School Age Summer Program
The school age summer program includes children who have completed kindergarten through elementary school, ranging from ages six to twelve. Our program incorporates skill development with a fun filled event calendar for all ages to enjoy. Highly qualified teachers and aides allow our summer program to run smoothly.
Some of our daily schedule routine includes art projects, blocks, science, dramatic play, computers, literacy area, listening area, music, woodworking, game area, and puzzles. Outdoor play is also a part of our daily schedule (weather permitting.) Below is a brief summary of each learning area.
BLOCK AREA is an involvement with blocks that assists the children in developing self-concept, promotes social interaction and cooperation, and provides opportunities for dramatic play and emotional release. The highly manipulative nature of blocks as a learning material ensures the development of hand-eye coordination, visual perception, and large and small muscle growth.
In the SCIENCE AREA is an established environment for the children to develop a positive attitude towards living things. This includes our pet fish, Rain and Bo, and our bird, Teddie. The children are encouraged to share in the responsibility of loving and caring for our pets as well as watching their growth and development. Many other items are added simultaneously to insure the children an opportunity for engaging in various methods of discovery.
The DRAMATIC PLAY AREA provides a true learning experience for the children. Through role playing, and self-expression, children learn about social interaction as they explore new and different avenues of play. Amazing learning experience is in store when children role play and interact socially. Children have access to clothing, jewelry, hats, and shoes of all sizes and styles. This area is the ultimate imagination expander.
By participating in the MUSIC AREA the children are presented with an appreciation of self-expression. Providing the opportunity to perceive, absorb, react, and respond in an individual yet creative way. Rhythm instruments are incorporated into the curriculum to enhance coordination of both gross motor and fine motor skills. Music is an important part of our everyday schedule. Children are encouraged to share music and story records from home.
The ART AREA is one of the children's favorites! Children strive to bring order to their world, and the art process is one way of doing this. Media is provided for the children to explore and observe their environment. They learn that each of us has different ideas and different ways of working. Children develop self-esteem when their ways of thinking are accepted and appreciated. It is hoped that through art experiences we can help make the children's responses to his or her environment a favorable one. Through gluing, painting, and drawing each child learns to express his or her self and take pride in their work.
The LITERACY AREA is comprised of a writing center, computer area, book and reading area, and a listening area so children can draw, write, make signs, create books, and in other ways communicate things that are important to them. In this quiet atmosphere, thought-provoking activities encourage each child to express themselves and let imaginations roam. This early exploration is called emergent literacy, the technical term for the reading and writing young children do before they actually learn to read and write.
Provided in our BOOK AREA is a stimulating supply of books that are displayed daily to coincide with the current unit. The book area is available during the free-play period when the children are encouraged to browse at their leisure. Children are encouraged to ask teachers to read their favorite stories. Children are also permitted to bring stories from home to share with others.
The WOOD WORKING AREA allows the children to use real tools used by adults on a regular basis. Under strict supervision, children use screws, nails, various wood pieces, hammers, screw drivers, and wrenches. A degree of responsibility is encouraged with this kind of play, but creativity has no limit.
We are fortunate to have a COMPUTER AREA consisting of seven computers of different abilities and styles. The main purpose of our computer area is the use of educational games. Some concepts emphasized in our games is problem solving, trivia, and basic elementary subjects. In addition to games children also work on key boarding and eye-hand coordination. This is one of our most popular areas.
The GAME AREA has a wide selection for various players and ages. Our games consist of CandyLand, Clue, Battleship, Checkers, Bingo, Upwords, and many more. The children are encouraged to share responsibilities during group play. Taking turns and positive sportsmanship are skills that children are constantly working on and our game area helps with that development.
PUZZLES are still an all time favorite. Children have the option of a degree of difficulty; from cardboard puzzles to 100 or 200 piece puzzles. Here the children choose from solitary or group play. In addition to individual puzzles our room always has a 1000 piece puzzle that the class works on at their leisure as a long term puzzle. Each 1000 piece puzzle that our children complete is framed and displayed for all to enjoy.
OUTDOOR PLAY provides a release from tensions that build up from prolonged sitting, thinking, creating, and trying to be "good". The goal for motor skill development is interrelated with goals for mental, social, and emotional development. We provide an outdoor playground with a large jungle gym and rocking spring animals. Also included are bikes, balls, a sandbox and a multitude of outdoor games. Providing physical activity helps keep the body and minds of a young child happy and healthy.
FIELD TRIPS are a huge part of our summer program. Each week the children go bowling on a regular basis for one and half hours. In addition to bowling one other day is spent outside of the day care. Our options include ice skating, roller skating, kickball and softball at the local park, movies and a local theatre, and mini golf. The highlight of the summer is our end of the summer trip. A full day trip is planned and in recent years we have gone to Dutch Wonderland and the Whittaker Center.
Each week throughout the summer we end with our “Special Days”! We encourage the children to participate in a theme day. Some of our themes are Wacky Day, Hat Day, PJ Day, Patriotic Day, Splash Day, Bandana Day, and many more. Children involved are rewarded with participation certificates and pictures are taken to display in our class room.
