From TBC’s Founder
Bonjour!
I started The Teddy Bear Club in 1993 because I saw a need to combine the best elements of American preschool programs with some of the wonderful aspects of the French education I received growing up in Paris.
My experience as a young student in France differed greatly from my own son’s early childhood experience here in the United States. I highly value the focus American preschools place on the development of social skills, creativity and self-confidence. These social development-oriented goals should absolutely form the foundation for a child’s first school experience. However, I also saw an opportunity to further emphasize the more academically focused approach that typifies European education. The Teddy Bear Club was born out of this desire to layer a well-rounded academic curriculum over a socially focused preschool experience. Our program’s primary aim is to instill confidence and self-esteem in our students while building a solid foundation for their future academic success in primary school and beyond.
I also believe it is essential to introduce foreign languages to children while they are still at an age when language acquisition occurs completely naturally. I raised my son bilingually and yet I never cease to be amazed by how quickly and effortlessly young children are able to learn another language. There are simply so many long-term benefits to learning a foreign language.
Finally, I genuinely feel that young children deserve to spend their first few years of school in an inviting and cheerful environment filled with fresh air and natural sunlight, surrounded by loving and caring teachers. I hope you will agree that we have created a highly nurturing environment that enables our students to blossom and grow while developing a lifelong love of learning!
A bientôt,
Laura d’Angosse Perlman
Director
