Some things are expected at an early childhood education center: finger paints, smiles, books.
Some things are not expected, such as a central-campus location and a philosophy about education based on its Latin root word.
Two local early childhood centers, Children's House Auburn Montessori School and Auburn University Early Learning Center are unlike most early education options.
AUELC is located on the concourse across from the Haley Center, and The Children's House has a Montessori philosophy-based curriculum.
"It's wonderful to be where we are," said Sharon Wilbanks, AUELC director. "We have access to almost everywhere on campus."
AUELC serves a dual purpose on Auburn's campus.
"We're a lab school," Wilbanks said. "That's our main purpose, other than top-quality early childhood education."
Wilbanks said The AUELC is the oldest lab school in the SEC.
Children's House, located at 231 E. Drake Ave., is a Montesorri school in only its second year, although Charlene Kam has worked in education for 16 years.
Kam said it is the only local Montesorri early childhood education option.
Children's House aims to,"preserve a home away from home that nurtures the love of learning, values ambition, and fosters the spirit of peace, love and kindness in every child," according to its official website.
The children attending Children's House are between the ages of three and six.
Kam said the Montesorri philosophy encourages allowing to students study what appeals to them and treating the children in a familial way.
"It's the nature of learning," Kam said. "Very organic."
Kam said allowing students to pursue their interests results in them being more engaged and motivated.
"The Latin root of the word educate is educari," Kam said. "It means to bring forth from within."
Kam said this method of education reveals the essence of the child.
The students at Children's House are learning about owls, land forms, writing in cursive and tending to squash, which they planted earlier in the year.
Susan Harper, educator at Children's House, said the options offered to children are an extremely important aspect of Montesorri education.
"It offers the children the opportunity to make choices," Harper said. "They don't need to be catered to; they don't need to be told what to do."
The AUELC is open to the public, and the parents of AUELC children are not necessarily affiliated with Auburn.
Wilbanks said the unique location of the school opens up opportunities for students and staff, including fairs and on-campus events.
"We try to fit as many wonderful, fun activities as we can into a day," Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks also said the location presents unique challenges.
"There are two main challenges," Wilbanks said. "The first one is parking."
Wilbanks said the second challenge is the occasional presence of gory or graphic images, such as photos of aborted fetuses, on the concourse.
She said the solution to this problem is simply asking student groups to make sure the material is not visible from the AUELC.
"All the students who do these things are very willing to work with us," Wilbanks said.
Both of these early childhood education options emphasize physical education as well as academia.
Children's House has a partnership with Dance Inc. to instruct the children in motion exploration.
Both centers are accepting registration for next year, a though AUELC is full for next fall.
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