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July 31, 2021 by Christopher Hooker

What Is Reggio Emilia & Why Does It Matter?

Photo by congerdesign from Pixabay

 

Many parents in the Colorado Springs area know that Creekside Kids follows the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child education. Our center is Reggio Emila-influenced, not purely 100% Reggio Emilia, because no center/school outside of Reggio Emilia, Italy, is allowed to call itself “a Reggio Emilia school.” We believe it’s one of the best approaches for educating young children for many reasons. And we’d love to explain why it matters to us that a new generation of kids is learning in this way.

 

If you’ve never heard the story before, Reggio Emilia is a small town in Italy. After World War II, as Italy was restructuring its educational system, a psychologist and parents in the area banded together. They were determined to find a new way of teaching their children. 

 

Instead of testing children against the preconceptions of what they need to be for the sake of their parents and adult society, those pioneers began to consider that no one needs to be the winner and the loser in education. The essential factor is to approach all children with the idea that they are capable, creative, curious, and competent. Instead of paring down children from best to worst, Reggio Emilia-style education accepts and includes all children. It begins with the idea that each child has unlimited potential and fosters that potential, letting the child indicate where they might go next.

 

This might sound like a daunting undertaking, but it’s actually relatively simple. It’s about adults listening to and learning from children as the adult uses many methods and the environment to provoke curiosity. Adults and children interact in this way to impart lessons and spark connections and growth in a young child’s mind. Reggio Emilia-inspired interaction leads to hands-on, child-led experiences in which the adults assist and gently guide the children to verbalize their thoughts and discuss their understanding of the world. This is a hallmark of Reggio Emilia-inspired lessons. It understands that children are already trying to communicate their ideas to us in one hundred ways, but they do not yet know the way that traditional education wants them to communicate. 

 

Reggio-style education means not considering an answer wrong because it doesn’t work on adult logic. We are delving into children’s intellect through Socratic questioning, observation, and provocation to discover how we can partner with each child to see how we can better open their minds to ideas instead of spoon-feeding them the answers.

At Creekside Kids, we do our best to put this practice in place with every child. If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we’d like to invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our regular hours of operation are 6:30 am until 5:45 pm, Monday through Friday; however, we have a shortened schedule during COVID of 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Filed Under: Latest Updates

September 17, 2020 by Christopher Hooker

Get To Know Our Creekside Kids Staff!

A word from the Owner, Ms. Jennifer:

For our Autumn blog, we’ll be taking a departure from our insights into childhood development and activity planning. Instead, we’ve decided to re-introduce the staff of Creekside Kids to the Colorado Springs community!

Ms. Nica

My actual name is Veronica, but because there was already a Veronica working at Creekside Kids at the time I started, I went by my nickname and it stuck.  I grew up in and around Colorado Springs and now live in Ellicott with my three boys on a 35-acre farm.  We raise chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, and dogs.  We also raise Sugar Babies as exotic pets.  

I first started working with children as a teenager by becoming a babysitter.  I developed a little business providing group childcare for PTA meetings which led to my first job as an Aide in an Early Childhood Center.  As I got older I tried other types of jobs but my heart always led me back to working with children.  I decided to go to college and take the courses to become certified as an Early Childhood Teacher.  While at Pikes Peak Community College, I worked at their Child Care Center and learned best practices for the field.  I enjoyed it so much that I continued my studies to become Director Qualified with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.  I decided to pursue my Bachelor’s degree at Colorado Christian University.  I have over 20 years of experience working with children and families in the field of Early Childhood and can’t imagine doing anything else.

One of the things I like best about working at a small center is that I get to have a good balance of working with the children, the staff, and doing administrative tasks.  If I’m frustrated or tired of my work on the computer I enjoy getting out into the classroom and working with the children for a while.  They are sweet and funny.  They always make me laugh.

Ms. Karla

I moved to Colorado Springs from Chicago, Illinois in 2017.  Some of the things I like best about Colorado are camping and hiking in this beautiful state.  I go back to Chicago at least once a year and one of my favorite things to do there is visit my family and friends.  I am fluent in both English and Spanish.  I am the middle child in my family.  I have an older sister and a younger sister.  I don’t have any pets.  My favorite color is grey and my favorite food is tacos.  

