CAREGIVERS PROMOTE INTERACTIVE PLAY AND ANSWER LOTS OF QUESTIONS!
Pre-schoolers are less dependent on mommy and daddy and want to play more interactively with other children and adults than when they were toddlers. Just a year ago, they spoke in phrases – now they want adults to answer a million questions and can speak to other children rather than play in parallel! Your pre-school should promote this interactive play where children can play house and use their creativity and imagination to fight off dragons, have an imaginary friend, rock a crying baby doll to sleep, or cross the finish line in their race car. Preschool teachers at Luminous Child Care Learning Centers in the Bronx understand that these activities are important first steps in the process of how a child learns to solve life’s problems.
TWO: YOUR PRE-SCHOOL HELPS YOUR CHILD BUILD SOCIAL SKILLS
Your child’s teacher should give your pre-schooler opportunities to experience large and small groups so they can adapt to sharing the new environment with other kids. At this age, some youngsters are eager to meet and play with others but some may be shy, fear rejection, or prefer to play on their own. It’s important that your pre-school teacher encourages your child to make an effort to play in a group with other kids of their age. Luminous preschool teachers also support collaborative learning through peer interaction and provide frequent opportunities for children to support each other’s learning in pairs and small groups.
THREE: YOUR PRESCHOOL PROPERLY BALANCES INDOOR ACTIVITIES WITH OUTDOOR PLAYTIME
When children play tag, toss a ball back and forth, or participate in other outdoor group activities, they’re learning how to negotiate situations, communicate, develop true friendships, entertain one another, and become aware of their bodies. The school play yard is more than just an outdoor space – it can so also be a nature zone or place to explore. Unstructured physical activity is important because it can reduce stress, help children sleep better, increase concentration, and improve mood.
FOUR: PRESCHOOL TEACHERS FOCUS ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT
A pre-school that prepares your child for kindergarten is one that helps him or her learn basic life skills and that school is a clean, bright, comfortable, and fun place to explore! Classrooms should be neat and tidy with every item in an appropriate place that makes it easy for kids to find what they want.
Just a few of the ways competent preschool teachers help preschoolers develop basic skills are by:
- Suggesting ways children can make their thinking, problem-solving, and playtime with toys and games more challenging or complex
- Designing collaborative games that require conversations or other language exchanges among classmates
- Helping children understand their feelings and those of others
- Labeling items in the classroom to help children connect written words with spoken language
- Encouraging children’s writing by providing a fun assortment of paper and writing tools and their math skills with other engaging objects to count and sort
FIVE: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE HEAD START & 3-K/PRE-K PROGRAMS – REGISTER EARLY!
Our two Luminous Early Childhood Learning Centers in the Bronx offer free pre-school programs. Our Richman Plaza pre-school hours are from 8:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. for eligible parents. All parents are eligible to register their child at our Morris Heights pre-school which runs from 8:15 a.m. – 2:50 p.m. All six of our centers offer early drop-off at 7:30 am and after-care programs until 6 pm. Head start 3-5 yrs.
Vouchers can reduce the cost of day care to as little as $1 to $50 dollars per week per child depending on eligibility. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers for our Bronx centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact the Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at info@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 718-682-3650.
