Fun and Learning with Blue Blocks

By M H Ahssan

Fostering development. Building self-esteem. Sparking imagination with loving attention and safety. Guiding children’s first steps toward a life-long love of learning.

Mission
We are the leader in child education and family solutions, which impact and inspire lifelong learning.

Vision
To develop innovative Learning Care educational solutions which enable us to grow the number of children and families served and to be recognized as the premier child and family education corporation in the world.

Through our leadership and passion we will:

- Provide a secure, caring and enriched environment that promotes learning and the development of the whole child.
- Develop lifelong relationships, create family solutions, and enhance the quality of life for our families.
- Provide a fun, challenging work environment that fosters teamwork, inspires professional excellence, and encourages contribution by all team members.
- Leverage technology to develop innovative learning products and solutions.
- Provide superior levels of support and service to our schools.
- Achieve the best financial performance in the industry, allowing us to fulfill our mission.

Values
Honesty, Trust, Passion for Excellence, Love of Learning, and Innovation

Infants are constantly growing, learning and changing. So between the cooing and cuddling, our teachers delight in your baby’s every advancement and provide endless opportunities for development and discovery. From rocking and thoughtful interaction, to storytime and naptime, to singing and talking, Blue Blocks teachers provide just what your baby needs, all in a safe, clean, healthy environment. And it’s just the beginning of our individual curriculum.

Toddlers are little busybodies. At Blue Blocks, that’s okay. We balance individual attention with group activities and ensure that your toddler is using all that energy in productive ways. From trying all the playground equipment to pouring cereal, we give toddlers plenty of opportunities to investigate, explore and play in a safe, secure, yet stimulating environment. Our unique blend of education and care meets emotional needs while promoting good social skills and learning. And in accordance with our individual curriculum new concepts are introduced when your child is ready, not on a set timeline.

There’s nothing terrible about twaddlers – they’re just beginning to test their independence, influence and control. At this age, children are making huge strides, and our specially designed program provides lots of guidance along with the independence they crave. And the exclusive Blue Blocks twaddlers curriculum is designed to nurture all the different ways that children can be smart – from building an architectural masterpiece to creating an interpretive dance.

As a Prepper, your child is transitioning from a toddler to a preschool student. Chatting with friends increases verbal and social skills. Solving shape puzzles strengthens problem-solving skills, while drawing and painting nurture creativity. Prepper teachers work to foster self-esteem during one-on-one journal time and in group activities. As preparation for moving into our exclusive preschool curriculum, we introduce one concept at a time, so your child feels proud, not frustrated. Because this curriculum recognizes that there are many different ways to be smart, your child will learn to love learning. And that means your Prepper will really be prepared.

Now is the time to truly start discovering the world. What better place to start than at Blue Blocks? Our exclusive pre-school curriculum was designed to encourage exploration and embrace all the different ways that children excel. Aligned with standards set forth by national accrediting associations, this curriculum helps children expand on their own unique gifts or “smarts.” And it works: a recent kindergarten readiness study showed that in just six months, children in our program made educational gains usually expected after a full year.

Find out more about our curriculum. Or, see how our program provides children with the developmental and educational skills needed for a successful transition into kindergarten and beyond. Grocery shopping in our school, reading and sharing stories, building models and towers, learning a new dance – all of these are ways to reinforce concepts. And while this is the time that teachers introduce a more structured environment, we still set aside plenty of time for self-directed play and experimentation.

Every kid is a SMART kid – that’s the philosophy behind everything we do at Tutor Time. At this age, the BB curriculum builds on your child’s cognitive, social and emotional needs in preparation for the kindergarten classroom. Aligned with standards set forth by national accrediting associations, this curriculum cultivates all the ways children are smart. Want proof? A recent kindergarten preparedness study showed that children in our program made substantial gains in development and had the necessary skills to enter and excel in kindergarten.

Lessons are designed to ensure that children grasp concepts in ways that are most meaningful to them. Classrooms include learning centers designed around these “smarts” to encourage independent discovery. So in addition to the 3 Rs, your child will learn to love learning.

Kindergartners are eager to explore, investigate, discover and absorb just about everything. And the exclusive curriculum can make a difference in how much they learn and grow. Our private kindergarten program introduces your child to a formal education while embracing the idea that different children are “smart” in different ways. Aligned with guidelines set forth by national accrediting associations, this curriculum is based on extensive research and the theories of child development expert Howard Gardner.

The eight “smarts” provide a framework, while encouraging exploration and discovery. Low student-to-teacher ratios allow Tutor Time’s teachers to focus on individuals. And a small, safe and secure environment provides your child with a real sense of belonging.

Our schools offer an exceptional before and after-school program that combines guidance and security with independent exploration to give school age children the freedom and structure they need. Your child can choose from a wide variety of activities:

- Arts and crafts, dramatic play
- Field trips, games, community projects
- Social interaction and teamwork activities
- Homework and study

For more detailed information regarding care, safety and education in our Blue Blocks take a Virtual Tour.