I started working at Creekside Kids, as an aide in 2017 and took courses to become Teacher Qualified.  One of my favorite classes was called Pyramid Plus and it was all about child development.  The 2020/2021 school year will be my third year at Creekside Kids.  I’m looking forward to learning and growing with the kids this year.

Ms. Valerie

I’m originally from sunny California where I began my career in Early Childhood Education as an aide for a bilingual child care center.  I am currently enrolled in college and am pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

I made my move to Colorado in August 2019.  I love animals and have two pets, a Corgi named Rambo and a cat named Angelo.  Some of the things I miss about California are the beaches, the amazing food, Disneyland, and my family.  I really enjoy the outdoors and scenic mountains of Colorado and I am looking forward to lots of snow in the winter.

I truly believe that children are our future so, as an Early Childhood Educator, I try to better my knowledge in the subject and continue my education.  I enjoy attending workshops, seminars, and classes both online and in-person when I get the chance.  Because I enjoy learning and gaining experience so much I decided to search for local jobs in the field of Early Childhood Education.  I started working at Creekside Kids in late December of 2019.  I’m excited about the new experiences, relationships, and memories I’ll be making.

Mr. D’lo

I am a Colorado Native and was born in Denver.  We moved to Colorado Springs when I was a child and I graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School.  I have a younger brother and a younger sister.  After high school, I attended the University of Northern Colorado and majored in Elementary Education with a minor in English as a Second Language.  I have a few months of student teaching to complete before I finish my degree.  I am a part-time tutor and also have experience running summer sports camps for children with the YMCA.  My goal is to become fully certified as an elementary teacher and have my own classroom in the fall of 2021.

Some of the things I enjoy doing when I am not working are playing basketball and doing things with my family.  My favorite color is blue and my favorite food is a burrito.  My favorite kind of pet is a dog but I do not currently have one.  I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese.  

I joined the staff of Creekside Kids in the summer of 2019 so I have just passed my one year anniversary.  One of the things I am looking forward to at Creekside Kids this year is keeping everything at the center safe and fun.

Ms. Dominique

Colorado has always been my home.  Being born and raised here in Colorado Springs, I have had a lot of milestones in my life–one includes being a class of 2016 graduate of CIVA High School.  CIVA has a curriculum to fit each student’s individual way of learning.  It impacted how I view learning today.

I have a love for adventuring and branching out of my comfort zone to try new things.  Some of my favorite activities are decorating my home, going out for pizza, and spoiling my cat, Bobby.  I love going hiking, fishing, sight-seeing, and fitness activities.  Spending time with my loved ones is very important to me, as they have helped me grow so much as a person.  My favorite color is dark green and my favorite food is pizza.

I found my passion for working with little ones when my little brother was born in 2017 and I began to help take care of him.  Not only was it a surreal experience, but it made me realize how grateful I am to be where I am today.  I’m coming up on my one year anniversary of working at Creekside Kids.  Time flies!  I’m working on taking courses to become Teacher Qualified and plan to stay in the field of Early Childhood Education as a career.

One of the things I am looking forward to this year is to help modify what we do at Creekside Kids for safety during COVID19.  Finding new ways for the kids to learn and grow is our main goal!

Ms. Melanie

I’m a Colorado native and was born in Boulder, Colorado.  I grew up in Denver and I have been in Colorado Springs since 2005.  I am the mother of three children, two boys, and one girl.  Two of my children are grown men and my daughter is in junior high school.  My oldest son, Mr. D’lo, works alongside me at Creekside Kids.  I love spending time with my family, being outdoors, and reading.

I have worked with children since my first job at age 15.  I studied Early Childhood Education at Front Range Community College.  I have been a preschool teacher since I was 20 years old.  I have worked with children in corporate childcare centers, private childcare centers, from home, in church settings, foster care, group homes, preschool, and elementary schools.  I currently work full time at a District 12 elementary school and part-time at Creekside Kids because I haven’t lost my love for preschool.  It is very important to me that all children feel loved.

