Our Vision and Philosophy
Studies show that infusing play and outdoor learning are crucial for child development. As children progress into kindergarten, play and outdoor time are often lost to rigid, task-oriented activities. The curriculum is predetermined with a set of outcomes.
At CECI, we incorporate the natural world and play to teach our children foundational concepts. Having a hands-on and child-led experience is the most influential mode by which young children begin to construct ideas about themselves and the world.
Our teachers guide our children towards constructing their own individual educational journey using the natural world. Social/emotional, gross motor, fine motor, letter/number recognition, emergent reading, scientific reasoning, and spatial concepts, are just a few skills that are fostered within our outdoor educational setting. Learning through play and outdoors not only fosters these skills, but activates more than one sense within a child's brain. As they make these connections, children begin to develop a deeper sense of their skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Observing what is learned outdoors in nature enhances the knowledge of children and provides copious amounts of opportunities to have direct experiences with nature.
We know your child is unique!
Our school is designed so that your child is actively involved in his or her own learning and has ample time to pursue individual interests and curiosities. Outdoor and indoor learning centers give your child hands-on experience in math, science, and language arts- through the use of music, art, blocks, books, natural materials, and dramatic play.
Every day is exciting and stimulating!
Each day includes developmentally appropriate activities, music, story time, plenty of free time to explore in the learning centers and lots of outdoor play. We also invite informative special guests such as Ding Darling spokespeople, our island children's librarian, and other professionals of interest who stop in to visit throughout the year!
We provide the personal & educational attention your child deserves!
Our college-educated staff combines a wealth of early childhood experience, nature-based educational best practices, and continuous professional development to guide and nurture all of our students. They meet regularly to ensure the best environment for your child. We also stay well within the DCF mandated child to teacher ratios. We will never have more than 10 children to one teacher.
Family and community partners
Family and community participation is vital to the success of our children and school! Parents provide our daily snacks, run and staff annual fundraising events, and serve on our Board of Directors! Community members serve on our Board of Advisors and we love when we can partner with other local businesses!
The Rhythm of the Day at CECI’s Nature Preschool
We value spontaneity and take advantage of teachable moments. We also acknowledge the importance of routine. Young children feel secure with structure and they benefit from knowing what will happen next. At the Children’s Education Center of the Islands, we follow a loose schedule interspersed with predictable events throughout the day.
A Peek Inside Our Daily Routine
8:00am (Before Care) - Before care begins at 8:00am and goes until 9:00am. During this time, age groups will be mixed and either inside or on the playground. Children will be encouraged to play freely and interact with one another.
9:00 – Arrival: Morning Greeting & Table Activities – As parents are dropping students off in their classrooms, the morning greeting is a great time for children to make social connections and create school-family bonds. Table activities are an opportunity for children to work on their fine motor skills, counting & sorting, and letter & number recognition.
9:30 - Morning Circle – During morning circle, children and their teachers have a chance to connect through conversations, song, and movement. This whole-class meeting time is where stories are read, topics of interest are introduced and further explored, and speaking and listening skills are practiced.
10:00 – Small Group Activity - Small group activities allow for differentiated learning and provide activities at each child’s individual challenge level. These activities include art, literacy, math, and science.
10:30 - Nature Hike/Outdoor Open Centers – Teachers may choose to continue lessons during a morning hike along the property’s trails, allowing the students to make direct connections with the day’s lessons and the world around them - or teachers may move activities to the outdoor centers. Here, teachers create themed learning centers to encourage further exploration by the students.
11:30 – Lunch - In their classrooms, students enjoy healthy lunches they bring from home. The Children’s Education Center of the Islands’ teachers model good table manners and healthy eating choices for the students. (All our students eat at size appropriate tables.)
12:00 - Nature Hike/Outdoor Open Centers – If students participated in outdoor centers in the morning, then teachers may choose to continue lessons during an afternoon hike along the property’s trails. If students participated in a morning hike, then teachers may move lessons to the outdoor centers.
12:45 - Read Aloud, Goodbye – Preparing to end the school day includes reading stories, singing farewell songs, and sharing exciting experiences from earlier in the day.
1:00 – School Day Pickup - Children are signed out by an approved guardian and picked up from their classrooms. Mailboxes and cubbies are checked, and water bottles are taken home daily to be washed and returned.
1:30 – Rest Time – At the family’s request, children staying for the aftercare program will be offered rest time from 1:30pm to 3:00pm. We provide a resting mat and families provide a crib sized sheet and blanket.
1:00-5:00 – Aftercare - Children who stay beyond the school day ending at 1:00pm will participate in aftercare. During this time, student classes and age groups may be combined. Children will be encouraged to play in carefully curated play spaces or spend more time outside in nature on the playground, outdoor classrooms, or going on hikes. During this time students will enjoy a healthy snack provided by their parents.
Our History
1974: Our school was founded! A group of Sanibel parents founded the Children's Education Center of the Islands in June of 1974. Parents of three and four year olds wanted their children to have group social activities and preparing for kindergarten. They designed a self-sustaining parent co-op and obtained use of the old Bailey's General Store, then still on the bay at the end of Bailey Road (now restored and part of the Sanibel Historical Village)
1980: The move to Casa Ybel! The school moved to Casa Ybel Road in 1980. The Sanibel Lions Club and the Bailey family donated the five acres of land and the Casa Ybel Resort donated two guest cottages, which were then joined together to create our main building.
1992: Addition of a Two Year Old’s Program! Sanibel's Island Preschool lost the use of its building during the summer of 1992. Since the Children's Education Center had always provided articulation and support for the Island Preschool, we decided to bring its 2-year-old program into our curriculum.
1997: The Addition of Thompson Hall! We added our second building in June 1997. Thompson Hall was originally an island home that was donated to the school in 1993. The building was named after Larry Thompson and his wife, Kathie, our Board President during the rehabilitation process. Today this building houses our Pre-K classes, and will hold after school activities for community members!
2019: Our 45th year! The Children's Education Center of the Islands proudly celebrated 45 years of dedication to education as of June 2019.
2022: On September 28th 2022 our school and island community were devistated by the impacts of Hurricane Ian. The school campus sustained over 11 feet of storm surge and winds over 150 mph. During the recovery process our lower and larger school building was demolished and our smaller building, Thompson Hall, was gut renovated to house the school with limited enrollment. The school was closed for over 300 days reopening on in August of 2023.
2024: Our 50th year on Sanibel! The Children’s Education Center of the Islands celebrates 50 years of early education in our island community!