Discover child care to develop the whole child
The first three years of a child’s life are critical for development. The Infant and Toddler care program at the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families is focused on the whole journey of a child’s learning. Our professional faculty and teacher candidates foster hands-on learning and teaching engineered to the child’s natural curiosity.
At the Leet Center we:
- Understand that play is serious work for children
- Value the uniqueness of each child and family
- Respect children for who they are
- Acknowledge that children and adults learn from each other
- Promote that strong relationships are the foundation of learning
- Know that success in school is grounded in quality early childhood experiences
Project-Based Play
The Laboratory School has followed a constructivist model since 1991, using Project Construct as our curriculum model. This curriculum is child-initiated, providing opportunities for the children that support and enrich their development, learning, and growing independence. The Laboratory School’s curriculum is child-centered, interest-based, and hands-on to encourage each child’s growing independence. Children’s interests guide the selection of themes and projects for exploration. The Missouri Early Learning Standards provide the framework for planning play-based learning centers and large group times around the children’s topic of interests. Each room is designed with interest centers (blocks, dramatic play, manipulatives, art, sensory, library, music & movement, computers, etc.) and children choose from a variety of developmentally appropriate activities throughout the day. Each classroom includes a balance of child- and teacher initiated activities designed to actively engage children in learning throughout the day and promote their creative expression. Assessment is an integral part of curriculum planning. Monitoring and documentation of children’s participation within the learning environment is on-going and formally shared with families twice a year at parent-teacher conferences.
The classrooms are rich in language/literacy opportunities and experiences. Such opportunities include but are not limited to: stories, finger plays, poems, labeling of items in the classroom, scaffolding interactions through play-based learning center, family style dining, and special times for children to share ideas and thoughts. Through special times during the day to share things from home; participate in executing specific jobs that contribute to the smooth functioning of a school family; and encouragement to pursue topics of interest, our curriculum promotes the development of emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills, and a strong home-school connection for children to become life-long learners.
About the Leet Center
The Northwest Missouri State University Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families is an educational setting for community children, and a teaching and research Laboratory for University students, faculty, and staff.
The Leet Center is accredited by the National Association for Accreditation of Young Children (NAEYC).
The Leet Center fully licensed to serve 65 children from 1 year to 5 years old. The Infant and Toddler Center is designed to provide year-round child care for children 1 year to 3 years old. The preschool program serves children 3 to 5 years old and operates on a 9-month school year calendar from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with extended Bearcat Club until 5:30 p.m.
