Lots of singing, smiling faces, colorful family portraits and other pictures from the original minds of three, four and five year old artists. You’ll find story times told with so much energy and animation by our teachers suitable for live theater. You will see blossoming artists in each child working so hard on the projects developed by our most creative teachers.
Imagination is in full swing all day at the Pumpkin Patch, and this goes hand in hand with the creative minds running wild in the Preschool Room. Thinking caps are always on, and creativity constantly encouraged. New skills are being introduced and sharpened every day here.
Children are not only anxious to learn to read, but also enthusiastic to pick up a book and work on their reading skills every chance they get. They are equally as excited to perfect their writing skills. Questions about words and letters arise from the preschoolers throughout the day.
You will find our children always eager to compliment one another, and help each other. Friendships are made and strengthened here, and they are true because they are learned by example in this playful, friendly and sincere environment.
Our teachers enjoy themselves just as much as the children do! When the children are dancing and singing, the teachers are right there with them.
Program Infants
A child understands his world in which there are creatures separate and apart from themselves. This comes when he is held and cared for. Ideally the infant finds that relationship with his mother, but when that is not possible it is essential for him to form an attachment to another adult. At Pumpkin Patch a warm, supportive relationship will be established between the care giver and the infant to promote sound emotional development.
Infants learn so much in the first years of their lives. Creating an atmosphere to promote development and discovery is important in an Infant classroom. We focus on sensory development; tactile, audio/visual activities; singing and storytelling. These activities teach the babies those basic concepts that are so important to a child’s growth and development. Free play is used to promote self-discovery and socialization. Through using manipulative toys and age-appropriate art activities the infants creativity and imagination are fostered.
Our infant program allows for individual schedules, fashioned by the parents and infants themselves.
Our general routine is as follows:
7:30-9:00 Arrival and Free Play
Teachers’ greet parents and children. Discuss the child’s night become informed of daily schedules (additions or changes). Children take this time to free play in their room with teacher interaction.
9:00-9:30 Snack
This is the time that Center snack is served if your child is cleared for table food.
9:30-10:00 Diapers/ Free Play
Diaper changing occurs during this time. It is an opportunity for the teacher to interact one on one with the child. The co-teacher takes this opportunity to play on the floor with the other children.
10:00- ? Nap Time
Although the infants do not have a set nap time it is usually at this time that the nap cycle begins.
11:30-12:00 Lunch
Lunch is provided by the Center and is served to those children who have been cleared to eat Center food.
12:00-1:00 Lunch Clean up/ Free Play/Diapering
One teacher clears up lunch. One teacher engages in floor play.
1:00-1:30 Art/ Free Play
At this time the older children participate in an art activity. Younger infants get their “tummy” time.
1:30- 2:30 Diapers/ Nap Time
We find that this is the second round of naps for the children. Again this is not a set nap time.
2:30-3:00 Snack
Center snack is provided and served to children who have been cleared to eat Center food.
3:00-3:30 Snack Clean up/ Free Play
3:30-5:30 Diapering/Free Play/Dismissal Preparation
Teachers use this time to talk to the parents regarding their child’s day. Daily sheets are reviewed
and the room is prepared for the next day.
Program Waddlers
"Waddler is a term used for children transitioning from babyhood to early childhood, more commonly known as toddlerhood.
Children's rapid brain development between the ages of 12 and 24 months causes amazing changes to happen - such as talking, walking and best of all remembering. Cognitive development is the children's ability to think, learn and remember. We at the PUMPKIN PATCH realize that Waddlers are starting to understand, imitate and begin pretend play at this stage of development and have created a curriculum to nurture and guide their need for independence and safe exploration. These tasks allow Waddlers to become confident and independent.
Waddlers form strong emotional attachments at this age and their need for attachments and independence set the stage for conflict, confusion and breakdowns. Their needs are so high at this age and yet their language is only just beginning. Between the ages of 15-18 months Waddlers understand 10 times more than they can speak. This is very frustrating for them and our staff is sympathetic to these situations.
As with infants, free play is encouraged to develop independence and exploration. We also begin some structure in this room with the inclusion of teacher directed art projects and themes.
