Benefits of Preschool

There is a lot of studies out right now about the benefits of preschool. Of course being a preschool we see many different children come through our doors and we find that all of them can benefit from our program whether it be academically, socially, physically or even emotionally.

Due to many societal changes both in our schools and in our homes, entering kindergarten has become a whole different event than it was 20 years ago. If you do not have a young child who has recently completed kindergarten i encourage you to visit a classroom and see what will be expected of them.

At PeeWee we have taken the time to continue our education as teachers to learn what is expected of each child as they enter their primary school years. Please go through our Goals of Pre-k as a checklist of things your child will learn & experience in our program.

As a parent of a young child, within 2 weeks of my child being enrolled in preschool her verbal skills doubled if not tripled and it makes life so much easier at home! She is learning so much through music, every activity we do at home she has a song to help her through the steps. She is two years old and is already trying to spell her name. I had her in a small family daycare until she was two and she did receive a lot of love and some great social skills there, but now she is ready to learn and I'm so glad i have a quality preschool environment to have her in. She is making social bonds with children that i hope will last throughout her school years and it all started here at PeeWee!

Goals of Pre-K

At graduation, our Pre-K teachers would like children to be able to:

General Attitudes/Behaviors:
1. Be able to separate from parents in a reasonable manner.
2. Attend for 10 minutes at a child selected task.
3. Follow simple directions (1 or 2 steps).
4. Have had experiences sharing and interacting with other children.
5. Ability to verbalize needs.
6. Positive attitude towards books and reading.
7. Positive attitude towards writing.

Reading
1. Have book handling experience and be able to hold book in proper reading position.
2. Participate in conversations/discussion of books.
3. Go to kindergarten with a rich background of literature, nursery rhymes, poetry, songs, and drama.
4. Recognize first name and last name.
5. Sit quietly for 5-10 minutes to listen to a story.
6. Know that a group of letters make up a word.

Writing
1. Have frequent experiences with scissors, crayons, markers, pencils, chalk, paper, etc.
2. Write their own name.
3. Draw a simple illustration and be able to describe it.
4. Write name using a left to right progression.


Language Skills
1. Can say whole name, parents name, and address.
2. Can speak in complete sentences of 5 or more words.
3. Can name common objects and body parts.
4. Understand spatial concepts; on, over, under, in, out, up, down, etc.
5. Tell real-life and fantasy stories.

Listening Skills
1. Can listen to entire story.
2. Can repeat a 3 digit sequence; i.e., 4-5-6, 8-4-1.
3. Can follow a two command direction; touch your toes and turn around.

Fine Motor Skills
1. Cuts with scissors.
2. Uses paint and glue correctly.
3. Holds crayon or pencil correctly.
4. Has had experience coloring.
5. Can draw a recognizable person.

Gross Motor Skills
1. Can catch and throw a ball.
2. Can walk on a line.
3. Can balance on one foot for 10 seconds.
4. Jumps in place.
5. Hops 5 feet on each foot.





Visual Skills
1. Can name 8 colors.
2. Can recognize 4 basic shapes; circle, triangle, rectangle, square.
3. Can identify same or different objects by size, shape, and/or color.
4. Can put together an 8 to 10 piece puzzle.

Math Readiness Skills
1. Can count orally to ten.
2. Count from 1-10 using manipulative and demonstrating the concept of one-to-one ratio.
3. Traces numerals from 1-10 using various mediums (shaving cream, sand, finger paints, crayons, etc.).
4. Knows meaning of first and last.
5. Arranges up to 4 objects in order from smallest to largest.
6. Match, name, and repeat patterns using objects (e.g., a pattern of red-blue-red-blue).
7. Uses size words when talking about objects (e.g., small, large, many, few, big, little).

Science Readiness Skills
1. Describe what happens to ice when it melts.
2. Observe and describe the characteristics of a solid (e.g., ice, rock, Popsicle).
3. Identify plants as living things and rocks as non-living things.
4. Aware that the earth is composed of land, air and water.
5. Identify that plants need the energy from the sun to grow.

Reading Readiness Skills
1. Can say alphabet.
2. Knows the difference between a letter and a number.
3. Knows the letters in their name.
4. Know the sounds that at least some of the letters make.

Social and Self Help Skills
1. Respects authority.
2. Take turns in social situations (e.g., waiting your turn to talk).
3. Uses “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.”
4. Does not interrupt.
5. Capable of interacting with other children.
6. Is able to finish a task.
7. Is able to use words to solve a conflict and not the body.
8. Knows how to line up properly.
9. Knows the difference between an inside and an outside voice.
10. Compare daytime with nighttime.
11. Identify school days and non-school days.
12. Look at a picture of a person at work and tell something about the type of work done.


Our goal is to have a well-rounded program that meets the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of each child.

The following are skills that can be reinforced at home or through preschool experiences:

MOTOR SKILLS
Run Jump
Walk a straight line Hop
Throw a ball Clap Hands
Build with blocks Complete simple puzzles
` Opportunity to use scissors

LISTENING & SEQUENCING
Follow simple directions
Pay attention
Repeat a sequence of sounds
Recognize common sounds in environment (ex. Door bell)
Repeat a sequence of oral directions

PERSONAL HYGIENE
Wash and dry hands
Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing
Wipe their nose
Administer to own needs in the bathroom
Button and zip clothing
Put on and take off own jacket

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Express self verbally
Identifies other children by name
Can be away from parents for 2 to 3 hours and separates easily
Takes care of own belongings and helps put toys away
Joins in family conversation
Gets along with other children
Recognizes authority
Shares with others