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Professional educators consistently stress the importance of developing early learning skills in young children, especially those between 12 months to 5 years old.  During these increasingly challenging times, Miami Children’s Museum realizes that learning opportunities have been severely limited.  That’s why they have unveiled an exciting new virtual learning preschool curriculum – Play, Learn, Imagine & Create at Home (PLIC@Home) – at the Early Childhood Institute (ECI).  Though Miami Children’s Museum’s doors are temporarily closed to the public, they have gone virtual to continue enriching the lives of all children by fostering a love of learning through play and enabling children to realize their highest potential.

Miami Children’s Museum’s highly acclaimed, NAEYC affiliated Early Childhood Institutes’ PLIC@Home curriculum is based on High Scope evidence and research-based curriculum.  The comprehensive educational model is designed to inspire children to play, learn, imagine and create at home, and will be available to children ages 3-5 years.  PLIC@Home will invite children to learn about themselves and the culturally diverse community they live in through the exploration of interactive exhibits.  The Museum’s model fosters personal exploration, discovery and hands-on experiences; therefore, the learning environment will continue to be inspired by the Reggio Emilia principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration, discovery and play.

ECI will provide each family with a Reggio Emilia inspired “Classroom Kit” that includes materials to aide parents in creating a suitable environment for each child at home. An important part of the Reggio Emilia approach and virtual curriculum is creating an environment where the child feels alive and authentic. The virtual curriculum is organized into 8 units, with your home as the classroom environment.  Each unit uses High Scope’s 8 curriculum content areas to scaffold children’s learning at their individual level and extend their knowledge as they progress along a developmental trajectory.  Every month the parent will receive a curriculum in a box that will have all the materials, activity descriptions, and engagement pieces needed for projects and virtual learning for each unit.

The virtual school day will be divided into three integral interactions a week that include daily large group instruction, small group instruction and one-on-one instruction.  In the large group the children will join a zoom session for a morning meeting and circle time.  Small groups will be hosted based on each child’s learning style three times a week. One-on-one sessions will be provided once a week as part of the child’s weekly schedule where the teacher will provide observations and assessments as well as integrate new specific learning activities and provide parental support.

For more information about Miami Children’s Museum’s Early Childhood Institute virtual learning preschool curriculum – Play, Learn, Imagine & Create at Home (PLIC@Home) – or to register, please visit www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/preschool/ or contact Natalie Williams, the Director of Education at (305) 373-5437 ext. 122 or nwilliams@miamichildrensmuseum.org.

Though temporarily closed to the public, Miami Children’s Museum offers an exciting “Museum at Home” online program that continues to bring all the experiences of the Museum to the safety and comfort of one’s own home. Among the ways to access the program and participate are:

Website:       miamichildrensmuseum.org/museum-at-home

Facebook:     facebook.com/miami.childrens.museum  

Instagram:    @miamichildrensmuseum

Twitter:        @MiChiMu

YouTube:      Miami Children’s Museum

Miami Children’s Museum offers bilingual and interactive exhibits, programs, classes and learning materials related to arts, culture, community and communication.  The Museum has 17 interactive galleries and houses many exciting and fun traveling exhibits.  Miami Children’s Museum is dedicated to hayamix.com enriching the lives of all children by fostering a love of learning through play and enabling children to realize their highest potential.  Through arts and educational programs, the Museum seeks to include and target all audiences in Miami’s changing and diverse community by being the “town center” for Miami-Dade County’s children and families.

About Miami Children’s Museum

Founded in 1983, Miami Children’s Museum is dedicated to enriching the lives of all children by fostering a love of learning through play and enabling children to realize their highest potential.  Visitors of all ages are encouraged to play, learn, imagine and create.  The 56,500-square-foot facility includes 17 galleries, classrooms, a 200-seat auditorium and outdoor exhibits, including two playgrounds.  The Museum offers hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits; programs and classes, including special needs classes; Subway restaurant; a Kid Smart educational gift shop and learning materials related to arts, culture, community and communication.  To learn more about the museum, please visit www.miamichildrensmuseum.org.

Miami Children’s Museum receives both private and public funding.  The Museum is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, The Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida; with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the City of Miami.