DCH Preschool FAQ

DCH Preschool provides a loving, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive. Our mission is to help children become confident, curious, and compassionate lifelong learners.

Through play, relationships, exploration, and meaningful experiences, we support children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development while fostering a strong sense of belonging and community.

DCH Preschool combines high-quality early childhood education with the warmth and values of a community-based nonprofit organization.

Located on DCH's historic campus near the Charles River, children learn through hands-on experiences, outdoor exploration, and meaningful relationships. Our teachers, families, and children work together to create a welcoming and collaborative learning community where every child is known and valued.

We believe parents and caregivers are essential partners in a child's education and play an important role in the life of our school.

Children learn best through active exploration and meaningful experiences.

At DCH Preschool, play is the foundation for learning. Through play, children develop language, problem-solving skills, creativity, confidence, social skills, and independence. Teachers carefully design environments and experiences that encourage children to investigate, question, experiment, and discover.

Play is not separate from learning. It is how young children learn.

Our program is inspired by children's natural curiosity and desire to understand the world around them.

We use an emergent, inquiry-based approach to learning. Teachers observe children's interests, questions, and discoveries, then build meaningful learning experiences around those interests. Projects often develop naturally from children's conversations, observations, and experiences.

Learning may begin with a question about insects, a walk to the Charles River, a family moving to a new home, or an eagle sighting in the neighborhood. These authentic experiences become opportunities for deeper exploration, research, creativity, and collaboration.

We believe children are capable, competent learners who construct knowledge through relationships, exploration, and reflection.

Children learn through a combination of play, exploration, relationships, conversation, movement, creativity, and hands-on experiences.

Teachers provide thoughtfully prepared environments and materials that encourage investigation and discovery. Children are given time to explore at their own pace, ask questions, solve problems, and express their ideas in many different ways.

Learning experiences are designed to support the whole child while respecting each child's individual strengths, interests, and developmental journey.n