Three Year Old Program

CURRICULUM The three year old curriculum offers a wide variety of age-appropriate activities and learning opportunities.  It provides a balance of self-selected and teacher-directed activities, individual and large group activities, as well as indoor and outdoor experiences.  Learning centers are provided that invite children to explore, experiment, create, and ask questions.  Our program is committed to providing an innovative and developmentally appropriate curriculum to help prepare each child for his/her next school experience.  We use the Illinois Early Education Learning Standards and NAECY guidelines to validate our goals and targets for the students.

DAILY PROGRAM
There are two three year old classrooms:
Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9-11:30 a.m.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9-11:30 a.m.

• Group times involving music, calendar activities, stories, creative movement, language and math experiences, and teacher motivation of themed lessons and projects.
• Teacher-directed activity or project.
• Free play where children choose their own center-based activities: dramatic play, puzzles & books, blocks & trucks, painting, play dough, water table activities, and small manipulative play.
• Outdoor play on approved playground equipment in a park-like enclosed setting or indoor play on approved equipment in our church gymnasium.
• Group snack time.

 x

OBJECTIVES
Three year olds are just beginning to realize that the feelings of other people differ from their own; they are learning empathy.  They are leaving the ‘me’ oriented world of a two year old and entering the world of peer relationships and self control.  Our main objective for this age group is to provide a solid foundation of social skills for interacting in a group setting and one-on-one with a peer.  Along with strong social skills, we encourage cognitive learning in the areas of early math skills, pre-literacy, science, and music; provide opportunities for small and large gross motor skills; and foster independence and self-confidence.

• Promote social skills such as respect, kindness, and empathy.
• Enhance self esteem through individual accomplishment.
• Learn how to value another person's rights by teaching respect for others.
• Encourage cognitive development and reasoning skills.
• Strengthen small motor skills using scissors, play-dough, and art.
• Develop an appropriate pattern of dependence and independence.
• Foster a sense of continuity between school and the outside world.
• Create a place of community, teamwork, and friendship.
• Explore creativity and self-expression.

GOALS
We strive to nurture growth in the following areas:

• Self awareness
• Large motor skills
• Eye-hand coordination
• Social cooperation
• Personal independence
• Verbalizing thoughts into sentences
• Curiosity and awareness of the world
• Listening to and following directions
• Completing tasks
• Maintaining a positive self-image
• Accepting and managing responsibility
• Taking part in vocalization and rhythmical activities
• Experiencing original and creative self-expression
• Achieving self-discipline

REGISTRATION Registration for each school year is open to alumni and church families in November.  Open registration for the public begins in January. Children entering the Three Year Old Program must be 3 years of age and toilet trained by September 1st of the current school year. Application for the Three Year Old Program in Word or in Adobe Acrobat.

TUITION & FEES
Tuition for the Tuesday - Thursday class is $116 per month for 9 months.
Tuition for the Monday - Wednesday - Friday class is $155 per month for 9 months.
The first monthly tuition payment is due on July 1st.

Tuition payments may be made online using our Secure Transaction Form.

A $15 activity fee is due in September to cover the cost of vision and hearing testing and field trips.

TRANSPORTATION
Parents are responsible for transporting their child to and from school.  In a designated loading area, teachers guide children as they enter and exit cars.

RELIGIOUS EMPHASIS
First Pres Preschool observes Christian holidays, sings a brief prayer before snack time, and fosters the kindness and community of Christian living.

LICENSING & POLICIES
First Pres Preschool is licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services of Illinois (DCFS).  It is in compliance with health and safety standards established by DCFS and the IL Department of Public Health.  Further policies are set by the Preschool Staff with the approval of the Session of First Presbyterian Church.

Return to Preschool Overview Page