When searching for the ideal setting for your young child, the term Play-Based Childcare in Boulder County often emerges as the gold standard. At Treehouse Learning, we embody this philosophy, recognizing that nature designed children to learn through play1. Since 1997, our independent, privately owned, family-run early childhood education program has offered high-quality care that intentionally leverages play as the vehicle for growth2.
Play is defined as a child-directed, joyful activity with no external end goal outside of the emergent discovery naturally inherent in play3. Learning organically and spontaneously emerges out of an intentionally prepared learning environment and the freedom to explore and discover4. The experienced educators at Treehouse Learning guide and facilitate this process, building essential academic skills directly into play experiences5.
A Research-Based Foundation for Play
Our commitment to quality Play-Based Childcare in Boulder County is rooted in established educational research, primarily drawing from the traditions of Reggio Emilia and Piaget:
- Reggio Emilia: This guides us to understand children’s active participation in constructing their own experiential learning process through play, creative expression, and social interactions in the context of relationships and a prepared environment6.
- Piaget: The concept of Developmental Stages, which influences our use of “Developmentally Appropriate Practices,” ensures that play is always aligned with a child’s natural readiness and cognitive stage7.
This blended approach ensures that every activity, from unstructured play to games with rules, is designed to build leadership and social skills8.
The Integrated Curriculum: Play and Academics
At Treehouse Learning, curriculum, in the broadest sense, is everything that happens throughout the day9. Our play-based approach is comprehensive, holistic, and purposeful, encompassing the integrated development of the whole child10.
- Infant to Preschool Programs: Exposure to early literacy, art, music, nature-based exploration, and environmental literacy begins right in our infant rooms11. This foundation ensures a smooth transition to our Early Education Boulder County programs.
- The Physical Environment: The classroom (whether indoors or outdoors) is the child’s “third teacher”12. Our facility, located on $1.25$ acres in the Indian Peaks neighborhood, features generous large natural grass playgrounds and engaging outdoor spaces13. Our prepared classrooms are rich with high-quality and natural materials, books, and open-ended manipulatives14.
- Social-Emotional Development: Play-based learning is critical for the development of social skills15. Our curriculum incorporates the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence’s Social-Emotional Curriculum, movement, and body-based mindfulness, ensuring children develop empathy, self-regulation, and positive self-concepts1616161616161616.
We invite families to visit our center to see how our unique approach to Play-Based Childcare in Boulder County creates a foundation for lifelong thriving17.
