Our Philosophies

OUR PHILOSOPHY ON DISCIPLINE

Discipline: to train or develop by instruction ,especially in self control

            From Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary

At this center, we want children to grow emotionally, intellectually, and physically. We want to help children feel good about themselves, and be able to express their feeling in a positive and constructive manner.

It is our policy that disciple should be positive. Discipline is not punishment Punishment tells children what they should not do. Discipline is a way of helping children to learn socially acceptable ways of behaving.

At this center, limits and rules are clearly defined, consistent, and in accord with appropriate development and age of each child, and the program, in general.

Our focus will be on reinforcing acceptable behavior and preventing undesirable behavior by being responsive to the needs of our children.

OUR PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

The program is designed to provide age-appropriate quality care for the enrolled children. The primary focus of the program is providing nurturing and quality educational experiences of young children.

The program’s philosophy, as it applies to the methods advocate for the adult/child interaction, is based upon a confluent model encompassing theories of Jean Piaget (cognitive development) and Erik Erickson (social/emotional development).

PROGRAM GOALS

The program goals encourage the development of the total child by providing a wide variety of rich, first-hand experiences. The objectives used to reach the program’s primary goals include encouraging children to talk about expreinces and by supporting the children’s inquiry through encouragement of questions and assistance to the children as they seek their own solutions.

Children are encouraged to investigate and be inquisitive. They receive support in their efforts to explore and wonder in order to create enthusiasm for learning. The program provides this kind of early stimulation yb fostering knowledge about the world thus adding to the child’s sense of security and confidence, and giving more extensive networks of associations that children can bring to the abstract symbols on which  later schooling relies.

About Our Staff

OUR STAFF

Child Care Professionals

Our staff provides a nurturing environment that promotes an atmosphere for positive learning. We strive to enhance the learning abilities of children to enable them to reach their full potentials.

Senior Worker Program

Through Easter Seals, Starting Points is fortunate to have a group of senior workers who provide warm and supportive care to the children. These senior workers, who lend their services on a part-time basis, offer a wholesome family-oriented structure while staying in the mainstream of the workforce.

Other volunteers who assist our program:

CWEP [Community Work Experience Program]

JTPA (Job Training)

Jersey City Public Schools—Community Service

About Our School

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Starting Points of Hudson County is to provide a high quality early childhood program in a safe and nurturing environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children and respond to the needs of the families.

AGE GROUP

Once your child has reached the age of six [6] months, he/she may be eligible for child care at Starting Points of Hudson County. We provide to children from six [6] months to five [5] years (Pre-k).

HOURS OF OPERATION

The center is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. all year round, except on designated holidays and staff training days.

OUR PROGRAM

Infant/Toddler Care Program (6months-1 ½ years)

The Infant/Toddler program focuses on providing warm, positive, interpersonal relationships between caregiver and child aimed at developing a sense of trust and security. It provides a variety of external stimuli enhanced by a direct face-to-face language interaction that encourages curiosity and discovery of environment. 

Pre-School Program (2 ½ -5 years)

The Pre-School program focuses on language skills, the exploration of questioning, and learning. It provides a wide variety of rich, first-hand experience that encourages children ti investigage, to be inquisitive, and to develop positive attitudes toward learning.

Abbott Program (3 year-old)

In agreement with Jersey City Public Schools, SPHC offers the Abbot early childhood educational program. This is a free, all-day, all-year program for three year-old children of Jersey City residents.

CURRICULUM

Our curriculum is theme-based, multi-cultural in character and provides experiences that meet the needs of children in their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth. Interpersonal skills are encouraged and reinforced. Personal expression through construction, crafts, dramatization, oral, and written language is fostered and also reinforced. Starting Points is accredited by the National Association for Education of Young Children.