Compare and Evaluate Child Care Curriculum Programs and Packages
There are many prepackaged child care program kits available. Here is a way to compare and find the best one for your program.
| Curriculum | Ages | Form | curricular areas/features | Materials included? | D.A.P | Cost? | Free sample? | Qualifications of Preparer |
| Learning Foundations | preschool | instant download of theme units or CD60 themes | Songs, poems, and fingerplays, Field Trip suggestions,Math activities, Creative Art activity ideas,Bibliography,Bulletin Board Ideas,Cooking ideas and recipes,Block Area Enrichment ideas,Flannel board ideas,Playground activities and games,Sensory Table ideas,Movement/Large motor ideas,Science ExperiencesHome/School Connection ideas,Prop Box/Dramatic Play ideas,Literacy Activities | no | yes | $5 per theme unit | yes, entire unit | 25 years in the field CDA Advisor/Rep, NAEYC Validator Past Director of Training/Curriculum for 2 national for-profit chains |
| Mother Goose Time | preschool | monthly packet with 2 pre-selected themes mailed | Theme related songs, fingerplays,
cooperative games, individual games, creative dramatics,
exercises, dramatic play and food ideasProvider and
Parent Newsletters. free story book, participation stories, project sheets, graph charts |
yes | $39.99 minimium per month/ | 1 day peek | unknown | |
| Funshine Express | preschool | Monthly theme-based curriculum. FunShine Express follows a three-year rotation of themes and activities. Mailed monthly | activity ideas, creative art supplies,
music, and TWO curriculums from which to choose! Fireflies™ includes 12 age-appropriate and creative art projects per month with craft supplies and patterns included for each child. Sprouts™ includes 10 creative art experiences with supplies included for each child, allowing for more time for “free choice” art activities. |
Yes: | The SproutsÔ curriculum |
$47.54 for first 2 children per month | Free sample days | FunShine Express’ owner/president and curriculum director has a Master’s Degree in Education and four years of licensed child care experience. She has also been a child care trainer for Southwest ND Child Care Resource and Referral. Both of our curriculum writers have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and/or a related field. They have teaching experience in centers and home-based environments with children of all ages. |
| High Reach | toddler -pre-K | Integrates learning across all areas of the curriculum .Balances teacher-guided and independent center activities .Saves planning time with an average of 125 monthly activity ideas.Includes adaptations for individualization for mixed-age groups .Compliant with ECERS-R and NAEYC guidelines | no | yes | first 3 children $35.94 per month | no | Each member of the development team holds at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and/or related field. Several members of the team hold master’s degrees as well. Equally important, all members of the product development team have real world classroom experience working with young children | |
| Reach for the Stars | toddler and preschool | Preschool has 4 weekly themes with 5 mini daily themes each week. Toddler offers 4 weekly themes with 3 mini themes per week. Option to purchase Preschool, Toddler or both in download or CD formats | A Welcome Manual, Weekly Supply lists, Program Calendar with Daily Activities, Art & Craft Activities/Projects, Color, Number, Shape Recognition, Sign Language Cards, Math & Science Projects, Music & Movement Activities, Literature Activities, Recipes for Art/Craft Projects, Recipes for Cooking with the Children, Book Suggestions Relating to Each Theme, Partnership with Home Suggestions, Wall Calendar & Daily Cut-outs, Monthly Parent Newsletter and more | no | $20 - $45/month depending on option purchased | 1 day sample | Pam has 18 years experience with children and has an Associate Degree in Early childhood Education . Robyn has almost 32 years as a family childcare provider, many hours of child development classes and was the second in her state to become nationally accredited. | |
| Creative Prek | Each Volume Includes: 12 Weeks of Daily Lesson Plans Each Theme includes five daily lesson plans |
Circle Time Messy Table Cut & Color Table Creative Art Outside Games And Activities | no | $34.95 + $5.00 (S/H) | sample lesson plan | |||
| Funsteps | Funsteps program for 3 to 5 year olds
and Twosteps >for 2 to 3 year olds. |
Each month's kit contains
12 full days of fun activitiesBoth
include alphabet and number activities, 3 to 4 themes
each month >and holiday and special day activities. Crafts come packed in separate bags >with all materials included and are different every year for 6 years. |
Price for 6 children is $47./mo plus
shipping for Funsteps and >$34./mo plus shipping for Twosteps |
Full month's kit as a free sample | 20 years of experience in publishing >professional curriculum as Kapers for Kids and Funsteps; BA and MA in education; >public school teaching and many years experience in family child care |
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| Carol's Affordable Curriculum | toddler and preschool | Over half of the month is crafts
and the other half are worksheets and other educational pages and projects. We provide all the materials to complete your crafts. Plus, you don't need to make any copies, just order for however many children you need it for. |
yes | $8.75 per child first month | no | Family daycare provider for 14 yrs | ||
| ChubbieCubbie's Customizable Curriculum! | toddler and preschool | Approx. 65-95 activities per month (depending on kit size). | art & craft projects; songs & finger plays; science, cooking, & math: suggested stories & books; group activities; coloring pages; worksheets and booklets, special holidays, and more. | optional | $19.95 for City Bears Kit & $15.95 for Country Bears Kit (Precuts, Copies, & Supplies extra). | no | Childcare Administration Certificate & ODHS 45-Credit Hour Certificate plus over 20 years working and volunteering with children. | |
| Early Beginnings | preschool | Language development, as well as thinking and motor skills. Interaction with other children through cooperative learning activities together with social skill awareness; i.e., good manners and appropriate ways to behave. Curriculum activities that foster a positive self-image in each child and facilitate in their intellectual, social, emotional & physical | yes | $38 per child first month | no | Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education | ||
| Early Start | preschool | One Teacher's Guide
which contains detailed lesson plans for at least 20 days each month. Monthly Calendar. Monthly newsletters for parens. Activity pages for at least 20 days each month for each of your children. |
math, science, language arts, movement, music and social activities cookikng math drama songs games science | no | (Minimum order of 5 with any age combination is $20.00/month plus $3.00 shipping and handling for a total of $23.00 per month.) | no | unknown | |
| KidCrafters | preschool | CD | theme-based ideas for art, cooking, science, finger-plays, music, large & small motor activities, and dramatic playLarge (400+ page) file of black & white and color art patterns, family notes, felt board activities, games, math manipulatives, flash cards and wall posters for alphabet – number – color – shape, two-color calendar cutouts to use for math & patterning activities, & other theme-related activities | no | $30 per CD | no | unknown |