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The Early Childhood Institute (ECI) is a licensed child care program through the State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) within the Museum.
Our program proudly serves children from 12 months to 5 years old, giving every child a joyful and nurturing place to learn and grow. We’re also thrilled to share that ECI has earned Accreditation Plus from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s gold standard for early childhood excellence.
Our educational approach is inspired by Museum Education and the Reggio Emilia philosophy, creating hands-on, curiosity-driven experiences that help children explore and discover new things about the world around them.
To provide the very best care, we’ve intentionally designed intimate classrooms with smaller teacher-child ratios because research shows that “optimal social and emotional growth occurs when children are provided with smaller class sizes and additional one-on-one attention in the classroom,” and we are committed to making that a reality every day.
We’re truly excited to offer a space where children can thrive!
ECI Preschool is open Monday-Friday from 8:30AM – 6:00PM. Registration for 2026-2027 is now open!
ECI Application Form available to download and submit to preschool@miamichildrensmuseum.org.
With support from:
The curriculum is based on the belief that children learn best through play. When children engage in joyful, hands-on experiences with people, objects, events, and ideas, they build a lifelong love of learning. Our program encourages each child to follow their natural curiosity, and our knowledgeable educators offer guidance and support. Whether an activity is thoughtfully planned or sparked by a child’s inquiry, play is the foundation.
We provide children with consistency through our daily routines that enable them to anticipate what will happen next. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, some of our daily routine components include morning assembly, classroom exploration, project-based learning, and family style dining.
Our preschool curriculum is thoughtfully designed to highlight the richness of Museum Education, placing real-world experiences at the heart of children’s learning. We emphasize playful learning, curiosity, and discovery, encouraging children to engage with open-ended materials, meaningful projects, and environments that spark inquiry. Museum education allows learning to extend far beyond the classroom, connecting children with art, culture, and the wider world through immersive, experiential opportunities. We also draw inspiration from the Reggio Emilia philosophy, valuing each child as capable, resourceful, and full of potential.
In our program, we utilize the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) to assess overall development and the Ages & Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional (ASQ:SE-2) to specifically assess social-emotional development. Additionally, our educators regularly use anecdotal notes and children’s portfolios to measure growth and track milestones. We also actively partner with families, incorporating their observations and feedback to ensure we meet children where they are and work together to support their continued growth.
For more information, contact Katy Espinales at (305) 373-5437 ext. 109 or kespinales@miamichildrensmuseum.org
