At Play School, the staff believes that childhood is a special time to be accepted for oneself. it is a time for experiencing all kinds of feelings, and a time to have people care about those feelings. Finally, it is a time to build a positive self-image and to grow physically, emotionally, and socially, as well as intellectually.

The second vital group is the parents who are from varied backgrounds and who have different strengths, abilities, and life-styles. The one thing all these people have in common is a desire to share in their child's preschool experiences.

Parents may accomplish this not only by co-oping in the classroom, but also by serving on the volunteer board of directors, which is the decision-making body for the school. in addition, there are many varied opportunities for parents to share their talents and expertise on an informally scheduled basis.

The third vital group at Play School is the teachers, who are dedicated to the principle that in the formative years, the child's growth and development is more meaningful if the parent grows with the child.

Leaning and Growing Together

This linking of parents and teachers in their common desire for an enriched learning environment creates the special spirit one finds at Play School.

Play School is a place where the child can explore and experiment freely, as well as experience the joy of learning. The curriculum is child-centered. Although the teacher provides the raw materials, the child is the initiator in the learning process. This nurturing of active learning in the child helps him or her see the world as a constant source of new knowledge and to approach it with confidence.

In addition to the intellectual development of the child, Play School fosters the child's social, emotional, and physical development in many ways. Through free play, with the teachers' guidance, the child's decision-making skills and self-concept skills are fostered. The emphasis on developing social skills helps each child grow toward social maturity. Finally, open-ended art activities and the encouragement of free expression in movement and language lead to greater growth and self-confidence among children.

Your child will develop in all of these areas at Play School, and you can be there to see it happen. you can take pride in playing an important role in your child's early education because Play School is where children, parents, and teachers learn and grow together.

The Play School Day
Free activities (about one hour)
The teacher has a short meeting with the children to explain the activities set out in the room. Children choose their own activities from among the many offered: dress-up corner, housekeeping, blocks, puppets, sand and water play, manipulative materials, workbench, paints, collage, crafts, and books. Each table features a special activity chosen by the teacher to coincide with the curriculum. The essence of this period is that the children learn to direct themselves.

Organized Activities (about one hour)
This time is more structured and more teacher-directed. It includes: Language development, music or dance, and snack. The teacher now plays a more dominant role, but her goal is still to help each child develop his or her own controls. The child is expected to join the group, to listen quietly to a story, to wait his or her turn, and to cooperate, but always within the limits of his or her own capacities.

Outside Activities (about ½ hour)
Play School's large backyard affords the children the much needed exercise for gross motor development. The yard contains several climbers, a sand box, tricycles, big wheels, and other riding toys, and best of all, friends from the other classes. The children go outdoors for this period of play, even in cold weather. If the weather is too inclement, equipment such as tumbling mats, climbers and indoor scooters are available in the Play School's finished downstairs room to enable the children to develop their large muscle skills.