Programs

Interested in learning more? Sign up here to attend a tour.

Staff at PreSchool Family work together to provide an age-specific parenting curriculum for you and a developmentally - appropriate, play-based program for your child. Programs are available for families with children from birth to age 5. Our classes have three important elements:

• Parent participation
• Parent education
• Play-based learning

Parent participation

Parents join their child for one class each week during the September to May school year regardless of the age of the child. Think of this class as a science lab where you observe and learn about the children as they play and interact. You may be assigned a specific role in this class especially in the 2, 3 and 4 year old classrooms. Most of these classes are held before noon, however, our 4:00 - 6:15 dinner class is designed for those who are busy in the morning. As you participate in the classroom you can put into practice what is learned in parent education classes.

Parent education

A variety of topics related specifically to the age of your child are designed to support you as a parent. Topics from swaddling, feeding, and sleep, to development, temperament, limit-setting, and positive conflict resolution help both parents and children as they grow. Parent education classes typically meet two times per month and is fully integrated during the parent-and-child classes for both the 0-6 month and the 2-3 year old dinner class. Please see the enrollment page and class schedule on the application link for more details about the parent education component of your specific class.

Play-based learning

The children's program is planned to meet the interests and abilities of each age level as they learn through play. The varied indoor and outdoor activities encourage interest in art, music, motor development, cognitive skills, science and social relationships. The staff at PreSchool Family believes that a play-based curriculum is the most appropriate and effective preparation for young children. Spontaneous, voluntary, self-directed play provides children with greater cognitive, physical, and social understanding of the world around them. Although it may appear to us that children are "just playing", for children, play is the hardest work they do as they grow and develop. Teachers at PreSchool Family create an environment that supports and enhances children's play and instruct parents in ways to actively engage with children in the class while honoring each child's individual skills and abilities.

With the support of the teachers and the parent community, children age two and older begin to attend school independently. For the two year olds class, parents and children attend two classes per week. Gradually the child will attend one of those days independently when the teacher determines they are ready. Three year olds attend three days per week (two without their parent) and four year olds attend four classes per week (three classes without their parent). In all classes children learn through play and establish confidence and connections with their classroom community. Dinner classes meet just once per week, so children always attend along with their parents in this class.