A Family’s Guide to Understanding Early Childhood Education Center Models

By Patrick Eckelmann, Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning, Learning & Development Manager

At Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning, we believe exploration and play are the best and most effective ways to learn. Our program is designed to be child-centered and hands-on with a focus on social emotional learning and physical, cognitive, and language development.

But what does that look like on a day-to-day basis within the classroom and what are other approaches that you might see at another program?

Let’s take a look at a few common early childhood education (ECE) models, typically designed for children ages birth to 5, to better understand the teaching and learning methods used, and hopefully help inform which model you prefer for your child.

Types of Models

Early childhood programs incorporate a variety of approaches or models tailored to support children’s learning, development, and well-being. If you are looking for an ECE provider, there are many different approaches you might come across. Here are some prominent ones:

• CHS Approach: At CHS, we blend ideas from multiple models to emphasize a play-based, project-based, and child-centered approach. Teachers use ideas from one model as a guide for what topics children want to learn about and then ideas from another model to allow children’s questions and interest to guide the direction of the learning. We emphasize a hands-on learning environment and focus on nurturing social-emotional growth while supporting physical, cognitive, and language development to foster the holistic well-being and success of each child.

• Reggio-Inspired Learning: An educational approach that values the natural curiosity and creativity of young children. Originating in Reggio Emilia, Italy, it emphasizes the importance of children as capable, curious individuals who learn best through exploration, collaboration, and meaningful experiences. Here’s how it might look for your child: If your child shows interest in bugs, the class might explore insects by drawing them, reading books about them, or observing them outdoors.

• The Creative Curriculum: Empowers children to be confident, creative, and caring learners through play-based, hands-on investigations. It is a research-based approach that incorporates language, literacy, and mathematics throughout the day. This method involves studies, which are in-depth explorations of a topic (e.g., trees, buildings, or balls). If a Creative Curriculum study focuses on “buildings,” children might: Use blocks and loose parts to build their own structures or collaborate on a class project to design a city model, incorporating their ideas and learning.
• Montessori Approach: Mixed-age classrooms, specialized materials for self-directed learning, teachers act as guides rather than direct instructors, emphasis on practical life skills, sensory experiences, and autonomy.

• High Scope Approach: Daily “plan-do-review” process for child-initiated activities, well-defined key developmental indicators (KDIs) to guide learning, structured yet flexible routines, emphasis on problem-solving and social interaction.

• Waldorf Education: Emphasis on rhythm, repetition, and imaginative play; minimal use of technology in early years; teacher continuity, often staying with the same group for several years; integration of arts, music, and nature into daily activities.

• Head Start Model: Emphasis on school readiness and early learning; parent involvement in decision-making and program planning; federal performance standards to ensure quality.

• Forest Schools: Outdoor, nature-based learning; regular, extended time spent in natural settings; child-led activities promoting resilience, independence, and teamwork; exploration of natural elements and fostering environmental stewardship; development of physical and risk-taking skills.

The Looping Model/Continuity of Care

The Looping Model in early childhood settings is a framework designed to promote continuity of care—ensuring that young children build strong, lasting relationships with their caregivers. This approach creates a secure and nurturing environment that supports their social, emotional, and developmental needs.

Think of the Looping Model as a cycle that prioritizes consistency in a child’s care throughout their early years. Instead of children transitioning to a new caregiver or classroom every year, this model keeps them with the same caregiver or a small team of caregivers over a longer period—often for the first three years of life.

Young children thrive on secure relationships. They feel safest and learn best when they are with adults they know well and trust. The Looping Model helps build these strong connections by:

• Minimizing Transitions: Your child stays with the same caregiver(s) through key developmental stages.
• Fostering Relationships: Caregivers get to know your child deeply—their preferences, personality, and needs.
• Supporting Development: With a consistent caregiver, your child feels more confident to explore, play, and grow.

Blending Models

Some programs choose to blend a variety of models together to create a proprietary approach. By blending the strengths of different models, ECE programs and teachers can create a rich, child-centered environment that meets developmental needs while fostering curiosity and joy in learning. Many programs follow this approach, including CHS. Ask the ECE providers you are interested in about their approaches to see if the program is right for you!

In conclusion, learning about these different ECE learning and teaching methods, and ways they can be blended, is a great way to narrow down what you value the most for your child’s early learning. Taking this intentional approach is a great first step in finding the program that fits best for you and your child and setting your family up for success!