The Playschool at Mountain Park

From the Director:

THE CURRICULUM HERE IS CALLED EMERGENT because it evolves, moving along new paths as choices and connections are made, always open to ideas. Through "teachable moment" interactions between children and teachers, it explores what is socially relevant, intellectually engaging and personally meaningful. And because it weaves experience and prior learning with play, it helps children deepen their understanding of the world.

THE MOUNTAIN PARK PLAYSCHOOL HAS SERVED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1974, educating children 2-5 in a play-based environment. With outstanding indoor and outdoor learning spaces, the school offers ECO-FRIENDLY CARE THAT BENEFITS KIDS' HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, teaches socialization as well as academics, and utilizes an emergent Reggio-inspired curriculum that is developmental, hands-on, sensory and active. Our goal is to invite a love of learning, foster curiosity, and encourage an attitude of "I'll try."

MORNING CIRCLE - Children gather as a group to listen, share, tell about important experiences and connnecting stories to pictures while following directions and developing self-control.

ART ZONE - Children expand their creativitiy by increasing communications skills, exercising fine motor skills and improving hand -eye coordination.

DRAMATIC PLAY - Children are cooperating with others, using languages skills, verbalizing ideas, observing others, using fine and gross motor skills and acting out realistic situations.

CONSTRUCTION ZONE - Children are using fine motor skills, developing gross motor muscles, classifying by shapes, size and color, experimenting with balance and form, using imaginations, recognizing quantity, understanding number concepts.

SENSORY ZONE - Children experiment, discover, measure, weigh, refine observation skills and enhance fine motor skills.

SCIENCE ZONE - Children test ideas, plan, observe, predict, compare, draw conclusions, and discover how things work.

MANIPULATIVE ZONE - Children exercise small motor skills, develop advanced eye-hand coordination, focus on spatial concepts and enhance cognitive development.

MEAL TIME - Children begin to understand health and nutrition, improve self-help skills, learn to follow instructions, and use fine motor skills.

Daily communication with your child's teacher(s) is important. We encourage you to exchange information about your child with our staff. Please notify us as soon as possible if your child has any special needs. If there is a death, divorce, or move, the child may behave different than normal. We can provide the best care if we are aware of any special needs, fears, or circumstances. If you have a concern that requires more time or confidentiality the teachers will be happy to schedule a conference at your request.

Our center has an "open door" policy and we invite you to observe or participate in your child's class. Feel free to ask questions. We will gladly answer them. We encourage you to share your talents with us.


Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled in the spring and fall for preschool and pre-kindergarten children. Conferences provide an opportunity to review children's development, interests, activities, and interactions with other children and staff.

When a child joins a group of children in a child care setting, it is quite an adjustment for the entire family. We want to do all we can to make this adjustment as easy as possible for you and your child.

We encourage you to spend some time in the classroom before you leave your child alone for the first time. Becoming familiar with the classroom and teachers helps to strengthen your child's sense that The Playschool is a fun and safe place to spend the day.

Children adjust in different ways. We have found that children make the best adjustment when you make leaving them cheerful, short, and sweet. For example, say "I am leaving now, but I will be back later to pick you up. I know you will have fun today." Then leave. Staying after you have said "good-bye" or sneaking out when your child is not looking, will only increase your child's anxiety. Some children may cry at first and the teachers will comfort them while, at the same time, encourage participation in an activity. Some children spend the first week or so watching the other children before joining in, others may adjust by being overly aggressive the first few days, and some children settle in smoothly without much fuss. In any situation, communication is the important detail to remember.