Riverbend Montessori Child Development Centre, Edmonton, AB

MISSION STATEMENT. To help our children to be the best they can be. To teach them to take responsibility for themselves and others. OUR GOAL is to provide an environment that enables each child to develop to his or her optimum potential: physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually, and creatively. HOW DO WE DO THIS? By providing qualified staff to facilitate this environment and encourage our children to grow in self-respect and responsibility. CHILD CARE PHILOSOPHY. At Riverbend Montessori Child Development Centre, our philosophy is based on a combination of “learning through play” and the Montessori method of teaching: We believe play is an all-embracing activity of central significance to the growing child. Play is the most fundamental, natural, and universal activity to children. #The Montessori method is based on the prepared environment, a carefully planned arrangement of surroundings, equipment, and materials. Because each child is unique, instruction in a Montessori program is individualized and education is regarded as a process of continually cultivating the child’s natural desire to learn. Our program emphasizes the following: Respect for the child Self-correcting learning materials and activities Self-motivation Individualized learning and instruction Co-operation, not competition Fostering independence in the world Responsible freedom Processes of learning as well as products in order to foster life-long learning behaviour Fostering competencies based on success Peer assistance and teaching Sensory motor preparation for intellectual development.