7:30-8:30 Arrival and Free Play -
Two or three choices of toys are given for the children. Discuss the child's night.
8:30-8:45 Clean Up and Diapers
One teacher changes diapers and works on potty training. The co-teacher gets the children ready for snack time.
8:45-9:00 - Snack Time
At this time morning snack is served. This snack is provided by parents on an alternating basis.
9:00-9:30 - Music and Movement - Outside Prep
One teacher takes the children for interactive music. Children use props such as instruments, trampoline, parachute and other gross motor activities.
9:30-10:30 - Outdoor Play / Buggy Ride
Weather permitting, children are taken outside on either the playground or for a buggy ride. In case of bad weather free play activities will be arranged.
10:30-11:00- Lunch Prep / Diapers
Children are taken into bathroom one by one for diapers while other teacher preps for lunch.
11:00-11:30 - Lunch
Center provided luch is served
11:15-11:30 - Quiet Time
One teacher sits with children who finish lunch early and reads stories before nap. Co-Teacher cleans up from lunch.
11:30-1:30 - Nap Time
Each child's back is rubbed until sleeping. Soft music is played throughout nap.
1:30-1:45 - Diapers and Wake Up
Children begin to wake up and are taken for diapers.
1:45-2:00 - Snack
Center provided snack is served.
2:00-3:00 - Outside Time
Weather permitting children are taken outside for playground or buggy ride. Free play activites are arranged for bad weather days.
3:00- 4:00 - Free Play and Art
Children play at centers with one teacher while co-teacher takes children in kitchen are for art
4:00-4:30 - Diapers
Children are taken for final diaper changes.
4:30-5:30 Parent Arrival
Children are given a choice of activites involving fine motor skills. Parents arrive. Teachers take the time to talk to the parents about the day. Daily sheets are reviewed and the room is prepared for the following day.
Program Toddlers
The toddler is an explorer. They learn all the time through everything that they do. He discovers gravity when he pulls himself up and falls down. He learns about opposites when he climbs over, and crawls through, under and around. One part of a toddlers day can not be distinguished as more or less educational then another.
Socially, the toddler is an independent, self –centered being. His wants, needs, his space, his toys bear no interference from others. Sharing, waiting for a turn and cooperating are social skills which must be learned and are introduced and encouraged at Pumpkin Patch.
Language development is crucial for toddlers as it helps them express feelings and needs related to other areas of development. The teachers in the room are willing to listen, elicit responses, talk to the children, ask questions and patiently answer the hundreds of questions asked of them.
Motor development is ongoing within the toddler program. Children are provided with encouragement, appropriate space and opportunities to further develop large and small motor skills. Music and movement are done through out the day in addition to outside time where the children can just be children, because we feel that is the most important part of being a toddler.
7:30-9:00 Arrival and Free Play
Two or three choices of toys are given for the children. Discuss the child’s night.
8:45-9:00 Clean Up and Diapers
One teacher changes diapers and works on potty training. The co-teacher gets the children ready for snack time.
9:00 Snack
At this time morning snack is served. This snack is provided by parents on alternating basis.
9:15-9:30 Music and Movement/ Outdoor Prep
One teacher does movement activities with children while the other teacher prepares them for outside time.
9:30-10:30 Outdoor Play
Weather permitting children are taken outside on either the playground or for a buggy ride. In case of bad weather free play activities are arranged.
10:30- 11:15 Art and Centers
Children are split into two groups. One group works on the art project while the other group uses manipulative toys such as legos, puzzles or playdo. On days that art is not done some sort of sensory activity is done in it’s place.
11:15-11:30 Diapers and Circle Time
Children begin to learn name recognition, shapes, colors, letters and numbers through songs and books. Co-teacher pulls children from circle to do diapers and potty.
11:30- 12:00 Lunch
Center provided lunch is served.
12:00-12:15 Quiet time
Teacher sits with children and reads stories before nap. Co-teacher cleans up from lunch.
12:15-2:30 Nap Time
Each child’s back is rubbed until sleeping. Soft music is played throughout nap.
2:30-2:45 Diapers and Wake up
Children begin to wake up and are taken for diapers and potty.
