Curriculum, Planned Possibilities, and Play “Where’s my house?” a Firefly asks, looking intently at the West Philadelphia map spread across the table. Nearby, a child drives a toy truck through a “map” of blocks laid out in a grid, and at the Writing Center, another child tells her friend, “This is...
December 2014 I recently spoke with the parent of a PIC alumni who proudly shared with me her daughter’s recent successes. She credited PIC with giving her a wonderful start during her early childhood years. She fondly talked about traditions, projects, field trips, teachers, and friends. I was...
Last month's Family Book Fest was a wonderful morning filled with crafts, music, stories, and most importantly, books! Volunteers from University of the Sciences helped us set the stage by working with teachers to create a crafting area, a snack table, and the ever popular Book Swap. As we welcomed...
Last week, families invited their "grandparents/friends" to visit PIC. Our special guests were not only from the Philadelphia area, but also came from Florida, California, Michigan, China, India, and Mexico. Over coffee and pastries, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends of our children met...
A Season of Simplicity Prior to joining the PIC community I spent nine years working in a Quaker school in Montgomery County. I had never been in a Quaker community before and I spent much of my time there learning the values of Quakerism and how those values apply to young children and families...
Around the world, people are taking part in this global day of giving. We hope you will, too! A gift to the Parent-Infant Center on #Giving Tuesday will help us continue to spark young imaginations through play. With over 35 years of experience, we know that play helps develop the skills that lead...
Save the Date! Tuesday, December 2nd is #GIVINGTUESDAY! Traditions old and new are happening at PIC all the time. This October we held our first Fall Family Festival and Grandparents Day is just around the corner. Another new tradition for PIC this year is #GivingTuesday. On Tuesday, December 2, PIC...
Exploring the "Little" Things Class trips can be a great educational experience for children. Visiting museums, parks and local businesses inspires wonder and curiosity. Of course, for the Bumblebees many of those types of places would be too far a trip. Luckily there are many opportunities for...
Learning to Be Safe, Kind, Careful, Healthy, and Respectful In the Peanut classroom, our daily routine gives children time for lots of free-play, while also providing structured experiences and food/rest for growing bodies and minds. The interactions that happen each day in the classroom let the...
Loose Parts Spark Imaginations I vividly remember playing in the “forest” behind the home of my aunt and uncle as a child. I would collect sticks with my friends and create “firepits.” We would add rocks for “food” and sit on piles of leaves. Chestnuts became fairies and the local outside cats...
