3-year-old Preschool Program

Each week, we focus on one letter and one number, using creative art projects and lively songs to make learning fun and memorable. Children participate in hands-on activities like gluing objects onto large cut-outs of letters and numbers or assembling pre-cut shapes into themed patterns, such as crafting an ice cream cone for the letter “I.” These interactive projects not only help children recognize and understand letters and numbers but also introduce foundational phonics and phonemic awareness. Through activities like identifying letter sounds, clapping out syllables, and tracing letters, children build early literacy skills while enhancing their fine motor abilities for writing and everyday tasks. By combining playful exploration with purposeful learning, we aim to create a strong foundation for reading, writing, and numerical comprehension. 

Encouraging our students to use the restroom throughout the day supports and reinforces healthy bathroom habits for our 3-year-olds. Teachers will guide students to the restroom every 1 to 1.5 hours, helping them understand that using the restroom is a regular part of their daily routine. This consistent schedule not only promotes independence and self-care but also helps young children become comfortable and confident in managing their bathroom needs. By incorporating these routine breaks into their day, we foster a positive and proactive approach to personal hygiene.

Learning respectful play and share habits nurture a child’s social skills and ability to play cooperatively. Teachers set up small, engaging play areas around the classroom, known as centers, where children are encouraged to interact and share toys with their peers. This approach helps young learners develop essential social skills and learn the value of teamwork. When a sharing conflict in the classroom arises, our teachers take the time to understand the situation, discuss the importance of taking turns and sharing with the children, and support them as they navigate the interaction and express their feelings. During play, teachers not only encourage teamwork but also guide children in recognizing and expressing emotions like frustration or joy, helping them navigate social interactions with empathy and confidence. 

Ensuring our students can recognize their own name is another key focus in our 3-year-old program. Each child will have a personalized name card featuring their picture alongside their name, which will be prominently displayed on their cubby. This visual reinforcement helps children begin to recognize and associate their name with their personal belongings. As part of our regular, every-day curriculum, students practice writing their name in print on both worksheets and art projects. By consistently seeing their name in different contexts, children start to develop early literacy skills and a sense of identity within the classroom environment. 

Understanding and expressing feelings is an integral part of our 3-year-old curriculum. During most morning circle times, we engage in discussions about how each child is feeling that day, helping them articulate and recognize their emotions. To further support emotional development, we often sing songs about expressing feelings, which makes the learning process both interactive and enjoyable. This approach fosters emotional awareness and helps children develop the vocabulary and confidence to communicate their feelings effectively. 

Social and emotional growth is foundational to our curriculum, supported by Dr. Becky Bailey’s award winning “Conscious Discipline” program, used in over 100,000 schools nationwide. This compassionate, research-backed approach helps children build empathy, self-regulation, and intrinsic motivation. Through structured activities like turn-taking games, storytelling, and role-play, children develop collaboration, listening, and social skills, while teachers model kindness and understanding. 

Our program emphasizes the development of both fine and gross motor skills through a variety of engaging, age-appropriate activities. Children refine their fine motor skills by participating in tasks such as cutting with safety scissors, threading beads, and drawing or writing with crayons and markers. For gross motor development, we incorporate activities like jumping, running, and balancing during outdoor play and movement-based games. By providing opportunities for physical activity and creative exploration, we ensure that children strengthen their coordination, agility, and overall physical confidence in a fun and supportive environment.