Three Year Olds
Children who are 3 years old by December 31st of the school year are eligible for this program which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15-12:00 noon. The day begins with a personal greeting for each child and a few words describing the materials available for the day. Children have free time to explore the various centers in the room: media table, easel, writing table, manipulatives, blocks, dramatic play, playdough, floor toys, etc. The children will have opportunities to make discoveries about art, the natural world, literature, construction, math and music while gaining experience and confidence in their emerging fine and gross motor skills.
Children of this age enjoy the playdough table. There, they will freely use imagination, but strengthen little hands as they cut, form and roll the playdough. They will socialize and laugh, imitate, offer and get new ideas. Playdough is fun but is a wonderful activity for acquiring fine motor control, which makes holding and using a pencil easier. Each center offers similar opportunities to gain skills and experience for the whole child: intellectually, creatively, socially, physically, and spiritually.
We believe that the 3s program gently introduces little ones to a social group and new, caring adults. At the beginning of the year, 3s generally make deep connections to the teachers, while they observe each other and play side-by-side. They soon feel comfortable and their natural curiosity enables them to make stronger social connections. Small groups will naturally form in dramatic play, blocks or at the media table as they pour water and share funnels, cups, sieves, etc. Group play encourages extensive language opportunities, and soon they are conversing, negotiating, using make-believe and learning to socialize. The shy child may enter a group slowly or may choose areas such as the easel or puzzles or dramatic play in which to safely and comfortably make connections.
Our 3s curriculum is carefully considered to offer many opportunities for guided discovery and learning. They learn about themselves, families, seasons, habitats, animal behaviors, pond life, etc. They hear a rich variety of literature daily through fairy and folk tales, non-fiction, songs, poetry, sequential stories, modern fiction, etc. There are also opportunities to choose books of one's own interest daily, and we have a lending library program where children may take books home. Teachers focus on name/letter recognition, shapes, sounds of language, counting and understanding of number, offering hands-on activities to support all learning. Each child brings his/her own skills, knowledge and experiences to the classroom and we work with each individually and as a group. Because we believe that play is the way children under six learn, creative exploration and play will be the foundation upon which all learning opportunities are built.
We welcome your 3 year old child to preschool and look forward to supporting your family.
Eligibility
Children must be 3 years old by December of the calendar year in which they are enrolling, and toilet trained.
Days
Tuesday and Thursday
Time
9:15 to 12:00 noon
Class size
Two teachers and a maximum of 16 children per class.