WHAT IS MY CHILD'S DAY LIKE?
In addition to providing child care services, we also feature a preschool program during the morning hours. We feel that our preschool, which is designed to maximize learning opportunities at each child's level, is an exceptional component of the center.
To guard against disruption and insure a good preschool program we ask that children not be picked up or delivered between 9:00 and 12:00.
Children need active and quiet times, large and small groups, individual activities and structured as well as unstructured times. To meet these needs, each classroom group will have a schedule of its own; however, there are similar basic components of each classroom. These components are outlined as follows:
Mornings
Mornings consist of arrival and choice time. Children may choose activities from the entire classroom environment.
Preschool is scheduled in the mornings and generally will include large group times which are 5 to 15 minutes in length. These are designed to "open" and/or "close" the preschool day with activities, discussions, rule-making, language, games, stories, songs, etc. A nutritious breakfast is included as part of the preschool schedule. This is a time for social development and learning about nutrition. Conversation is encouraged.
A small group time is another aspect of preschool. This time segment lasts for about an hour. Children choose from a variety of small group learning centers such as art, dramatic play, table toys, water and sand play, the library or block areas. Adults are available to facilitate learning in the centers and the activities at each center are planned to incorporate science, math and language concepts. Special projects are weaved into the program throughout the year.
Gross motor time is also a part of the morning preschool schedule. This is a 45 minute time period where outside play (weather permitting) or indoor playroom activities are offered.
Story time is the final aspect of preschool and involves about fifteen minutes of quiet listening and interactive learning.
Afternoons
Lunch is at noon and
lasts for about 30 minutes. Next comes rest time. Rest or "nap" time
lasts ½-2 hrs depending on the needs of the child. The children are encouraged
to rest for a short time while listening to relaxing music and receiving backrubs
from teachers. They then may either nap or be involved in a quiet activity. An
extended choice time follows the rest period, and is a time where children may
choose from areas and activities available in the classroom with support from
adults. An afternoon snack is provided and lasts 15 to 25 minutes. Outside
and/or indoor playroom activities are also offered and last 30 to 40 minutes.
The day is often capped off with a choice time consisting of 30 to 45 minutes
of low key play with adult support in the classroom.
Field Trips
The following steps outline the procedure the center will follow when planning or taking field trips:
- Parents need to indicate their approval on enrollment
form for field trips.
- Most field trips will be walking outings that will stay
on or close to campus.
- Parents will be notified about all field trips that go
off campus ahead of time. Walking trips on campus will be communicated
through a note on the white board, so that parents know where we are. We
sometimes need to be spontaneous with our walks to capture a
"teachable moment."
- Emergency forms for each child and a first aid kit will
accompany teachers on all field trips.
- On those outings requiring transportation, we will rely
on parent volunteers as drivers and helpers. We will also communicate
these in advance and elicit special permission slips.
For
more information, please contact: Mandy Stanley, Director
Teaching Research Child Development Center