Preschool (Ages 2-4 )
Learning through Play
Our 2-4 year-old preschool classrooms are inviting spaces where children are actively engaged in learning through play. We highly value play in its various forms: socio-dramatic play, rough and tumble play, risky play, the use of loose parts, and open-ended art experiences.
Program Highlights
Children of different ages have much to offer each other. Older students gain empathy and leadership skills. Younger students benefit from having older friends who can scaffold their learning to the next level. Each daycare classroom is paired with an elementary or pre-K classroom to participate in shared activities. We make a special effort to allow siblings to spend time together.
All students participate in service learning activities. These include cleaning up trash, planting flowers at the park, distributing neighborhood newsletters, packing Christmas gifts for children in need, and singing for the elderly. Service learning projects are an excellent way to help students contribute positively to their local and global community.
Socio-dramatic play is the highest form of play and occurs when children engage with each other in pretend play, finding roles and solving conflicts mostly on their own. Since this type of play develops only with enough time, a block of at least 40 minutes of uninterrupted free play is scheduled most days. Socio-dramatic play develops skills such as self-control, empathy, and planning.
Open-ended process art experiences are available for the children to participate in daily in the 3’s and 4’s classrooms. Process art focuses on the process of creating rather than a finished product. Children are encouraged to think creatively, express their emotions, work both independently and collaboratively, and develop fine motor skills.
Our daycare teachers frequently provide engaging sensory play opportunities for the children. Input through the fingertips is linked to brain growth. Sensory play provides endless learning possibilities, such as concepts of volume and size, one-to-one correspondence, and fine-motor skill development. Another benefit of sensory play is its calming effect.
A collection of books exploring many subjects and representing diverse cultures and ethnicities is available in a cozy reading nook in each classroom. Children are given the opportunity to explore many writing tools. In our 3s and 4s classrooms, each child has a journal in which they can draw and dictate/begin to write stories.
Schedule a Visit
Due to high demand for the program, we are currently at full capacity in our Daycare & Preschool. To be placed on our waitlist, schedule a visit to HCS and meet with our principal.
