Services
Free Play Outside
Free play outside is an invaluable experience for children. They practice large and small motor skills, imagination, cooperation, movement, and independent play. The teachers are always a step away to help or redirect when needed.
Group Activity
All children are involved in group activity time as well as all other activities done during the day (snack, circle time, free-play etc.) When a child is four or five years old and going to kindergarten in the fall, we modify and add activities that are specific to help them in their academic and social growth. These children will be separated from the group and do additional focused activities. For example a four or five year old child can help the teacher with set up/clean up and helping other children in the activity and they can stay focused longer on an activity to master. These types of tasks increase a child’s concept of responsibility, imagination, self-esteem and focus. Group activities range in topic from free art collage projects to very specific topics such as family, animals, numbers, letters, the ocean, the earth, friends, health and safety.
Individual Instruction
Focused group time for four and five year olds is held three times per week, directly after our group activity time. During this time we work on a variety of skill including:
- Name recognition
- Word association
- Writing skills
- Alphabet – recognition, writing, sounds
- Colors
- Shapes
- Numbers – recognition, writing, counting, and association
- Fine motor skills
- Sequencing
- Following instructions
- Having duties/responsibilities
During our day we do several activities that are designed to meet the developmental needs of your child. All of these "other" activities support our kinder-readiness curriculum. These aspects can be discussed with the teachers or director at any time, but here are some examples of other regular activities we do during the day to improve a child's development.
Snack time – the children sit together with the teachers as a family and have discussions during this time. The children are also encouraged to serve themselves, use proper utensils, use manners, try new foods, and follow a sequence of instructions.
Circle time – during circle time the children are practicing many skills, such as sitting still, answering questions, singing, acting, movement, listening, and following directions. We do circle time once per day in the morning.
Inside free play – During inside free play time the children have the freedom to choose an activity they wish to do. They expand their imagination, fine and large motor skills, cooperation, problem solving, self-esteem, and overall creativity.
We keep a portfolio for each child, charting their developmental growth; written work, arts, crafts, pictures, and teacher's notes. Parents are encouraged to look at their child’s portfolio often. When a child leaves our program the portfolio is for the family to take with them. It is a good idea to share the portfolio with your child’s new kindergarten teacher so they have a better idea where your child is developmentally.
It is very important that each family is in constant communication with their child's teacher as to their expectations and results of the work. The Rosa Elena Childcare Center will do its best to make sure that each child is ready to move on to kindergarten, but the family must keep in mind that we are not an accredited pre-kindergarten program. We focus on providing a safe loving environment for children to grow socially as well as academically.