We are offering an early childhood education program for 3 and 4 year olds. We follow the guidelines of CREATIVE CURRICULUM which encourages learning through active play and interaction, and the PA Learning Standards for Early Childhood.
Our goals focus on developing foundational skills in the following areas:
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL:
- To help your child feel comfortable in school, trust their new environment, make friends and feel part of a group.
- To help your child gain self-confidence, develop independence and self control and be respectful to others.
COGNITIVE:
- To help your child become confident learners, experience success and acquire learning skills such as problem solving, logical thinking and pretend play concepts.
LANGUAGE/LITERACY:
- To help your child participate in conversations by understanding words and directions, expressing themselves by using words and sentences, and asking and answering questions.
- To help your child develop early reading skills, gain knowledge of the alphabet names and sounds and possess a love of books.
PHYSICAL:
- To help your child increase their gross and fine motor skills and feel confident about how their body moves.
Preschool:
Preschool(Ladybug Room/Bumblebee Room/Dragonfly Room): Ages 3-5 years
The preschool children are encouraged to learn the skills that will prepare them for kindergarten. The monthly schedule is prepared to concentrate on the basic skills: recognizing and writing letters and numbers, participating in circle time discussions, learning independence in eating skills, bathroom skills and while playing with others.
The preschool children are eager to learn. The staff is encouraged to follow each child's interest and to explore new learning concepts whenever possible.
Interest centers are prominent. Children are encouraged to play in small groups.
Special classes are provided in computers, music, dance and library. Children are encouraged but never pressured to participate.
Children are guided in developing social skills and learning kindness, cooperation and respect for others.
Toddlers:
Toddlers (Butterfly Room): Ages 15 months to 24 months
This age group is provided with a more structured day. The children have a morning program which includes: circle time, snack, center time, music and art.
During circle time, children are introduced to new concepts including: colors, shapes, letters, numbers, weather and calendar.
Interest centers are set up throughout the room which include: blocks, dress up, dramatic play, baby dolls, doll houses, cars, trucks and a soft cuddly area with books.
Small motor activities include: puzzles, stacking shapes and chalking.
Children are encouraged to become more independent. We ask them to help clean up the toys and after snacks and meals. Potty training begins at this age and they are taught how to stand and walk in a line while moving from room to room.
Children attend a weekly dance class and library hour.
Children are encouraged, but never forced to perform. They are encouraged to proceed at their own pace.
Programs
Infants & Young Toddlers:
Nursery (Lamb Room) and Transition (Turtle Room): Ages 6 weeks to 15 months
In the nursery, the caregiver's most important responsibility is to provide each child with a loving, caring and dependable experience. Infants are held and rocked while taking their bottles, when ready for sleep, and when they need comforted. Independent play is encouraged as well as interaction with other children.
Appropriate music is played during much of the day to provide a soothing atmosphere. Babies are sung to and interaction is provided by talking and playing games, such as: Peek-a-Boo, Pat-a-Cake, Clap Your Hands, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...
Playing with balls, activity toys and puppets provide active interaction. Floor play with staff sitting on the floor is constant.
When babies reach the appropriate developmental stages, they are encouraged to feed themselves finger foods, to crawl and to walk holding onto fingers or alone.
Caring for children since 1983
Call us today at 412.446.0033 to schedule a tour!
Pre-Toddlers:
Pre-toddlers (Caterpillar Room): Ages 15 months to 24 months
As in the nursery and transition rooms, our primary goal for this age group is to provide a positive experience with other children and adults.
More independence is encouraged in the following ways:
"Circle time" with stories, some basic skills and discussion of the day's events.
Interaction with other children, while playing with blocks, play foods and dishes, farm animals and people, balls, push and pull toys, and playing simple games such as Ring Around the Rosy, Farmer and the Dell, Head-Shoulders-Knees-and-Toes.
Large motor activities are encouraged such as hopping, marching, riding and climbing toys.
Developing small motor skills by experiencing: water paints, markers, coloring, pasting, water play and sand play.
Children are encouraged to participate in new activities and experience, however, no child is pressured to perform or reprimanded for non-participation.