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Selecting the right curriculum for your childcare center or home daycare can feel like a big decision. With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one best fits your needs. Whether you’re looking for something structured, play-based, or a mix of both, the right choice will shape the experiences of both the children and the staff in your program.

In this guide, I’ll break down some of the most popular curriculum options, giving you all the essential details—from how each curriculum works to its cost, pros, and cons—so you can make an informed decision for your daycare, center or home program.

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Now, Let's explore different types of curriculum and educational approach for your childcare center, preschool, or daycare.

SPOILER ALERT…there are two free downloads in the conclusion section 🤗

Understanding Educational Approaches vs. Curriculums

Before we dive into the specific curriculums, it's important to understand the difference between an educational approach and a curriculum.

• Educational Approach refers to the overall philosophy or theory behind how children are taught. This can include methods like child-led learning (e.g., Montessori, Reggio Emilia) or structured, teacher-guided approaches (e.g., Abeka).

• Curriculum, on the other hand, is the specific set of materials, lesson plans, and guidelines that align with a particular educational approach. Curriculums are the tools that help you implement that teaching philosophy.

In this guide, we’ll be discussing both educational approaches and specific curriculums, so you can choose the best fit for your program's philosophy and needs.

1.  HighScope

   HighScope is a research-based curriculum that emphasizes active learning. Children learn through hands-on activities, problem-solving, and exploring their environment.

   • Approach: Child-centered, focusing on active learning and problem-solving.

   • Target Age Group: Infants through preschool.

   • Implementation Requirements: Teachers need training to guide children in planning, doing, and reviewing their activities.

   • Classroom Setup: Structured learning centers with defined areas for various activities.

   • Cost: $500 to $2,000 for materials and training.

   • Pros:

   • Encourages independence and critical thinking.

   • Offers comprehensive teacher training and support.

   • Promotes problem-solving and social development.

   • Cons:

   • Requires significant teacher involvement and planning.

   • Can be costly, especially for smaller programs.

   • Customization: Materials can be adapted to suit individual children’s needs.

   • Assessment Tools: Includes tools like COR Advantage for tracking child development.

   • Support for Special Needs: HighScope supports inclusive education and is adaptable for children with special needs.

   • Delivery: Shipped physical materials, with online professional development resources.

   • Best for:

   • Centers: Ideal for programs that prioritize child-led learning and can invest in teacher training.

   • Home Providers: Great for home programs that emphasize structured, hands-on activities.

   Learn more about HighScope here.

2. Experience Preschool

Experience Preschool (formerly Mother Goose Time) is a theme-based curriculum that provides monthly kits with lesson plans and materials. It’s designed to make teaching easy and engaging for young learners by offering structured, play-based activities that focus on all areas of child development.

• Approach: Theme-based, with daily activities that focus on early literacy, math, social skills, and creative expression.

• Target Age Group: Toddlers through preschool (with additional programs for infants and multi-age classrooms under the Experience Early Learning umbrella).

• Implementation Requirements: No formal training is required; teachers can follow the ready-to-use lesson plans.

• Classroom Setup: Structured, with materials provided in each kit, allowing for organized, hands-on learning centers.

• Cost: $100 to $150 per month.

Pros:

• Comprehensive materials and lesson plans included in each monthly kit.

• Engaging, hands-on activities that are simple to implement.

• Minimal preparation required, making it accessible for busy educators.

• Tools for family communication, like daily notes and newsletters, are provided.

Cons:

• Costs can add up, especially for larger classrooms.

• Some educators may find it too structured if they prefer more flexibility in teaching.

Customization: Activities can be adapted to fit different age groups, learning styles, and classroom settings.

Assessment Tools: Experience Preschool includes authentic assessment tools, such as observational guidelines and progress tracking, to capture learning naturally as it happens. Teachers can document children’s progress with journals, portfolios, and family reports.

Support for Special Needs: The curriculum is designed to be adaptable for children with diverse learning abilities and can be adjusted to provide the necessary support.

Delivery: Shipped monthly kits with all necessary materials. Digital resources and tools are also available through the Member Resources section.

