EDUCATIONAL PRINCIPLES:            

A child's earliest, most frequent experiences help to shape their emotions, their outlook and even their future capabilities.  It is important that the child's role models be aware of the continual teaching and nurturing that goes on every waking moment. 

The Children's Depot is dedicated to maintaining a standard of excellence in child care that will far exceed most schools.  Our caregivers are a unique group of professionally trained individuals with your child's best interest at heart.

WHAT CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN:

A person's greatest desire is to be happy and fulfilled in life.  This is even a part of our American Constitution; "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."  To enjoy things which we have been given, our physical abilities, our unique personality, our talents and most importantly our famiily and friends is our greatest resource.  To train ourselves in the good character qualities it is imperative that we maintain structure and consistency in our lives and the lives our children. 

Children who learn through authorities that maintain this environment will learn to:

            1.  Respect authority.
            2.  Pay attention to people and detail.
            3.  Obey willingly and immediately.
            4.  Apply themselves to whatever task is at hand.
            5.  Learn that life has rules and obey them.
            6.  Do their best in all things.
            7.  Learn to work hard no matter what their abilities are.
            8.  Have an understanding of how things work together.
            9.  Finish the job or task assigned to them.
           10.  Know that there is always a right answer.
           11.  Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
           12.  Love wisdom.
           13.  Choose things that are excellent.
           14.  Develop habits that are good and moral.

CHARACTER TRAINING, the most important aspect of education!

Good character it vital for true success!  The Bible states, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches."  Character is the outward manifestation of how a person thinks in his heart, how he looks at life and how he responds and communicates with others.  Character training is actually taking place all the time, throughout each day no matter what else is being taught.  In every situation, every life experience character is being developed by an individual.  The sobering question to ask ourselves however is, "is it good character or bad character that is being learned?"

Children must be taught good character.  If we do not actively promote and explain and require good character, then bad character will naturally manifest itself.  Example: You don't have to teach a two year old to be selfish, you have to teach them to share!  Bad character never produces happiness.  In fact, the complete opposite happens.  When we do not practice quality behavior through the character of our heart we become miserable and in turn make those around us miserable. Let me ask you a question.  "Have you ever been around a child (or adult) who exhibits poor character/behavior?  And how miserable did it make you feel?"

CHARACTER TRAINING THROUGH THE FORMATION OF HABIT:

The final aim of Christian, character education is the production of individuals who will habitually choose to do right even under pressure because it is right to do.  This goal is accomplished by carefully laying down the rules and principles, and through biblical discipline, getting the child to respond by:

       1.  acting in accordance with these principles time after time and
       2.  learning how to think about these principles and conscientiously 
            choose to apply them.

Finally, by force of habit, each student on his own will be able to deliberate and choose to do right because of the faithful training of his parents and teachers.  This training will have taught the student to choose the dictates of reason rather than the dictates of passion.  Once he or she is mature they will naturally respond with positive character qualities based on what they have been taught and learned by example.  Common sense and wisdom will be the normal response.  As individuals they will experience that doing right brings joy and true fulfillment in life.  Then and only then can we as parents and educators say that their life is a success and that our efforts were of any value.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AND YOUR CHILD:

These character training principles, when applied, can make an immeasurable difference in a child's life.  Our faithful effort of understanding and applying this character training process in the home and in the classroom will mean the difference between children that are uncooperative and unruly or children that behave exceptionally well in all circumstances.

Sometimes we must make changes in our lives in order to maintain these high standards of character.  Children are keen in sensing a hypocritical atmosphere.  If we as parents or teachers are allowing certain circumstances to be present in our surroundings that do not line up with the promotion of Christian character than we will undermine the work of good character in our children and ourselves.
        
The Children's Depot esteems these values of greatest importance.  This is our #1 goal and commitment.  We believe anything else would be robbing your child of the necessary equipment to face the challenges and struggles of today.