Head Start's goal is to provide preschool children from lower-income families a complete program that will meet their social, emotional, health, nutritional and psychological needs. The Head Start program, which is federally funded, consists of four major components. The educational component is structured to meet the individual needs of the child. Each child's educational experience aims to stimulate his social, emotional and intellectual growth. The staff members are qualified and trained in child development and early childhood education. Head Start's aim is to keep the child-staff ratio low. The health component places emphasis on early identification of health-related issues. If necessary, Head Start arranges for the children to receive a variety of health care services. The parental component might be most important. Parental involvement plays a major role in the child's development. Head Start says the parents should be involved in program planning, operating activates and parental education. Sometimes, as a result of actively participating in the classrooms, the parents can receive employment within the Head Start program. The social service component determines the family's needs and provides services that will help strengthen them.
The Montessori method focuses on making the learning environment child-centered. All materials are placed on a shelf within the child's reach and all furniture is built for a child's comfort. Because each child learns at a different pace, children are encouraged to practice individual learning. Instead of toys, learning materials are placed on shelves. The Montessori method says children learn through their own errors instead of having the teacher point out the mistakes. The emphasis is placed on concrete learning. The belief is the child learns best through hands-on experience. The children are left to motivate themselves and teachers are unobtrusive in the classroom.
Early childhood Christian developmental programs emphasize a nurturing of the child's emotional, social, physical and moral spiritual needs. Biblical truths are taught through Bible-centered activities. Christian-based programs stress that physical exercise is necessary for kids to reach their full potential. There also is emphasis on the belief that children grow socially when they interact with their peers, and that their emotional development is important in building self-confidence.