written by Kharma Hicks , Infant/Toddler Program Coordinator At PIC we value offering high quality childcare and meeting the emotional needs of every child in our center. Particularly with infants and toddlers, we believe the development of a strong relationship between a child and a caregiver is an...

“the world is mud-licious and puddle-wonderful.” -ee cummings PIC joins schools, families, and children around the world in celebrating International Mud Day on June 29th, a joyous day of full-body contact with one of nature’s most basic materials. Humans have been working with mud as a creative and...

If someone were to ask you to think about some words to describe what life is like today, what words would come to mind? Would you focus on words like “stressful,” “nonstop,” “not having enough time, with too much to do?” Did you think about the moments that bring you joy, large and small, or did...

Child assessments are an integral part of your child’s education here at the PIC. And they are a helpful tool in showing social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth. In the early learning program, staff complete three assessments per year using Teaching Strategies Gold, the assessment tool...

written by PIC's Preschool Program Coordinator Tamara Clark For more than a year now, PIC teachers have been dipping their toes into the deep and vast pool of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The educators in Reggio Emilia have shared with us the idea that the environment is...

One way to engage a child in exploring an interest is to create an attention-grabbing play scene as an invitation to play. These types of "invitations" respond to and enhance emerging interests, build on language skills, help children learn new skills, discover uses for tools in the daily...

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...

PIC will have our annual Winter Open House this Thursday, December 11 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. In the beloved PIC tradition, this is a pot-luck event and a terrific opportunity to chat with other families and to not have to think about preparing dinner. We hope that you can join us! Please sign-up so...

PIC's Early Learning program will host a Winter Open House for families on Thursday, December 11. All PIC families are invited to visit each classroom for sensory and make-and-take activities and enjoy festive hallway potlucks. Here's your roadmap to the fun! SPRUCE Building First floor Bumblebees -...

Post revised: January 6, 2015 Coming soon! In addition to the usual communication channels, PIC will use School Messenger to announce school closings and other important messages via text and/or email. Many of our families may already be familiar with this platform as it is the same alert system...