School Readiness
We do everything possible to get your child emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually ready for Kindergarten. Each day we work on skills that children will need to use once they start school, although most of the time children have no idea that these fun activities are getting them ready for school! We work on independence, self help skills, sharing, listening, self control, using pencils, paints, crayons, scissors, glue, etc. I am careful to be aware of the child's unique abilities and interests and not push them into academic work they are not ready for too early. This can cause them to become frustrated and loose their love of learning. Studies show that 4, 5 and 6 year old students in heavily academic classes tend to become less creative and more anxious- without gaining significant advantages over their peers. Young children in well-structured 'play' oriented schools develop more positive attitudes toward learning along with better ultimate skill development. At First Discoveries each child is allowed to work at their own pace, without competition from other students. As a former preschool teacher in a large childcare center, and now in a small home setting I can honestly say that your children will be taught at the same level as larger preschools,they will learn the same skills , however they will receive more hugs, more kisses, they will experience more community activities, they will spend more time outside exploring the world with their senses, and perhaps most importantly they will be given much more one-on-one attention.
Preparing for Kindergarten is an important crossroad in your child’s life. Choosing a reputable preschool will offer opportunities to your Pre School age child that are impossible in a larger Center. Love, Comfort, and one on one attention are just a few of the important aspects often lost in a larger Center. The following article and information are just some of the considerations First Discoveries Childcare Inc. have made when developing our environment, and curriculum.
When a child enters kindergarten, and he or she is ill-prepared for formal learning, he or she is on a downward trajectory that is demoralizing and unnecessary. School readiness occurs well before the first day of formal schooling. The first four years create the capacity for each young child to thrive in learning. Early childhood is a critical time for brain development: At birth, a child's brain is about 25 percent of the weight of an adult brain; by age 3, it has reached 90 percent of its full size. Behavioral indicated related to each area of development can be assessed in order to obtain a picture of a child's development at kindergarten entrance. For each behavioral indicator, teachers use guidelines to rate a child's performance as: Not yet - Indicating a child cannot perform the indicator, i.e., that the performance indicator represents a skill, an area of knowledge or a specific set of behaviors or accomplishments that the child has not acquired. In process - Implying that the skills, knowledge, behaviors or accomplishments represented by the indicator are intermittent or emergent and are not demonstrated reliably or consistently. Proficient - Meaning that the child can reliably demonstrate the skills, knowledge, behaviors or accomplishments represented by this performance indicator. Ten Tips for Kindergarten Readiness
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Information provided by www.firststeps.us
