Comprehensive Services

A Holistic Approach to the Whole Child

ABCD Head Start is committed to serving the whole child. Head Start and Early Head Start strive to encourage the development of knowledge and skills that will help children succeed in school and life. The program starts by providing a clean, safe, and caring classroom. Parents are always welcome in the classroom, and communication between parents and staff is encouraged on a daily basis, so that children can see family and staff working together.

We recognize that parents are their children's most important educators. Our education staff invites parents to help plan appropriate activities for their children through the Education Advisory Committee, Parent Committee, Policy Committee, workshops, and written communication.

Head Start's approach to Child Development and Education is comprehensive, including the child, family, and community. Our program helps children develop social competence by being designed to:

  • Be developmentally and linguistically appropriate
  • Be inclusive of children with disabilities
  • Integrate a comprehensive array of services into the general classroom curriculum
  • Provide an environment of acceptance that supports and respects gender, culture, language, ethnicity, and family composition
  • Provide a balanced program of child-initiated and adult-directed activities, including individual and small group activities.

A Carefully Crafted, Creative Curriculum

The Creative Curriculum for Preschoolers and Creative Curriculum for infants, Toddlers and Two's are is used as the basis for curriculum in the program and supports social and emotional development by:

  • Enhancing children's strengths
  • Building trust
  • Fostering independence, self-control, and respect for others.

The curriculum plans for routines and transitions so that they occur in a timely, predictable, and calm manner according to each child's needs. It supports physical development and fosters the development of gross and fine motor skills by providing sufficient and appropriate time, space, equipment, and materials. Additionally we create an appropriate environment and provide adult guidance to allow for the participation of children with special needs.

Cognitive and language development is supported by the use of a variety of strategies including:

  • Experimentation
  • Inquiry
  • Observation
  • Play
  • Exploration.

The curriculum ensures opportunities for creative self-expression through activities such as art, music, movement, and dialogue. It promotes interaction and language use among children and between children and adults. It also supports emerging literacy and numeracy, according to the developmental level of each child. A child's first language is supported to the fullest degree, whenever possible, and children are also aided in their transition to developing skills in English.