I love working at Creekside Kids because the kids bring me joy, make me laugh and I love watching them grow.  I love being a staff member because we are like a family.  I enjoy being with my co-workers both at work and outside of work.  The staff of Creekside is my second family.

Filed Under: Latest Updates, News

August 1, 2020 by Christopher Hooker

Creekside Kids Team Excited to Begin the 2020-2021 School Year

We are delighted to report that teachers and students will be returning to school on August 10, 2020. The Creekside Kids team is very excited to begin the new school year and we feel it is time to celebrate!

Why are we celebrating? Because all of our staff — the ones that you and your kids know and love — are returning. There’s a lot of loyalty within our team and our community, and we feel that is worth noting. These teachers really love their kids and families, and they are all looking forward to returning to Creekside Kids. It’s a great and cohesive team, so we’re really excited to kick off the school year on August 10th!

Due to the school guidelines set by the State of Colorado, Creekside Kids will be following all directives and procedures. So we can all adhere to the safety rules for your children and our staff, we thank you for your assistance in helping us create a positive, safe, and healthy educational experience for everyone involved.

Just for fun, here is a humorous graphic we found that illustrates some of the realities we face in trying to keep the kids safe/healthy.

Speaking of food, we have another important update to share with you. 

We no longer have a catering service. All parents will have to send nutritious shelf-stable lunches with their children each day. Lunches need to meet the FDA requirements, which we can provide to families. We’re happy to assist families in being sure that their children have a proper amount of each component required by the FDA. However, we lost our catering service due to COVID and the company changing their business model. We are searching for a cost-effective catering alternative. Yet, the health department prefers us to have children bring their own food from their own homes to reduce cross-contamination. 

To add, here is what Creekside Kids is required to do under the new COVID-era guidelines, which are fluid and frequently changing:

  • All people entering the building, including children, parents, and staff, are required to undergo temperature checks. Anyone showing signs of fever will be prevented from entering.
  • Before the end of the day, all children and staff will have their temperatures checked again so we can report if anyone is at risk and should be sent home until they are well.
  • In the COVID era, the realities are evident that we have to take care of each other if we are to succeed together.
  • We strive to offer an exceptional and safe environment for all of the children we serve. Before COVID, many of us thought that an exceptional environment included organic food, a thriving and creative learning experience, and a safe environment included video cameras, passcodes, and locks. In the time of COVID, safety is more than just video cameras and locks. 

Here is the support we need from the parents:

  • Our policies will be more strict than the State guidelines. 
  • Please be patient and understanding as we follow all of the processes to ensure the safety and health of your children.
  • The costs of following COVID-era guidelines, lower student head-count, and higher staffing requirements are forcing an increase in prices.
  • If a child or staff member comes down with COVID-19, Creekside Kids will be required to shut down for two weeks. Please understand that a sick child can put everyone at risk.

Here are our intended outcomes under these new school year circumstances:

  • As a result of our rigid controls on health and safety, we expect to have a clean, healthy, and exceptional learning environment that will remain COVID-free.
  • Though prices will be rising to compensate for the lower head-count of students and the increased staffing, Creekside Kids will still be providing the same amount of care and attention your family has grown to love.

Thank you for having faith in us. Thank you for having patience as we assimilate all of the new state requirements and guidelines for reopening our child care center in August. And, finally, thank you for doing your part so we can all be successful together. 

We adore you and your family. See you soon!  — The Creekside Kids Team

Filed Under: Events, Latest Updates, News, Parents Tips Tagged With: Child Centric, Children Development, Children Learning, Emilia Learning, Loris Malaguzzi, Pedagogy, Philosophy Of Education, Province Of Reggio Emilia, Reggio, Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia Approach, Reggio Emilia Philosophy

June 3, 2020 by Christopher Hooker

Kicking Off Summer In The Time Of COVID

With the arrival of June, the summer season has begun, and our Creekside kids should be free to be out in the sun, adventuring, teaming up for games, and playing together unfettered. COVID19 changes what we can allow our kids to do; to protect them, we have to limit their contact with others and maintain a safe environment.

