Early Enrichment Program (EEP)
Daily Schedule
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8:30am-Drop off Outside 9:15am-Inside/Coats off/Potty 9:25am-Storytime 9:45am-wash hands for snack 9:50am-Organic Snack 10:10am-Potty Time (kids go during Free Play) 10:10am-Free Play 11:05am-Music Time/Art Time (kids split into 2 groups and then swap) 11:25am-Art Time/Music Time (if they had Music they go to Art next) 11:45am-wash hands for lunch 11:50pm-Lunch 12:15pm-clean up and meet parents outside 12:30pm-Pick Up |
Many photos on the Home Page are of the Preschool Class activities. This slideshow shows EEP playtime.
The Early Enrichment Program (EEP) is for 2 & 3 year olds. |
Outside Time-Free Time to explore the: playhouse, sandbox, water table, swings, slide, jungle gym, and zip line. Time for running, chasing, climbing on stumps, playing with balls, riding in wagons, and the daily excitement that nature provides (leaves, dirt, snow, ice, flowers). We go outside throughout the winter, with a cut off of staying inside if it is below 16 degrees with the windchill. Please praise your child for getting dirty (i.e. "You look like you had fun today!") so they do not limit their play by being stressed about their clothes.
Story Time- Children begin to learn how to sit in a group and focus on short books (which is much different than sitting on individual parent's laps). We focus on colors, numbers, identifying objects, and basic discussion skills (learning how to listen when a friend is talking, waiting your turn, answering a question from a teacher about the story). We do a lot of singing books and fingerplays to keep everyone involved and having fun in a joyful silly way.
Organic Snack-Each day an organic fruit, vegetable, grain and milk is served. Almond milk is an option. All produce is fresh, except for occasional frozen peas and corn. No canned produce is served.
Kids are encouraged to be part of the "2 bite club" to try new foods. Surprisingly, many kids find new foods they like this way. This is a nice time for social interaction and picking up language skills from friends. Children practice self-help skills by clearing their plates and using regular cups (not sippy cups). Kids are split into 2 tables, they always get to choose where they want to sit. As kids are finished they can get up and go play, while others can linger longer at the table.
We serve grains (crackers etc.) with whole grains as their main ingredients oppose to white flour. The grain that we serve is 95% organic, there are a few cracker items that we choose to serve that are not organic. The reason we choose those products is because the first ingredient is a whole grain which we prefer over a first ingredient of white flour in many "organic" products. We serve these products so the kids have some variety.
Potty Time-All children are asked to go potty after snack who are potty trained or working on it. If you are committed to potty training then we are happy to make sure your child goes often. If you are not ready to start the process then we wait for you to let us know when you are starting and your child will not be asked to go potty (parents provide all diapers and wipes, cloth diapers are great-feel free to bring them, that is what we used).
Free Play-Children have access to both large play rooms during free play and can move between both as they want. There is one adult in each room at all times. There is an Amazing Unique to Discovery Cottage Indoor Play Structure which allows for lots of Gross Motor Play in one of these rooms. We rotate the toys so there is always old favorites and new excitement for the kids. Since at this age they do not understand the concept of keeping messy stuff inside of a container, we do not do any Sensory Tables (flour, rice, water, messy stuff, science experiments) in the EEP class (you may have noticed many photos of this on the HOME page). In the summer we do water and sand table outside in the EEP.
Music Time-This is a Active High-Energy Time with a focus on Gross Motor skills & fun. Musical Games-Lots of running, dancing & exercise using various instruments and props (scarves etc.)
Group Drumming and instrument experimentation and singing.
Imaginative Play-actively pretending to be animals, transportation vehicles, going on adventures.
Non-Competitive Sports-Basketball, crash bowling, ball skills, learning to cheer for other kids.
Art Time-A process-oriented approach to art. We paint, draw, stamp, do collage, use playdough etc. A strong emphasis is on the child's enjoyment, experimentation, creative expression, learning how to use basic art supplies (i.e. glue bottle), and not on the end product. Children in the EEP often finish before the allotted 20 mins. and sometimes read books while their friends are still working (since it is too hard for them to sit and wait at the table).
Lunch-Parents provide a packed lunch for their child. Sitting at lunch is hard for many
2 year olds., this is a skill that many of them master by half way through the year. At this age there is a wide range of how fast kids eat, from 7-20 mins. We do insist that kids sit at the table until their friends are done, to learn that social skill.
Story Time- Children begin to learn how to sit in a group and focus on short books (which is much different than sitting on individual parent's laps). We focus on colors, numbers, identifying objects, and basic discussion skills (learning how to listen when a friend is talking, waiting your turn, answering a question from a teacher about the story). We do a lot of singing books and fingerplays to keep everyone involved and having fun in a joyful silly way.
Organic Snack-Each day an organic fruit, vegetable, grain and milk is served. Almond milk is an option. All produce is fresh, except for occasional frozen peas and corn. No canned produce is served.
Kids are encouraged to be part of the "2 bite club" to try new foods. Surprisingly, many kids find new foods they like this way. This is a nice time for social interaction and picking up language skills from friends. Children practice self-help skills by clearing their plates and using regular cups (not sippy cups). Kids are split into 2 tables, they always get to choose where they want to sit. As kids are finished they can get up and go play, while others can linger longer at the table.
We serve grains (crackers etc.) with whole grains as their main ingredients oppose to white flour. The grain that we serve is 95% organic, there are a few cracker items that we choose to serve that are not organic. The reason we choose those products is because the first ingredient is a whole grain which we prefer over a first ingredient of white flour in many "organic" products. We serve these products so the kids have some variety.
Potty Time-All children are asked to go potty after snack who are potty trained or working on it. If you are committed to potty training then we are happy to make sure your child goes often. If you are not ready to start the process then we wait for you to let us know when you are starting and your child will not be asked to go potty (parents provide all diapers and wipes, cloth diapers are great-feel free to bring them, that is what we used).
Free Play-Children have access to both large play rooms during free play and can move between both as they want. There is one adult in each room at all times. There is an Amazing Unique to Discovery Cottage Indoor Play Structure which allows for lots of Gross Motor Play in one of these rooms. We rotate the toys so there is always old favorites and new excitement for the kids. Since at this age they do not understand the concept of keeping messy stuff inside of a container, we do not do any Sensory Tables (flour, rice, water, messy stuff, science experiments) in the EEP class (you may have noticed many photos of this on the HOME page). In the summer we do water and sand table outside in the EEP.
Music Time-This is a Active High-Energy Time with a focus on Gross Motor skills & fun. Musical Games-Lots of running, dancing & exercise using various instruments and props (scarves etc.)
Group Drumming and instrument experimentation and singing.
Imaginative Play-actively pretending to be animals, transportation vehicles, going on adventures.
Non-Competitive Sports-Basketball, crash bowling, ball skills, learning to cheer for other kids.
Art Time-A process-oriented approach to art. We paint, draw, stamp, do collage, use playdough etc. A strong emphasis is on the child's enjoyment, experimentation, creative expression, learning how to use basic art supplies (i.e. glue bottle), and not on the end product. Children in the EEP often finish before the allotted 20 mins. and sometimes read books while their friends are still working (since it is too hard for them to sit and wait at the table).
Lunch-Parents provide a packed lunch for their child. Sitting at lunch is hard for many
2 year olds., this is a skill that many of them master by half way through the year. At this age there is a wide range of how fast kids eat, from 7-20 mins. We do insist that kids sit at the table until their friends are done, to learn that social skill.