Preschool: 2 to 6 years

Our preschool program is designed for children 2 through 6 years of age. We focus on creating a learning environment for this age group based on play while introducing them to science, art, music and language. At the early stages of preschool, children are sensory-motivated. They learn through touching, tasting, seeing and smelling as well as listening to others. Our goal is to enhance education by utilizing the natural curiosity of the child and to teach them that learning can be fun. As they grow, preschool age children are exploring their worlds, learning about boundaries and independence. We work to foster an environment where preschoolers learn in a safe, fun way. Our staff will help prepare your child for school by providing the foundational building blocks for lifelong learning. They are caring and trained in early childhood learning so they can help your child learn at his or her own pace. They work with each child’s personality to give them a positive experience where learning is part of everyday life rather than taught at specific times. The preschool program continues to build upon the basic areas of development from the infant.

Some of the areas they will work on include the following:

• Communication – children learn how to express themselves and have their needs met through words
• Emotional development – children will learn how to name their emotions and handle them in a positive way
• Cognitive learning – this age group develops a bigger vocabulary and builds upon their imagination
• Gross and fine motor skills – through play and fun activities, children continue to develop their gross motor skills while learning fine motor skills through drawing, puzzles and other open ended art processes.
• Social skills – children learn more about playing with others and sharing as they develop relationships with teachers and other students.

Our preschool classrooms are encouraged to participate in daily routines to develop self-help skills and to feel good about themselves. They are introduced to basic colors, shapes, numbers, letters and songs. Our staff is committed to creatively designing a fun-filled curriculum and learning environment for each child based on their unique needs and personalities.

As your child grows and moves into the later stages of preschool they focus on:

• Literacy and Language – children listen to stories and expand their vocabulary while learning to recognize letters as well as their name.
• Math – children will be introduced to numbers and counting as well as grouping objects, which provide the foundation of future math lessons.
• Science – Our staff will provide opportunities for children to observe and learn from the world around them while creating fun and safe experiments.
• Social skills – preschoolers develop their ability to play with friends, learning important character traits for future interactions and relationships with people.
• Emotional skills – Staff will praise the children as they learn how to do things on their own, giving them self-confidence to tackle more complicated tasks as they grow.

We work with the parents to develop learning opportunities that are geared towards the child’s interests and personality. We hope to teach every child that learning is fun and happens all the time to make them more aware of their environment. Our goal at St. Olaf Childcare Center is to help your child develop into a well-rounded person who not only excels in the classroom once they leave our program, but in the world as they go through life.