Best for:

• Centers: Small to medium-sized centers seeking an easy-to-implement, structured curriculum that focuses on comprehensive development.

• Home Providers: Ideal for home programs wanting a pre-packaged, engaging curriculum with minimal prep work and hands-on learning materials.

Learn more about Experience Curriculum here.

3. Lillio Learning

Lillio Learning (formerly known as FunShine Express) offers monthly kits designed to promote early literacy, math, and social development. It’s play-based, with flexible lessons that cater to mixed-age groups.

• Approach: Play-based with a focus on early learning concepts and social development.

• Target Age Group: Infants through preschool.

• Implementation Requirements: No formal training is needed; teachers follow the provided materials.

• Classroom Setup: Flexible, with hands-on activities provided in each kit.

• Cost: $75 to $140 per month, depending on kit size.

• Pros:

• Easy to follow with comprehensive lesson plans.

• Works well for mixed-age classrooms.

• Offers both physical and digital resources.

• Cons:

• Monthly costs can add up over time.

• May not provide enough flexibility for some teaching styles.

• Customization: Materials can be adapted to suit individual children’s needs.

• Assessment Tools: Includes simple tracking tools to monitor progress.

• Support for Special Needs: Can be modified to accommodate diverse learners.

• Delivery: Available in both physical kits and digital formats through FunShine Digital.

• Best for:

• Centers: Ideal for small to medium-sized centers that need ready-to-use, flexible curriculum kits.

• Home Providers: Great for home programs that want structured lesson plans with hands-on activities that are easy to manage.

Learn more about Lillio Learning here.

4. Frog Street

Frog Street is a research-based curriculum designed to support early brain development and social-emotional learning for infants through pre-K.

• Approach: Research-based with a focus on brain development and social-emotional skills.

• Target Age Group: Infants through pre-K.

• Implementation Requirements: Teacher training is recommended to fully implement the curriculum.

• Classroom Setup: Structured learning centers tailored to different types of activities.

• Cost: $1,500 to $3,000 per year.

• Pros:

• Strong emphasis on early brain development.

• Provides extensive teacher support and training.

• Engaging, age-appropriate activities for children.

• Cons:

• Higher upfront costs compared to other curricula.

• Requires training for optimal use.

• Customization: Can be adapted to meet the needs of individual learners.

• Assessment Tools: Includes tools to track children’s development and learning progress.

• Support for Special Needs: Designed to support inclusive practices and accommodate children with special needs.

• Delivery: Shipped physical materials with supplementary online resources.

• Best for:

• Centers: Medium to large centers focused on brain-based learning and social-emotional development.

• Home Providers: Suitable for home providers who want a curriculum backed by research to support early development.

Learn more about Frog Street here.

5. Creative Curriculum

Creative Curriculum blends play-based learning with teacher-guided activities, helping children learn through hands-on exploration and projects.

• Approach: Project-based, with a focus on teacher-led exploration and play-based learning.

• Target Age Group: Infants through pre-K.

• Implementation Requirements: Teachers follow structured lesson plans to guide the children’s learning.

• Classroom Setup: Encourages learning centers with hands-on materials for exploration.

• Cost: $500 to $1,500 per year.

• Pros:

• Flexible and adaptable to various learning styles.

• Strong support and training for teachers.

• Emphasizes social-emotional learning.

• Cons:

• Can feel too structured for some teachers.

• Requires ongoing updates and material investments.

• Customization: Highly adaptable to meet the needs of different children and classrooms.

• Assessment Tools: Paired with Teaching Strategies GOLD for assessment purposes.

• Support for Special Needs: Provides guidance on inclusive practices for children with special needs.

• Delivery: Available in both physical materials and digital formats, with online tools for lesson planning.

• Best for:

• Centers: Suitable for centers of all sizes looking for a flexible, teacher-guided curriculum.

• Home Providers: Good for home programs wanting a structured curriculum that can be adapted for smaller, mixed-age groups.

Learn more about Creative Curriculum here.

6. Abeka

Abeka is a Christian-based curriculum that focuses on phonics, early literacy, and traditional academics. It’s designed for faith-based childcare settings and homeschools.