2:45-3:00 Snack
Center provided snack is served.
3:00-4:00 Outdoor play
Weather permitting children are taken outside on playground. Free play is arranged on bad weather days.
4:00-4:30 Music and Movement
An interacive CD is put on and children use instruments, trampoline, parachute and other gross motor activites.
4:30-5:30 Parent Arrival and Diapers
Children are given a choice of activites involving fine motor skills. Parents arrive. Teachers take the time to talk to the parents about the day. Daily sheets are reviewed and the room is prepared for following day.
Program Preschool
While trust is the foundation of babyhood and independence and autonomy define toddler hood, the preschool years are characterized by interdependence and mastery. After establishing a separate identity preschoolers proceed to gain control over their environment and struggle to learn new tasks and feel capable. They become more aware of their abilities such as speaking, reasoning, dressing, feeding and using the toilet.
With teacher guidance children will learn how to play cooperatively in a group setting. Through the use of centers children will begin to learn independence, problem solving, how to take turns, share, make friends and play cooperatively.
Our curriculum is designed to encourage our children’s Cognitive, Physical, Social and Emotional development, all in a creative fundamental way.
Cognitive Skills
In the writing and reading centers, recognition of shapes, letters, numbers and counting as well as basic math is learned. Our writing center helps our children to become enthusiastic and self-improving writers and readers.
Physical Development
This area is broken down into two categories; large or gross motor skills and small or fine motor skills. Outdoor play, music and movement, blocks and exercise are all developed to promote gross motor movement. The use of table toys, manipulative toys, games puzzles, beading and art are all designed to focus on fine motor skills as well as reinforcing cognitive development.
Social and Emotional Development
Promoting social and emotional skills are crucial in a preschooler’s development. Our dramatic play, circle time and block areas all promote interaction between the children. Problem solving skills are also refined and developed with teacher participation.
Our goal is to set a foundation for an easy transition to kindergarten; we thrive to make sure the children will have all the basic skills to achieve success..
PRESCHOOL SCHEDULE
7:30-8:45 Arrival and Free Play
Teachers greet children and discuss child’s night with parents. Children choose between centers and engage in free play.
8:45-9:00 Potty time/Snack set up
Teacher takes children over to bathroom and to wash hands. Co-teacher sets up for snack.
9:00-9:15 Snack
AM snack is provided by parents on alternating schedule.
9:15-10:00 Circle time
Children learn about theme of the week and letter of the week through songs, books and activities. Calendar, number, shape and color recognition are also worked on. Two seperate circles are done for children of different developmental levels.
10:00-11:00 Centers and Art
Children move freely through centers independently. Teacher does art with the children one or two at a time. Centers include Writing, Housekeeping, Sensory, Manipulative, Reading area, and Blocks.
11:00-11:45 Outside Play
Children are taken for a walk or on the playground (weather permitting). In event of bad weather children do gross motor activities indoors. Including dance, parachute, exercise activities, trampoline.
11:45-12:00 Potty time
Teacher takes children over to bathroom and to wash hands. Co-teacher sets up for lunch.
12:00-12:30 Lunch
Center provided lunch is served. Again children find name on chairs.
12:30-1:00 Quiet time
Children either read books with a teacher or watch a movie. Co-teacher cleans up from lunch.
1:00-2:45 Nap time
Children sleep on cots.
2:45-3:00 Wake up and Potty
Children begin to wake up. Bedding is put away and cots washed while teacher takes children to bathroom.
3:00-3:30 Snack
Center provided snack is served.
3:30-4:00 Circle time and Clean up
Children sit with teacher and sing songs and read. This is a less structured circle that helps the children transition from nap to outdoor time. Co-teacher cleans up from snack and does nightly cleaning.
4:00-5:30 Outdoor time and Pick up
Weather and daylight permitting children go outside on playground. In case of bad weather free play centers are arranged and an afternoon art project is prepared. Teachers take time to discuss day with parents. Daily sheets are reviewed. Center is prepared for next day.
FOR A LIST OF MONTHLY THEMES PLEASE SEE OUR NEWSLETTER SECTION.