Little Eagles Preschool

Program Philosophy

The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education that was developed by Loris Malaguzzi, a teacher, and the parents in the villages around Reggio Emilia in Italy after World War II. The theory was that people form their own personality during early years of development and, moreover, that children are endowed with "a hundred languages". The program is based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum. This unique and innovation education system has developed over the last 50 years into a program that has caught the attention of early childhood educators worldwide.

Every child has an innate curiosity that drives their interest to understand their world and their place within it. Creating a network of communication between the children, parents and teachers of Reggio is vital. They work together toward a common purpose: the building of a culture which respects childhood as a time to explore, create and be joyful. In essence, letting go of the traditional roles of teacher/student and letting the students develop their own sense of self and community through play.

Early Childhood Cnter, 2920 Burdettes, Ferndale MI

Our Values & Beliefs

Children are capable of constructing their own learning

Children form an understanding of themselves and their place in the world through their interactions with others

Children are communicators

The environment is the third teacher

The environment is recognized for its potential to inspire children. An environment filled with natural light, order, and beauty. Open spaces free from clutter, where every material is considered for its purpose, every corner is ever-evolving to encourage children to delve deeper and deeper into their interests.

The adult is a mentor and guide and not the giver of knowledge. Children search out the knowledge through their own investigations.

Our role as adults is to observe our children, listen to their questions and their stories, find what interests them and then provide them with opportunities to explore these interests further. The projects are not planned in advance, they emerge based on the child's interests.

An emphasis on documenting children's thoughts

This is accomplished through photographs, transcripts of children's thoughts and explanations, visual representations such as drawings/paintings/sculptures,etc.

The Hundred Languages of Children

The most well-known aspect of the Reggio Emilia Approach - The belief that children use many different ways to show their understanding and express their thoughts and creativity.

Fee Structure

5 DAY OPTION

$750/month

4 DAY OPTION

$675/month

3 DAY OPTION

$600/month

Little Eagles On A Branch

Registration Fee

$50 per family, non-refundable

Discounts (cannot be combined)

Staff: 20%
Pay in Full: 5%
Siblings:10% off 2nd & subsequent

Additional Requirements

Must be potty trained
Must be 3 years old by September 1st

Questions?

If you are enrolled and have questions about the Little Eagles Preschool, call our Director Heidi Schmidt at 248-586-8815.
Look at the Fun at Home section to print off some coloring sheets for the kids!