Sandpoint Play and Learn is a high-quality, early childhood education center in the heart of Sandpoint, opened by Kelley Wendle and Andrew Sampson in November of 2018. Kelley opened this center with a dream to provide a place in our community for children to go while families go to work or school, and be loved, cared for, educated, and thrive. It has grown to be one of North Idaho’s leading childcare centers.
We work together as a family to provide the best for each individual child. We not only have the children’s best interests at heart, but each other’s as well. We are a place which serves our community of parents and children with heart and passion, creating and promoting a safe learning environment for the whole child.
Our teachers give children the room to grow and the wings to fly!
Our Mission
It is our mission to nurture your children with experience and learning opportunities in an enriched environment that provides children of all capabilities to learn in their own diverse ways. We strive to provide teaching staff that are dedicated and have pure intentions of promoting development, ensuring safety, and preserving health of all children.
Our Vision
To nurture and inspire the next generation of lifelong learners by providing a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential. We strive to provide all children with equal opportunity to become strong, successful, and independent adults of the future.
Our Philosophy
We Believe. . .
- Purposeful play is a critical mode of learning for young children.
- Children explore and understand the world around them through their process of hands-on experiences.
- Children are competent and intelligent thinkers; we must give them the tools to assist them on their self-directed learning path.
- Purposeful play is self-motivated, freely chosen, process oriented, and enjoyable.
- Learning begins at home; therefore family involvement is vital for school success.
- It is important to respect and appreciate all children for their uniqueness, as well as their culture and family.
- Childhood is valued as a critical and delicate part of life.
Our Curriculum
In each of our classrooms, we use emergent curriculum. Emergent curriculum is a developmentally appropriate approach to planning for children’s learning in early childhood settings. It involves teachers thoughtfully planning activities and projects based on the specific group of children they are working with, taking into account their skills, needs, and interests. In an emergent curriculum program:
- Individualization: Teachers gain a greater understanding of each child’s individual needs, allowing for thoughtful and individualized programming.
- Observations: Teachers conduct observations of children to inform their planning.
- Reflective Practice: Teachers also engage in reflective practice, taking time to reflect and act on their observations.
- Project Work: Projects allow children to study a topic in more depth over a period of days or weeks, often focusing on answering children’s questions or exploring their interests.
This approach recognizes that children learn best when curriculum experiences align with their interests, strengths, needs, and lived realities. It encourages exploration and skill development, creating a meaningful learning environment for young learners.
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