The principles of the Blue Blocks curriculum follow the guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice set forth by national accrediting associations. Our curriculum is based on extensive research and inspired by the work of respected development/early education theorists Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson and Lev Vygotsky, and inspired by Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. We’ve arranged these multiple intelligences into eight distinct ways that kids can be intelligent, or our eight “Smarts.”

- WordSmart: Likes to read, write and tell stories and excels at learning and using new words.

- MathSmart: Explores patterns and numbers, and enjoys figuring out how things work.

- BodySmart: Uses body language, loves to move and play sports, excels at dancing and other physical activity.

- DesignSmart: “The visualizer” loves to understand maps, draw, build, design and create.

- MusicSmart: Has a natural sense of rhythm, and enjoys singing, playing instruments and listening to music.

- NatureSmart: Likes to be outside and care for living things.

- PeopleSmart: “The socializer” likes to work in groups, pretend to be someone else, and is sensitive to the feelings of others.

- MeSmart: Likes to be introspective, is in-tune with their personal feelings and thoughts and enjoys working alone.

Our classrooms include learning centers full of ways for kids to explore and investigate all eight areas, and to build problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Our teachers supplement these experiences with group activities that focus on a variety of curricular themes. This curriculum gives children the tools they need to grow and develop into the leaders of tomorrow. Along with a strong emphasis on mathematics and literacy skills, our programs give children a framework they can use throughout school — they learn to love learning.

Blue Blocks is one of the few early education providers who conducts a formal assessment of its curriculum. Using Galileo—an online tool developed by Assessment Technology, Inc.—we evaluate the progress of thousands of children enrolled in our programs. Recent results showed that children attending Tutor Time made substantial gains in their learning and development and have the educational skills needed for a successful transition into kindergarten. In fact, it showed that in just 6 months, children in our programs made gains usually expected after a full year. See for yourself how children scored in Language and Literacy, Early Math, and Approaches to Learning.

Blue Blocks has child care options for every family including programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and school age kids. So take a look at our educational programs by age group.

Parents
Blue Blocks is passionate about children’s growth, development and achievements. We are proud to partner with educationally minded families who share these goals. We appreciate and understand the rapid pace of today’s world and work to ease the stress that modern families face. That is why we have gathered resources to help families stay involved and to provide parents with additional information and tips regarding a variety of parenting and family issues.

Childhood Block Building
Long before computers, remote controls, or even batteries, there was the simple, humble building block. And it remains a pillar of childhood fun and learning both in the classroom and at home.

The world of toys is a sophisticated place. Toys walk, talk, blink, beep, sing. Toys can help a child learn to spell, count or recognize the sounds of different barnyard animals. But long before computers, remote control, or even batteries, there was the simple, humble building block. And it remains a pillar of childhood fun and learning both in the classroom and at home.

Building blocks involve the child as a whole. Playing with blocks requires her to move her muscles, to bend and lift. With blocks she will discover the way different objects feel in her hands. She'll need to think about spaces and shapes. She'll need to formulate and risk thoughts, ideas and interests of her own. Building blocks stimulate the early mathematical sensibilities in a child, exposing her to angles, lines and rudimentary geometric awareness.

Blocks are made of various materials and come in many colors. The most basic ones are wood and the true Unit Block is rectangular and sized according the proportional standard of 1:2:4. Wood is a great material for unit blocks because its tough, not too heavy but heavy enough to feel substantial and accurately cut.

Well, he's sure to eventually, but a good set of unit blocks will grow with your child. Little ones may do little more than touch and grip them, or toss them around and knock them together. As a child gets older he'll and develops more muscle control, he'll be able to combine blocks, stack them and line them up. As early as two years old a child may make his first attempts at building structures. This is the first step toward imaginative, creative play with blocks. By the age of three, a child may learn how to fit pieces together. He'll build towers and bridges and experiment with enclosures. At three or four, a child will start to recognize and construct patterns, working them into his ideas for the structures he wants to make. Children in kindergarten and early primary grades use blocks to recreate structures and scenes from the world around them.

Blocks help children to learn socially. The block area of a classroom is usually alive with conversation, the sharing of ideas and the struggle for the best blocks. It's about as complete a social experience as a small child can have. To enjoy block time, children have to make friends and cooperate.

Building with blocks is a physical exercise. Picking up a block, lifting it, stacking it, fitting it into place - it all builds up the strength in a child's fingers and hands. It develops hand-eye coordination. By age two, children begin to recognize the relationships between the blocks and the spaces where the blocks will fit. This understanding of perspective is important for everything from reading and understanding maps to keeping your balance stepping onto the sidewalk while trying to read that map. Design and representation rely heavily on the skills first stimulated by playing with unit blocks.

