing and asking questions
  • Technology: Using technology to create
  • Engineering: Solving problems with design
  • Math: Using math in real life
Thinking and Learning
Bright Horizons Preschool Student playing with blocks
  • Emotional self-regulation: Stop and think
  • Executive function: Listen and focus
  • Mindset and agency: Choose own work
  • Creative thinking and flexibility: Take healthy risks
Toward A Better World
Bright Horizons Preschool Students play with sand
  • Taking care of classroom
  • Recognizing cultural differences
  • Helping others in need
  • Caring for animals and nature
Visual and Creative Arts
Bright Horizons Preschool Student painting
  • Expressing ideas through art
  • Hearing varied music
  • Acting assigned part
  • Dancing with creativity

Children in Transitional Kindergarten are confident, capable leaders who ask questions, find solutions, and dive into rich project learning.

Our Kindergarten Prep Program
Health and Wellness
Literacy and Language
Social-Emotional Learning
STEM
Thinking and Learning
Toward A Better World
Visual and Creative Arts
Health and Wellness
Bright Horizons kindergarten Prep Student rock climbing
  • Daily physical fitness
  • Preparing healthy foods
  • Independent self-care
  • Using mindfulness techniques
Literacy and Language
Bright Horizons kindergarten Prep Student practicing her letters
  • Gaining skills and confidence
  • Reading simple words
  • Writing ideas and plans
  • Early phonics learning
Social-Emotional Learning
Bright Horizons kindergarten Prep Students learning together
  • Using positive interactions
  • Understanding other’s perspective
  • Collaborating with peers
  • Acting to help others
STEM
Bright Horizons kindergarten Prep Student with paper mache
  • Science: Conducting experiments
  • Technology: Choosing the right tool
  • Engineering: Solving complex problems
  • Math: Using numbers symbolically
Thinking and Learning
Bright Horizons kindergarten Prep Student constructing
  • Emotional self-regulation: Choosing actions
  • Executive function: Completing projects
  • Mindset and agency: Making daily choices
  • Creative thinking and flexibility: Changing course
Toward A Better World
Bright Horizons kindergarten Prep Student studying a globe
  • Doing jobs independently
  • Feeling pride for school
  • Seeing different life experiences
  • Engaging in doing good
Visual and Creative Arts
Bright Horizons kindergarten Prep Student creating art
  • Gaining art skills
  • Recognizing varied music
  • Assigning roles and parts
  • Dancing and moving confidently
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Classrooms that Inspire Learning

“Early childhood classrooms are special places; within them discoveries abound, imaginations soar, and anything is possible.”

quotes

Rachel Robertson - VP, Learning & Development at Bright Horizons

Bright Horizons Art Studio
Bright Horizons Language Works Environment
Bright Horizons Outdoor Plants Environment

At Bright Horizons we believe that environment is the key to creating a joyful place for childhood; and we put a great deal of thought and care into creating those joyful places. In keeping with Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies, our designs consider not only what children need in a space, but how they will use it. We know our centers will form an integral part of a child’s earliest learning; and with that in mind, we carefully curate high-quality materials for every center to create beautiful environments with rich, open-ended experiences that nurture development and inspire learning.

Our Inspiration

Inspired by the world’s educational leaders to create a great place for learning and for childhood


“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”

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MARIA MONTESSORI

“It’s not how smart you are, it’s how you are smart.”

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HOWARD GARDNER

“Our task regarding creativity is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible.”

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LORIS MALAGUZZI

“Development is not a race, it's a journey.”

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JIM GREENMAN

“Play is the highest form of research.”

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ALBERT EINSTEIN