In Preschool we use circle time to help children extend their attention spans, we encourage our educators to make circle time as interesting to the child as possible to ensure the children are engaged and excited to learn. In Preschool children have a deeper understanding of what circle time means and how it looks in our program settings. Circle time is a great opportunity to introduce complex concepts as the children give the educators their undivided attention. During circle time the children are able to have autonomy surrounding the songs we choose to sing, the books we get to read and the educators take the suggestions the children give and make it a reality.

In our Preschool program we have a plethora of activities and books readily available for the children at all times. We do this to ensure the children are exposed to early literacy at all times, allowing them to pave their own path to reading. The more time we spend with books, the more likely the children are able to start to retain and understand the concepts being taught, especially when we oblige them and read their favorite book for the twelfth time that day. Another way we encourage reading comprehension is when our educators introduce a book, importance is given to stop and engage the children about what they see in the pictures on the pages, what their thoughts are on what they are hearing, even deeper the children are asked if they can relate to the concept the book is talking about. An example of the children relating to a concept would be if the educators are reading a book on colours around the world, they may ask the children “do you have a favorite color today?”.

In our preschool program we constantly have exposure to music, we like to use music to set the tone of the room, the calmer the music the calmer the children might be. In preschool we also like to use music to encourage big body movements to allow the children a positive outlet for their energy. In our preschool program we can add music to any experience adding a special touch to any activity. For example if we use classical music when doing an art experience then the children might have a deeper concentration on their work, more calming movements which makes more precise linework and attention to detail. Our Preschool educators use music to offer a multi-sensory experience to deepen the learning that is going on. For example, when discussing plants we may sing “the farmer plants the seed”. Music is also an amazing vehicle for language diversity, introducing children to their beloved English songs in a wide variety of languages, with a keen focus on their French versions.

Body connectivity is so crucial as Preschool children rapidly grow and their centre of gravity and their extremities change. An important part of our programming is ensuring that children ca explore both their proprioceptive and vestibular inputs. Proprioceptive Input includes the exploration of movements such as pushing, pulling, climbing, lifting, etc. It is important to explore and challenge the Proprioceptive input to ensure children are exercising the use of the neurons that are connected to body movement. As with anything the more you practice these skills the easier it will be to use them when needed. A child’s Vestibular system is the parts of the inner ear that assist with balance and coordination. In the early years it is crucial to challenge the Vestibular system so that the child’s brain can begin to understand what their body limits may be. This can include sitting up straight, the lack of comfort with being upside down for long periods of time, spinning, fast movements. In our preschool program we encourage the children to explore their limitations and comfort levels when it comes to big body movement. We ensure the children are given the tools needed to practice their movement skills in a safe environment that encourages body work.

The outdoors are so rich in knowledge and experiences that we believe it is so important for children to be able to explore the world around them freely and with a curious mind. Our preschool program ensures that children are exposed to challenging and new experiences outdoors to nurture their curiosity of nature, such as allowing them to climb the trees, peel the bark to peer at the inner tree, or dig up the earth bugs and insects. In our Preschool yard we have materials of different heights such as stumps and benches to encourage jumping and climbing, and two pulley systems that offer different opportunities to explore transportation. Our play structure has only a rock wall for children to climb to the perch, and we also have two big trees, one of them is for climbing vertically and the other one is great for hiding in or sliding through, these practices are highly encouraged. Children who spend more time outside are more likely to have advanced motor skills, agility and balance.

A big part of preparing children for school is nurturing their self-help skills. In preschool we encourage children to practice skills such as blowing your nose, getting dressed to go outside, filling your own water bottle, etc. We like to encourage the children to complete the task that they are fully capable of without help from an adult to foster their confidence and sense of self autonomy. As children work through the challenge of beginning to use their self-help skills we encourage them by saying “I’m so proud of you, are you proud of yourself?”, “This job is hard but you’ve got this”, “I believe in you”, etc.

At a young age children learn so much through sensory experiences, they learn what their preferences may be when it comes to smells, tastes or even feelings. Preschool children love to experience the world through their senses especially through touch; the preschool program offers ample opportunity for children to get dirty, grimy or slimy. In preschool we love to enjoy being outside while exploring our senses. In nature there are so many sounds, scents, things to look at, different textures to touch and even sometimes taste (food grown in the garden). Allowing the children to learn how to stimulate themselves and find pleasure intrinsically is key to fostering autonomy.