Heritage Preschool

Educating the whole child

Learning and Development

Intellectual Development
Children learn through firsthand experiences and many hands-on activities. During a typical day, the teachers provide for these experiences through creative playtime, art activities, circle time, story time, role-playing and dress-up, music, and outside playtime. All these activities are a very important part of a child’s day.

In addition to the actual instruction time, the daily activities provide opportunities for the child’s intellectual growth, as well. Many times the “process” is much more important and stimulates learning more than the finished product.

For example, during our creative playtime that “process” could be evidenced by your child’s manipulation of raw materials into their own masterpiece - whether it is a painting, drawing, a skyscraper built with blocks, or a toilet paper tube that has other materials glued to it.

It is that “process” that stimulates their cognitive development, as well as helping to develop their fine motor skills, which are necessary to print letters and write numbers.

Social and Emotional Development
Social and emotional development is our main goal in preschool. Throughout the day each child has an opportunity to grow through interaction with other children and the teaching staff. One of our objectives is to develop in each child the ability to express his/her wants and needs in appropriate ways. We do this by giving the children the correct words to say; continually modeling the correct words; and then, by using every opportunity that arises to practice correct responses.

By doing this on a daily basis we are teaching the children how to problem solve. We seek to help children develop emotionally and socially, by using and teaching correct language, rather than dictating behavior.

Physical Development
At school we provide both indoor and outdoor playtime. With ample space and equipment that will enhance large and small motor skills, the children will have the daily opportunity to run, jump, climb, and swing during our outside recess. We seek to go outside everyday, unless prohibited by the weather. During bad weather days the children most often will have indoor recess in the classrooms or in the open area in the sanctuary.

Also, once a week for 30 minutes, each class has Music & Movement. This is a program where the emphasis is on stretching and strengthening muscles; listening to and following directions; and moving to music. During this time the children also use different equipment and apparatus that enhances balance and coordination.

To exercise and develop the fine motor skills needed for writing, we daily provide opportunities in the classroom for each child to cut with scissors, build with blocks, color with crayons or markers, do puzzles, or play with a variety of manipulatives.

Spiritual Development
We believe that the spiritual development of children is as important as the other areas of development, and should not be left to chance. Our teaching comes from the perspective that God is the author of life and that He is Sovereign and rules over all things.

We teach what the Bible says about God; His Son, Jesus Christ; and how much He loves us - all in age appropriate ways. This is done throughout the day in natural settings, as well as planned times. We also have chapel one time per week where we sing songs and hear a Bible story. It is a fun time that the children look forward to weekly.     ...see News and Events