• Approach: Teacher-led, with a focus on academics and Christian values.

• Target Age Group: Preschool through early elementary.

• Implementation Requirements: Teachers follow structured lesson plans that include Bible-based teachings.

• Classroom Setup: Structured, with clear academic goals and lessons.

• Cost: $400 to $1,200 per year.

• Pros:

• Strong focus on early literacy and academic skills.

• Includes Bible-based lessons and Christian values.

• Easy to follow and implement.

• Cons:

• Limited flexibility for child-led learning.

• May not align with centers that prefer a play-based approach.

• Customization: Pacing can be adjusted, but the structure remains academic and Bible-centered.

• Assessment Tools: Provides materials for tracking academic progress.

• Support for Special Needs: Can be adapted for children with varying learning abilities, though less flexible than some other curricula.

• Delivery: Shipped physical curriculum materials, with digital options available for homeschooling.

• Best for:

• Centers: Ideal for faith-based centers that want a structured, academic curriculum.

• Home Providers: Best suited for faith-based home programs looking for a Bible-centered curriculum that focuses on phonics and literacy.

Learn more about Abeka here.

7. Pocket of Preschool

Pocket of Preschool offers a variety of downloadable, theme-based curriculum units designed to be affordable, easy to use, and customizable.

• Approach: Play-based, with themed units focusing on early learning concepts like math, literacy, and science.

• Target Age Group: Toddlers through preschool.

• Implementation Requirements: Requires teachers to download and print materials; no formal training is needed.

• Classroom Setup: Flexible, with centers for hands-on learning and exploration.

• Cost: $10 to $30 per thematic unit.

• Pros:

• Very affordable, especially for small programs.

• Easily adaptable and customizable to fit different needs.

• Great for mixed-age groups.

• Cons:

• Requires teachers to print and prepare materials.

• Lacks the structure of more formal curriculum packages.

• Customization: Highly customizable for different age groups and learning styles.

• Assessment Tools: No formal assessment tools included.

• Support for Special Needs: Easily adapted to meet the needs of diverse learners.

• Delivery: Downloadable digital curriculum requiring teachers to print and prep materials.

• Best for:

• Centers: Works well for centers looking for a flexible, low-cost curriculum that can be adapted for different ages.

• Home Providers: Perfect for home providers seeking an affordable, downloadable curriculum with lots of flexibility.

Learn more about Pocket of Preschool here.

8. Beyond Centers and Circle Time

Beyond Centers and Circle Time is a play-based curriculum that encourages creativity, social interaction, and child-initiated learning.

• Approach: Play-based, focusing on child-led exploration and social interactions.

• Target Age Group: Toddlers through preschool.

• Implementation Requirements: Requires teachers to guide children in play-based learning and observe their interactions.

• Classroom Setup: Organized play areas that promote active engagement and creativity.

• Cost: $400 to $1,000 per year.

• Pros:

• Supports social-emotional and cognitive development through play.

• Encourages creativity and independent exploration.

• Focuses on motor skills and early literacy development.

• Cons:

• Requires a lot of active teacher involvement in guiding and observing play.

• Less structured than traditional academic programs.

• Customization: Flexible and adaptable to each child’s pace and needs.

• Assessment Tools: Uses observational guidelines rather than formal assessments.

• Support for Special Needs: Can be adapted to accommodate children with diverse learning needs.

• Delivery: Shipped physical materials that are used in classroom or home settings.

• Best for:

• Centers: Centers that prioritize play-based learning and want a flexible curriculum supporting creativity and social development.

• Home Providers: Ideal for home-based programs looking for a play-centered approach that can be adapted to various age groups.

Learn more about Beyond Centers and Circle Time here.

9. Montessori

Montessori is a well-known educational approach that emphasizes independence, hands-on learning, and child-led exploration. It’s highly individualized and focuses on developing practical life skills.

• Approach: Child-led, with a focus on self-directed learning and practical skills.

• Target Age Group: Infants through elementary school.

• Implementation Requirements: Teachers need specific Montessori training and certification to implement the curriculum.

• Classroom Setup: Requires carefully prepared environments with Montessori-specific materials.

