Red Hook Playgroup

At Red Hook Playgroup, we believe that all children have the desire, ability, and motivation to learn about their world. We seek to nurture these natural impulses by providing an environment for learning and discovery that is supportive, stimulating, and challenging. Each child is seen as a unique individual and is given the opportunity to follow their instincts, direct, and take ownership over their learning. Simultaneously, teachers provide the structure, guidance, and challenges that children need to thrive.

We believe that the aesthetics of the learning environment are important – children find wonder and inspiration in materials, and are drawn to beauty in their environments. Our classrooms are arranged to provide a structured, consistent, and inspirational base for learning, and are filled with carefully chosen materials. Through hands-on work with these materials, children develop their knowledge of language, math, scientific, sensorial, and artistic concepts. Through observation, discussion, and work with the children, the teachers develop an understanding of them. The interplay of these classroom relationships fosters each child’s unique development.

Our approach to curriculum development begins with what we know about the needs of children in their early childhood – physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. We believe that the “best practice” of early childhood education involves finding a balance between supporting children’s needs in all of these areas in order to truly support the “whole” child. We are influenced by the Montessori Method and, increasingly, the Reggio Approach. We have been exploring these approaches for several years and have implemented many aspects of them in our classrooms.

Each year at RHP we work to develop a true community of learners who are equipped at this early period of development to think critically and to respect, support, and learn from all the members of their community.