Why imaginative play? Play is one of the most essential tools in childhood development and results in powerful learning experiences. Role-play develops social interaction skills, self-regulation and conflict resolution skills, along with aiding in language development. It empowers children, when they can choose their own roles, scenarios and outcomes. Children model what they see in the world, recall experiences they have had and stories they have been told, developing memory and preparing them for the future. Imaginative/dramatic play tools aide in math and literacy development, along with helping children learn to organize and plan. Our Imagination Center props are rotated regularly, offering a wide variety of tools scholars can use to develop essential skills.
Literacy Center
STEM Center
Science Center
Why science in preschool? Hands-on discovery experiences encourage exploration, ideas, questions and problem solving. Science is an extension of a child's everyday world. It fosters curiosity and enjoyment about the world around them, while laying a foundation for future science learning throughout their lives. Science builds conceptual understanding, along with literacy and math skills and concepts. Open exploration of an environment with effective science investigations, without time constraints, has the ability to deeply engage students and provide opportunity for higher order thinking. Our Science Center offers a wide variety of learning opportunities, as lesson materials and activities are rotated out regularly.
Sensory Center
Children are naturally drawn toward sensory stimulating experiences, incorporating movement and one or more of the five senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing. Sensory play builds nerve pathways and connections in developing brains. It's open-ended, allowing children to use their creativity and imaginations, without requiring a specific outcome. Skills such as critical thinking, motor (gross and fine), social and language, all benefit and develop from sensory discovery experiences. Sensory play is an important tool in calming a child, building mindfulness, and can help children who have difficulty with verbal expression, or filtering out non-essential information. Our Sensory Center provides multiple sensory experiences, including a weaving wall, sensory floor tiles and a light table. Children are naturally drawn to the soft glow of the light table and can stay for long periods of time, building focus and extending their attention span. The light table can enhance literacy, writing skills, math, science and discovery. Light tables offer a unique visual sensory input experience. The glow of the table can offer a calming experience, as well as allow objects to be seen in an entirely new way. Sensory experiences are not limited to the Sensory Center. Sensory experiences are incorporated throughout every classroom center and learning experience.