• Cost: $1,000 to $3,500 for materials and teacher training.

• Pros:

• Promotes independence and self-discipline in children.

• Encourages real-world skills through hands-on learning.

• Flexible and allows children to learn at their own pace.

• Cons:

• High initial setup cost for materials and training.

• Requires a specific classroom environment and teacher certification.

• Customization: Highly individualized, allowing children to progress at their own pace.

• Assessment Tools: Informal assessments are based on observation rather than standardized tests.

• Support for Special Needs: Montessori is adaptable to children with special needs and focuses on inclusivity.

• Delivery: Primarily shipped materials with digital resources available for training.

• Best for:

• Centers: Centers that want a child-led, individualized learning approach focused on independence and real-world skills.

• Home Providers: Ideal for home programs wanting a Montessori-inspired learning environment tailored to each child’s individual pace.

Learn more about Montessori here.

10. Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia is a child-led curriculum that emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and exploration. Children are encouraged to express themselves and lead their own learning, with teachers serving as guides.

• Approach: Child-centered, focusing on creativity, collaboration, and exploration.

• Target Age Group: Primarily preschool through early elementary.

• Implementation Requirements: Requires a collaborative approach between children, teachers, and the community, with teachers acting as facilitators.

• Classroom Setup: Open, flexible learning environments that encourage exploration and creativity.

• Cost: Variable, depending on the resources used, but generally low cost as it relies on natural and everyday materials.

• Pros:

• Fosters creativity and independent thinking.

• Involves parents and the community in the learning process.

• Low cost for materials, as it often uses natural or recycled resources.

• Cons:

• Requires a strong sense of collaboration and flexibility between staff, children, and families.

• Less structured than more traditional programs, which may not work for all settings.

• Customization: Highly adaptable to each child’s interests and needs.

• Assessment Tools: Emphasizes documentation and observation rather than formal assessments.

• Support for Special Needs: Very inclusive and adaptable to children with diverse needs.

• Delivery: Typically classroom-based with some digital resources available for tracking and assessment.

• Best for:

• Centers: Ideal for centers that prioritize creativity and child-led exploration with a community-based approach.

• Home Providers: Great for home programs focused on creative, exploratory learning that involves families and the community.

Learn more about Reggio Emilia here.

11. Waldorf

Waldorf education emphasizes creativity, imagination, and hands-on learning, with a focus on nature-based activities. It avoids academic pressure in the early years, encouraging emotional and social development.

• Approach: Holistic, focusing on imagination, creativity, and nature-based learning.

• Target Age Group: Preschool through early elementary.

• Implementation Requirements: Teachers need Waldorf-specific training to implement the curriculum properly.

• Classroom Setup: Emphasizes creativity and nature-based activities, with minimal academic focus in early years.

• Cost: $500 to $1,500 per year.

• Pros:

• Encourages creativity, imagination, and social development.

• Nurtures a love for learning without early academic pressure.

• Focuses on the whole child—head, heart, and hands.

• Cons:

• Less focus on academics in the early years.

• Requires specific training and a unique classroom setup.

• Customization: Flexible and adaptable to each child’s pace and needs.

• Assessment Tools: Focuses on informal assessments of child development rather than academic achievement.

• Support for Special Needs: Highly adaptable and inclusive for children with diverse needs.

• Delivery: Primarily shipped materials with digital resources available for teacher training.

• Best for:

• Centers: Centers that prioritize creativity and emotional development over early academic instruction.

• Home Providers: Great for home programs that emphasize imagination, creativity, and nature-based learning.

Learn more about Waldorf here.

Conclusion

Choosing the right curriculum for your daycare, childcare center, or family home program is an important decision that will shape the learning environment for your children and staff. Whether you prefer a structured approach, a play-based curriculum, or something in between, there are plenty of options available to meet your needs. Consider your program’s goals, values, and the specific needs of your families when selecting a curriculum.

And if you need help choosing a curriculum, download my FREE Curriculum Planning Guide here!

If you’re looking for a ready-to-use letter or email template to help you explain your curriculum to parents, download my free Parent Curriculum Communication Template here!

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