Especially for Children’s Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten Programs focus on four aspects of children’s development: social-emotional, cognitive, physical and language. Our play-based Learning Curriculum develops specific skills within each of these categories including:
Preschool and Pre-K children learn through play. (For more information on the benefits of play-based learning to children’s intellectual and social-emotional development, check out our Parent Resources section.) In The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, teachers engage children in play-based learning through studies. Studies, which span several weeks, are in-depth, project-based investigations of topics that are play-based and part of your child’s everyday life. They feature topics such as trees, buildings, clothes, and balls. In a study, children raise questions about the topic and find answers by exploring, experimenting, and investigating in a hands-on way—through activities that take place in the classroom and outdoors. Importantly, teachers will follow the lead of the children and pursue the questions and investigations within each study that are most interesting to the children in their classroom, thus promoting a love of learning.
The physical learning environment at Especially for Children centers on interest areas. Children are given ample time each day to explore independently and with peers and teachers the following areas:
Parent Communication
Parents of preschool and pre-k children receive daily classroom notes with highlights from the day, photos, and learning goals via the Daily Connect App. We hold parent/teacher conferences two times a year to discuss your child’s progress toward age-appropriate developmental goals, including kindergarten readiness. Our school directors and teaching staff are dedicated to open communication with you as your child prepares for the challenges and opportunities of kindergarten and the next phase of his or her learning.