The Three-Year-Old Program is designed to encourage a balance of child-initiated and teacher-facilitated activities. This program offers children a variety of choices provided within a carefully prepared indoor and outdoor environment. This environment includes art, dramatic play, blocks, manipulatives, language arts, books, music, water and sand play, as well as activities to build large and small motor skills. Our goals include the encouragement of each child’s natural curiosity and interest in learning. We feel it is important for children to actively participate in the learning process, and therefore provide many opportunities for learning by doing, for both indirect and direct acquisition of new knowledge and skills. The full-day program allows us more opportunities to extend our curriculum to explore science, math, cooking, and movement. The program allows an easy adjustment for the child needing to remain with his/her teacher until the end of the school day as well as a short nap time. Our three-year-old classrooms are located at Tiger Tots Place.
Emphasis in these groups is on learning through play in an environment planned to encourage discovery, independence, and social interaction. In order to develop self–esteem and social competence, children are encouraged to help themselves, take initiative, and become increasingly independent.