Our three-year old preschool program meets the developmental needs of each individual child as preschool fundamentals are promoted through a variety of hands-on activities. All children are encouraged to be courteous and use manners, respect self and others, and express their emotions as we guide them towards independence. We especially strive to make a difference by giving the children the opportunity to:
Feel special and loved – Each child will be given lots of encouragement and praise throughout our day. Individual teacher and child interactions are a valuable part of our program and we go the extra mile to ensure that all children feel welcome and accepted.
Develop small motor skills – Little hands need to develop dexterity and strength. We help this process by encouraging children to play, explore and interact with a variety of items. Toys, clothing fasteners, safe scissors and play dough are all tactile examples of practices that facilitate fine motor development. Our cutting box is filled with textured paper and magazines along with zigzag dotted lines for them to cut. This open ended activity gives young preschoolers the confidence to master this skill. Shaving cream makes for a fun, messy and engaging activity too. Various sensory materials are used to allow the children to practice writing and making designs with their little fingers! We also teach the children to pour water back and forth using small pitchers and we begin to teach them to hold a crayon or pencil correctly at this stage of development.
Develop gross motor skills – Each day begins with movement activities that promote stretching, jumping, and twisting their bodies while listening to fun music. Creative movement, obstacle courses, and structured games and activities offer engaging, opportunities to further the development of motor skills. Bringing our curriculum outdoors gives our children the chance to explore the 10 acres of rolling countryside where there is room to run and play, take in the fresh air, and utilize our brand new play equipment to strengthen their muscles and gain coordination.
Develop Language – Early language and communication skills are crucial for children’s success in school and beyond. Language and communication skills include the ability to understand others and express oneself. Throughout the day, our teachers ask children questions, respond to their vocalizations, and engage in other positive talk enable children to begin building a solid foundation in language and communication.
Be Creative – Open-ended and/or goal-oriented crafts are planned each day to go along with our theme-based curriculum. Many different art materials are offered during craft time to give the children the freedom of choosing when engaging in open-ended art, focusing on the process not the product. As the children grow, they also like to see a finished product which gives them that feeling of accomplishment as we creatively guide them through step-by-step art. We see the child’s creation as a work of art! When the children paint apple trees, it is great to see the apples all over the page and not just on the tree!
Cooperate and share – We encourage cooperation by playing games and singing songs that make sharing and taking turns fun.
Ten acres of rolling countryside wait to be explored! Active learning, academics, field trips, and plenty of free-play are combined to allow children to interact with the world around them.
