Expressive Minds nurtures kids holistically

It's never too early to start school at Expressive Minds

Preparing your little one for the big world? Surrounded by so many books, magazine articles, parenting forums, DVDs, and not to mention the well-meaning advice from both friends and strangers, finding the mix that will work for you and your kid can be a daunting task.

What about this? Equip them with the basics while leaving them enough autonomy to explore what they like, developing their learning aptitude in the process.

This is the philosophy of Apple S. Cruz, owner and directress of Expressive Minds, an early learning center that "offers a broad individualized and hands-on curriculum, fosters high academic achievement and emphasizes balanced growth— cognitive, physical, emotional and social—for each child. "

According to Apple, education should develop the whole person. A holistic approach is therefore ideal. This means tailoring activities to consider each child's individuality; encouraging interaction and creativity; using every opportunity to be informative; with the ultimate goal of preparing the child for the big world outside the home.

Indeed, that ultimate goal— preparing the child for a lifetime love of learning—is what early education should aim for.

"The goal is to form a logical, creative and inquisitive learning atmosphere that provides a good foundation for all future academic work," she explained.

And it's never too young to start. As early as 1.5 years old (the earliest age accepted to Expressive Minds' Early Learner classes), toddlers can be familiarized with the school environment. The activities in Early Learner classes all aim at "promoting a positive attitude toward school and creating dynamic individuals with strong moral values and passion for lifelong learning," she says.

As for older students, this goal takes the form of preparatory activities, such as writing and pencil control, arts and crafts, construction and role playing, not to mention the daily lessons aimed at developing skills in language, reading, math, social studies and science. They are even given mock tests to prepare them for entrance exams for big schools.

The school's philosophy is to provide diverse endeavors that go beyond the traditional classroom experiences. So even social skills —such as greeting and interacting with classmates during Circle Time, or properly feeding oneself —are included in the curriculum.

Apple founded Expressive Minds with the conviction that "children are innately curious about themselves and their environment. They want to discover, explore, learn and create," she said. Therefore, whether as parents or educators, our role is "to nourish and guide their natural exuberance, energy and delight in the search for meaning."

Every moment is a learning opportunity. At Expressive Minds, Apple explains that activities are geared towards "fostering both the creative and analytical way of understanding." One way of doing this is through the concept of Heuristic Play—a term coined by Elinor Goldschmied and Sonia Jackson in their book, People

Under Three. It means "offering a group of children, for a defined period of time in a controlled environment, a large number of different kinds of objects and receptacles with which they play freely without adult intervention."

Apple incorporates Heuristic Play in their curriculum, using natural resources found in the immediate environment, such as leaves, twigs, sand, wooden materials, shells and stones. Parents can adapt Heuristic Play at home as well, because it is a useful way to "encourage children to build techniques in problem-solving and discovery," she explained.

At the same time, she stresses that learning should be a strong partnership between the home and the school. Describing Expressive Minds as "a family support system," she said that "parents should be involved in the education of their children." Parents can help their children by supporting their interests, paying attention and giving importance to their opinions, answer their questions (because kids are naturally inquisitive) and appreciate their efforts. For their part, Apple said that "We aim to provide an atmosphere of familiarity and trust in the belief that the school is the child’s second home." The school also aims to match the goals of the family with the goals of the teaching staff, so consultation and discussions with parents are a regular—and expected—feature.

A caring, supportive and creative environment, one that encourages discovery and the love of learning, will go a long way towards raising a child who is not only equipped to face the world outside the home, but will also thrive and excel.