Curriculum, by definition is: The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
Sounds pretty straight forward right?
In early learning centers this is not the case.
“Curriculum is shaped by what we believe about children and how they learn” (Taylor, slide 8, “What is Curriculum”).
In order to teach children effectively ECE's must be flexible. Children do not run on a certain predetermined schedule for the day. ECE's should always leave extra time for new experiences or challenges that may arise. ECE's should have a flexible curriculum because not all children can sit down and do work. All children learn in different ways. And because of this teachers need to be observant and plan activities that all children will experience success in, in order to foster that child's self concept and competence.
Since the curriculum is play based, children are able to learn essential skills needed for daily life, but also skills that translate through into adulthood. Play helps develop communication, socioemotional, cognitive, physical, self-regulatory and academic skills. Since curriculum in day cares have such a broad spectrum, it can all effectively summed up into the following phrase.
Curriculum is Everything.