Preschool Program
Our preschool program is filled with fun and challenging activities. All activities are a continuation of the readiness skills begun in the toddler room. Children will be fully prepared for school when they leave KidsFirst.
Our Curriculum
We use the Funshine Express curriculum designed especially for preschool children. Funshine Express is a national leader in childcare learning. The curriculum is based on current research and sound educational theories of early childhood learning and development. The program’s learning goals and objectives meet the New York State Early Learning Guidelines.
The preschool program is a high-quality, professionally-designed curriculum that creates enthusiasm for learning and builds school readiness skills. We focus on learning strategies for children with various developmental needs, experiences, and diverse cultures.
Teaching positive, Christian oriented values is an important part of each day. Children will be taught simple prayers to say before meals. We will sing Bible songs, listen to Bible stories, do fingerplays and arts and crafts.
Handwriting Without Tears
As part of our curriculum we use a program called Handwriting Without Tears. This curriculum draws on years of innovation and research to provide developmentally appropriate, multisensory tools and strategies to work with children. The program follows research showing that children learn more effectively by actively doing, using materials that are appropriate for the learning style of each child.
Children will be taught developmentally-appropriate readiness and self-help skills through games, art projects, music, stories, indoor and outdoor play and Bible songs and stories.
Importance of Play
Indoor and outdoor play is an important part of our day because play is a child’s work. They learn so much through play including how to get along with others, share, take turns and follow directions. There is a proper, age-appropriate balance between play and academics (learning of letters, numbers, shapes and colors, etc.).
Love of Learning
Our teachers provide many different experiences that encourage a love of learning through self-directed activities as well as teacher-directed activities.
Our goal is to motivate and prepare children for Elementary School. We recognize that each child is a unique individual so we provide an environment where each child learns at his/her own pace.
We are sensitive to each child’s social, emotional, educational and physical needs.
Meals
Meals are served family style. The positive effects of serving family style for children include: building lifetime skills, taking part in the setting up for the meal and cleaning up, and enjoying a meal in a comfortable and relaxing setting. Social and language skills will continue to develop through conversations around the meal table. Staff encourage good eating habits and proper table manners and conversations with each other. A picky eater might see friends trying foods and liking them and be willing to then try a new food. Proper hygiene will be followed at all times. Menus are posted monthly. Visit our food program page to see our current menu.
Quiet Time
Quiet time is observed each day after lunch. Each child has his/her own cot to rest on. Parents will provide sheets and blankets. Each child will be on his/her own cot during quiet time. While some children don’t require sleep, we’ll ask that they all be quiet so that those children who require sleep can get it.
The KidsFirst Circle of Care
The KidsFirst Childcare Circle of Care is our philosophy in which staff and parents work together, with God, to create a loving community that provides the best learning environment for each child. We value the Christian principles of love, patience, integrity and good citizenship to support each child and help him/her grow in body, mind and spirit.