Kids Village551

We've all heard the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child," and at Kids Village it's taken to heart. The mission of the school is to provide children with as many opportunities as possible to discover who they are, what they do well, and why they are special. The Village offers a learning environment where youngsters can safely explore the world around them, sharpen skills, and prepare for their futures.

The program was dreamed up by a Utah mom, Ann Whittaker, who saw her child getting nothing but frustration out of his schooling. Being constantly compared to the smart, popular, and athletic students, her child wasn't able to appreciate his unique talents, abilities, and strengths, and was therefore losing self-confidence. Ann knew that with more one-on-one attention, and hands-on learning experiences, kids could not only learn, but love to learn.

Kids Village believes the time for textbooks alone has passed. It uses the philosophy that the more senses a person uses to "record" an experience, the longer he or she will remember it and relate it to other experiences in his or her life. Because of this, activities such as science, cooking, music, art, and history are integrated into the curriculum. School lessons involve several senses at once to help children connect to the world in which they live. The philosophy is complimented by the Saxon math and phonics program (www.saxonpublishers.com), an academic curriculum that introduces concepts incrementally so children develop a solid foundation in basic skills, then build on this foundation with daily practice and review.

Preschool programs are offered for children ages two to five. Grade school programs are available for Kindergarten through third grade, and Kids Village continues to add programs each year, with the goal of offering a complete grade school education in the near future.

Summer in the Village is a set of week-long day camps designed to cultivate a child's imagination. Through hand-made projects and interactive learning activities, children are introduced to everything from nature to history to world cultures. Camps are available for kids ages three to ten. Check the website for pricing and for more information about the specific camps offered.

A morning academic class is held during the summer months. Contact the school for information on openings and pricing.

The seasonal workshops, summer camps, tutoring, and summer academic classes are available for all children, not just students at the school.