 

Summer comes with all sorts of kid-friendly traditions. The long lockdown has been challenging for both parents and children but, the arrival of summer gives us an opportunity to change that.  It’s important to adapt these rites of summer to safely let our kids know that the joys of life are  still there for them.  We want to teach our children that we are resilient and are able to thrive in times of adversity.

 

The joy of living.  Life is bursting out of every crook and cranny in the summer. Insects emerge and the butterflies and birds are back. Take time to celebrate these things with your kids. Point out an anthill that has newly formed and explain how the colony works inside it. Pull up a YouTube video on ant colonies.  Look for the returning birds and the Monarch butterflies. Take a moment to show your kids how to appreciate the pleasure of being alive together, even during a pandemic.

 

The great outdoors.  In the summer, we look to do the things we can’t do the rest of the time and much of it is outdoors. It’s just warm enough to eat dinner outside and if you stay outside at dusk, you may be lucky enough to see bats flying around.  On the hottest days, Cheyenne Creek is a good way to beat the heat and share some fun memories together. Nature hikes are a chance to get out together and explore our high desert environment.  Bear Creek Nature Center has easily accessible trails for kids and grandparents too. Share a sunrise or a sunset, if you have the right vista. 

 

The bounty of summer.  Summer brings great foods to the table, and it can help children process this transition. Buy a watermelon (have you tried the yellow watermelons?), pick wild strawberries and raspberries in Cheyenne Canyon. Summer fruits and vegetables from a container garden or raised bed will help key your child into the changing season and provide new opportunities for the children to taste fresh fruits and vegetables they grow themselves.

 

Plant a berry garden.  If you’ve got a yard to play with, why not play in the dirt with your kids? Plant strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries in a sunny place in your garden, and perhaps pumpkins too, in anticipation of Autumn. Have a look at James Prigioni’s Gardening Channel for ideas on berries you can grow.

 

Honor the break. If you have older kids you have been homeschooling, keep in mind that they need their summer break to play, be silly, and put the academics they have learned through the year to practical hands-on use. Their mood is transferable to their younger Creekside siblings, so if older siblings feel unfairly burdened by a school year that isn’t ending due to extra lessons and tutoring, it could create a negative impression for the younger ones. Make sure to have a cut-off date and honor it, so that all your kids know that summer has a sacred place, even during a pandemic.

 

Honoring the seasons as they change is important because they provide your preschooler with a deeper understanding of time, the calendar, seasons, celebrations, and even astronomy.   Seasons and celebrations are how young children understand and mark time.  Be sure to come back next month for some great kid-friendly activities you can explore with your Creekside kids this summer while social distancing!

Filed Under: Events, Latest Updates, News, Parents Tips Tagged With: Child Centric, Children Development, Children Learning, Colorado Springs, Emilia Learning, Inspire Children, Loris Malaguzzi, Pedagogy, Philosophy Of Education, Province Of Reggio Emilia, Reggio, Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia Approach, Reggio Emilia Philosophy

June 3, 2020 by Christopher Hooker

Four Fun At-Home Adventures While Sheltering In Place

As you know, the schools continue to be closed and Creekside Kids is unable to open until further notice. Once we know more, you’ll be among the first to know!

 

In the meantime, we dreamt up four fun at-home adventures the family can enjoy while social distancing in the COVID-19 era.

 

Go camping in your backyard. Camping on your back deck or in your backyard is always fun! The kids get to sleep in the tent, burn off some energy outside, and they’re not too far away from the comforts of home. Bonus points if you cook a meal or two outside of your kitchen and enjoy some smores. Yum!

 

 

Bury treasure and create a pirate’s map. The idea of finding buried treasure is an age-old fantasy that has inspired a lot of us. What if you and the kids put together a treasure chest that contains a time capsule of goods and mementos that would be fun to rediscover later? Then, you can bury that treasure chest / time capsule and create a GPS map to aid you in finding it again many years later. You can even talk like pirates throughout the entire project. Argh, matey!

