The most important goals of our preschool curriculum are for children to become independent, enthusiastic, self-confident, curious, life-long learners who can work well with others. We achieve these goals by creating purposeful and productive play experiences that help children grow in all areas. GCDC uses The Creative Curriculum in our toddler and pre-kindergarten classrooms. The Creative Curriculum is a research-based curriculum that defines goals in four areas of development:

Social-Emotional: Helps children develop independence, self-confidence, and self- control, following rules and routines, make friends, and learn what it means to be part of a group.

Physical: Increases children’s large muscle skills, such as balancing, running, jumping, throwing, and catching; and engages small muscles in their hands to do tasks, such as buttoning, stringing beads, cutting, drawing, and writing.

Cognitive: Develops critical thinking skills, such as the ability to solve problems, ask questions, and think logically.

Language: Uses words to communicate with others, listen to and participate in conversations with others, understand the purpose of print, recognize letters and words, and begin writing for a purpose. We accomplish our goals through the activities planned, thoughtful classroom arrangements, age-appropriate selections of toys and materials, established routines, and interactions with children.​

GCDC also ensures that all instruction meets the State guidelines as well as those of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards.