Doña Ana County Head Start/Early Head Start believes:

• Parents are a child’s primary educator and as such we will have greater success in meeting our program goals by actively supporting and involving a child’s family in his/her education.
• In order for a child to learn effectively, he/she must have a strong positive self-concept, which is developed by immersing a child in positive social environments while engaging in learning experiences.
• A preschool program must address the needs of the total child. This includes medical, dental and nutritional needs as well as social, cultural, emotional, and intellectual needs.
• Children learn actively, using all of their senses to interact with their environment.
• Children learn best when provided experiences that are:
  • age appropriate (correct for that child’s developmental state)
  • individually appropriate (correct for that child’s uniqueness)
  • culturally and linguistically appropriate