 

 

Start a fairy garden. At Creekside Kids, we tend to play in the garden as much as possible because it’s a great learning experience for the children. Lately, we saw a fairy garden that was inspired by a broken planting pot. In this fairy garden, you and the kids can find miniature objects and plants that would make fairies feel right at home. If you build multiple fairy gardens with multiple broken pots, you can create an entire fairy community in your yard!

 

 

Create a virtual block party. Since so many people are using Zoom and other video conferencing services, how easy would it be to host a virtual block party? Send a notice out to your neighbors — even those that may have moved away — and invite them to your virtual block party. Everyone can gather around their cameras and share stories, play Pictionary or trivia games, and share the recipes of what they’re eating and drinking. If you’re using Zoom, you can send the kids and adults to smaller breakout rooms.

 

 

If you decide to enjoy these at-home adventures, we would love to see you share your photos and videos on our Facebook page. Even though we cannot physically be with you and your children right now, we certainly love staying connected with our entire Creekside Kids community. 

Filed Under: Events, Latest Updates, News, Parents Tips Tagged With: Child Centric, Children Development, Children Learning, Colorado Springs, Emilia Learning, Inspire Children, Loris Malaguzzi, Pedagogy, Philosophy Of Education, Province Of Reggio Emilia, Reggio, Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia Philosophy

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creekside building
CREEKSIDE KIDS
1201 W Cheyenne Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 635-9111
 
6:30 am - 5:45 pm
Monday - Friday

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Thank you to all of your wonderful teachers! Athima loves camp every summer. And she learns so much. She will be sad that it is the end. But hope to see you next summer!
Stockinger Family
Dear Creekside Staff, Thank you so much for taking such amazing care of Grace this past year. It means so much to me knowing she was in such wonderful hands and she was so happy there with you. We wish you a wonderful summer and hope to stay in touch. Thank you for everything!
Kimnach Family
Creekside teachers, Thanks for another great year of helping our kids “spread their wings”. You are a wonderful caring group of teachers!
John
Dear Jennifer and Veronica, dear everybody at Creekside Kids! Thank you so much for being wonderful leaders, so caring and fun!
Christopher and Family
Dear Creekside, Thank you for allowing Hanna Grace to borrow books, and for taking care of  my  sweet girl!  
Gina
Veronica, Jennifer, Chris, Libby, Melinda and the team I missed. Thank you so much! We will miss the love, fun and guidance (to us both!) of the Creekside Family!
Julie and Sofia Di Gerlando
Thank you so much for everything! You guys are great with kiddos and we would recommend you to anyone. We’ll miss you and we appreciate the time Eli had here. Thanks!
The Wilson Family
Thank you for the wonderful two years at Creekside. We have always felt safe and secure and have enjoyed all the fun and educational activities. We will miss you as Nick moves on to Kindergarten.
Elizabeth, Joe and Nicholas

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Location & Hours

creekside building
1201 W Cheyenne Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906  
 
6:30 am - 5:45 pm
Monday - Friday
(719) 635-9111

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Testimonials

Thank you so much for everything! You guys are great with kiddos and we would recommend you to anyon… Read more
The Wilson Family
Read more...
Dear Creekside Staff, Thank you so much for taking such amazing care of Grace this past year. It … Read more
Kimnach Family
Read more...
Veronica, Jennifer, Chris, Libby, Melinda and the team I missed. Thank you so much! We will miss … Read more
Julie and Sofia Di Gerlando
Read more...
Thank you to all of your wonderful teachers! Athima loves camp every summer. And she learns so much.… Read more
Stockinger Family
Read more...
Creekside teachers, Thanks for another great year of helping our kids “spread their wings”. You a… Read more
John
Read more...
Dear Jennifer and Veronica, dear everybody at Creekside Kids! Thank you so much for being wonderful … Read more
Christopher and Family
Read more...
Thank you for the wonderful two years at Creekside. We have always felt safe and secure and have enj… Read more
Elizabeth, Joe and Nicholas
Read more...
Dear Creekside, Thank you for allowing Hanna Grace to borrow books, and for taking care of  my … Read more
Gina
Read more...

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