As the back-to-school season approaches, families with preschoolers are evaluating early learning programs that go beyond traditional academic outcomes. Increasingly, parents of infants and toddlers seek environments that build foundational skills essential for future learning. Researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education identify six key skills—creativity, critical thinking, curiosity, self-regulation, perspective-taking, and early identity—as building blocks for lifelong development. These skills are often strengthened through enrichment experiences that encourage exploration, creation, communication, and problem-solving.
Parents want their children to have access to enrichment classes but need these opportunities to fit into busy schedules. Full-time day care options like The Crème School integrate enrichment directly into the daily routine. Alongside a research-led core curriculum, children aged two to five participate in four daily, 30-minute enrichment experiences in dedicated classrooms. STEM, Spanish, music, and art extend classroom learning by providing hands-on opportunities to build and apply new skills. These enrichments reinforce the skills Harvard researchers deem critical.
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) encourages children to ask questions, investigate, experiment, and solve problems through hands-on exploration. Research shows that early, inquiry-based experiences lay the foundation for later scientific thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. Music engages children in singing, movement, rhythm, and instrument play, supporting creativity while strengthening memory and attention. Studies have linked music to improvements in early language skills and executive functioning. Visual arts encourage children to create, experiment, and express themselves through drawing, painting, and sculpting, developing creativity, fine motor skills, and confidence. Spanish introduces a second language during a key developmental window, research suggests that exposure to multiple languages enhances perspective-taking and communication skills.
“Our enrichment classes do more than expose children to new subjects,” said Stephanie Sturdevant-Ward, vice president of operations for The Crème Schools. “They help develop the habits that support learning throughout life, such as asking questions, working through challenges, collaborating with others, and approaching problems with curiosity and confidence.” As families consider school choices, it is important to examine not only what children will learn but how they will learn it. When enrichment is woven into the daily curriculum, children have more opportunities to grow curiosity, creativity, and foundational skills that support future learning and development.