Experience with blocks can be academically beneficial for a child. Recognition of sizes and shapes is usually followed by a desire to articulate them. This is the motive for acquiring and using vocabulary. Grouping, adding, subtracting and even multiplying with blocks is a great way for preschoolers and kindergartners to develop math skills. Older children might use blocks to make playful, early experiments with gravity, balance and geometry.

With blocks, a child gets a chance to make his own designs and experience the satisfaction of creating structures that didn't exist before. Around two years of age a child may embark on pretend play using a variety of blocks. Blocks give a child the equipment to manifest his imagination with something tangible. The details exist in the child's mind and heart while his hands participate, as does the space around him, through the anchoring power of the blocks. Children create drama and sculpture - the possibilities are endless.

The block area should be three-sided. This allows for easy access and it give the child walls to build against if he needs them. Also, a large open side allows for lots of coming and going. The world of blocks may quickly expand to a world of stuffed animals, pots and pans or things from outdoors. It's good to have enough room for a number of children to work together, or have separate projects going. And it should be a reasonably secure place so block structures can be left standing for the builders to come back to later on.

An oldie but a goodie, the unit block continues to satisfy and challenge all at once. It's longevity is testimony to its basic substantial value. Give your child a set of unit blocks and you will open doors you don't even know are there. The mind of a child, set free to learn as it wants to, will guide itself on an exploration into the vastness of the playroom.

Child Cognitive Development from Birth to 7 Years Old
Cognitive development is the development of your child's ability to use his mind, imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills, allowing him to organise his ideas and thoughts and make sense of the world around him. He begins to develop an understanding of concepts - shapes, colours, time - through different methods, including playing, talking, listening to you, asking questions, and imitating. He also learns by using his senses - watching, touching, tasting, smelling, and listening. Your baby needs stimulation. Support his cognitive development by encouraging regular play activities and showing him repeatedly how to do things. He learns by copying you. Let him go at his own pace and give him plenty of encouragement and praise when he gets it right. The age at which your child acquires knowledge and understanding depends on his genetic pattern of development and how much play and stimulating activity he takes part in. However, you can look out for some milestones, which we describe in the next three sections.

From birth to 24 months
From the moment he's born, your child discovers the relationship between his body and environment. He relies on his senses - seeing, touching, feeling, and sucking - to learn. By experimenting, he starts to develop an awareness of himself as being separate from his environment. He begins to realise that he can move things with his hands. A major breakthrough comes at around 4 months, when your baby discovers that objects are permanent and don't disappear just because he can't see them. After your child grasps this concept, he starts experimenting to see what happens: He may pull a pillow towards him when a toy is sat on it, or squash a teddy so that he can push it through the bars of his cot. Help your child's development by playing games such as peek-a-boo, making him realise that you don't disappear behind a pair of hands. Try doing the same with his toys: put Teddy behind your back and then reproduce him with a flourish.

From 2 to 4 years
At this age, your child's speech is egocentric, relating everything to himself -for example, ‘My toy'. Don't worry - he's supposed to think that he's the centre of the universe at this stage! Your child has a hard time understanding the world from any perspective other than his own - hence the temper tantrums and the ‘Me! Me! Me!' attitude. He begins to use symbols, words, and language, but he's not really thinking logically at this stage. By 3 years, your child's much better at communicating and tries to use words to understand his world. He's very imaginative and responsive at this stage. Foster your child's intellectual development by giving him lots of picture books and reading to him regularly. Games that encourage thinking skills are a good idea - try paints, crayons, alphabet games, and jigsaws. Encourage his imagination by letting him dress up in different costumes and play in different environments such as water and sand.

From 4 to 7 years
From age 4 years, your child's speech is more social and less egocentric. He understands logical concepts but still focuses attention on one aspect and ignores other parts of an object. He responds to your dos and don'ts and is capable of problem-solving, such as basic sums. By 4 years, your child forms complete sentences and has a vocabulary of around 1,540 words. He's very inquisitive, questioning, and imaginative. Books, jigsaws, construction sets such as Lego, and dressing-up boxes are great ways of helping him to express himself. By 5 years, his vocabulary has grown to around 2,070 words and he can tell longer stories. He reads his own name, counts up to 20, and knows his colours and textures. He begins to question the meaning of words and understands the difference between what's real and what's not. He reasons, based on his experiences. Visits to museums and zoos encourage him to explore his environment at this age.

From 7 years, your child reasons logically and organises his thoughts. He can still only think about physical objects though, and he isn't capable of abstract reasoning. He starts to lose his egocentric thinking pattern at this age. He can now do multiple tasks, for example arithmetic - encourage this by setting him sums, giving him an abacus, and choosing games and cards that encourage numerical awareness. Keep on top of the teaching methods his school uses (such as using a phonetic alphabet), and be consistent when you're helping your child at home. There's quite enough for him to take in at this stage, without the added confusion of different learning styles!