We hope this summary of the school age summer program, has provided you with a general knowledge of the challenging environment provided for you and your child.
The school age summer program includes children who have completed kindergarten through elementary school, ranging from ages six to twelve. Our program incorporates skill development with a fun filled event calendar for all ages to enjoy. Highly qualified teachers and aides allow our summer program to run smoothly.
Some of our daily schedule routine includes art projects, blocks, science, dramatic play, computers, literacy area, listening area, music, woodworking, game area, and puzzles. Outdoor play is also a part of our daily schedule (weather permitting.) Below is a brief summary of each learning area.
BLOCK AREA is an involvement with blocks that assists the children in developing self-concept, promotes social interaction and cooperation, and provides opportunities for dramatic play and emotional release. The highly manipulative nature of blocks as a learning material ensures the development of hand-eye coordination, visual perception, and large and small muscle growth.
In the SCIENCE AREA is an established environment for the children to develop a positive attitude towards living things. This includes our pet fish, Rain and Bo, and our bird, Teddie. The children are encouraged to share in the responsibility of loving and caring for our pets as well as watching their growth and development. Many other items are added simultaneously to insure the children an opportunity for engaging in various methods of discovery.
The DRAMATIC PLAY AREA provides a true learning experience for the children. Through role playing, and self-expression, children learn about social interaction as they explore new and different avenues of play. Amazing learning experience is in store when children role play and interact socially. Children have access to clothing, jewelry, hats, and shoes of all sizes and styles. This area is the ultimate imagination expander.
By participating in the MUSIC AREA the children are presented with an appreciation of self-expression. Providing the opportunity to perceive, absorb, react, and respond in an individual yet creative way. Rhythm instruments are incorporated into the curriculum to enhance coordination of both gross motor and fine motor skills. Music is an important part of our everyday schedule. Children are encouraged to share music and story records from home.
The ART AREA is one of the children's favorites! Children strive to bring order to their world, and the art process is one way of doing this. Media is provided for the children to explore and observe their environment. They learn that each of us has different ideas and different ways of working. Children develop self-esteem when their ways of thinking are accepted and appreciated. It is hoped that through art experiences we can help make the children's responses to his or her environment a favorable one. Through gluing, painting, and drawing each child learns to express his or her self and take pride in their work.
The LITERACY AREA is comprised of a writing center, computer area, book and reading area, and a listening area so children can draw, write, make signs, create books, and in other ways communicate things that are important to them. In this quiet atmosphere, thought-provoking activities encourage each child to express themselves and let imaginations roam. This early exploration is called emergent literacy, the technical term for the reading and writing young children do before they actually learn to read and write.
Provided in our BOOK AREA is a stimulating supply of books that are displayed daily to coincide with the current unit. The book area is available during the free-play period when the children are encouraged to browse at their leisure. Children are encouraged to ask teachers to read their favorite stories. Children are also permitted to bring stories from home to share with others.
The WOOD WORKING AREA allows the children to use real tools used by adults on a regular basis. Under strict supervision, children use screws, nails, various wood pieces, hammers, screw drivers, and wrenches. A degree of responsibility is encouraged with this kind of play, but creativity has no limit.
We are fortunate to have a COMPUTER AREA consisting of seven computers of different abilities and styles. The main purpose of our computer area is the use of educational games. Some concepts emphasized in our games is problem solving, trivia, and basic elementary subjects. In addition to games children also work on key boarding and eye-hand coordination. This is one of our most popular areas.
The GAME AREA has a wide selection for various players and ages. Our games consist of CandyLand, Clue, Battleship, Checkers, Bingo, Upwords, and many more. The children are encouraged to share responsibilities during group play. Taking turns and positive sportsmanship are skills that children are constantly working on and our game area helps with that development.
PUZZLES are still an all time favorite. Children have the option of a degree of difficulty; from cardboard puzzles to 100 or 200 piece puzzles. Here the children choose from solitary or group play. In addition to individual puzzles our room always has a 1000 piece puzzle that the class works on at their leisure as a long term puzzle. Each 1000 piece puzzle that our children complete is framed and displayed for all to enjoy.
OUTDOOR PLAY provides a release from tensions that build up from prolonged sitting, thinking, creating, and trying to be "good". The goal for motor skill development is interrelated with goals for mental, social, and emotional development. We provide an outdoor playground with a large jungle gym and rocking spring animals. Also included are bikes, balls, a sandbox and a multitude of outdoor games. Providing physical activity helps keep the body and minds of a young child happy and healthy.
FIELD TRIPS are a huge part of our summer program. Each week the children go bowling on a regular basis for one and half hours. In addition to bowling one other day is spent outside of the day care. Our options include ice skating, roller skating, kickball and softball at the local park, movies and a local theatre, and mini golf. The highlight of the summer is our end of the summer trip. A full day trip is planned and in recent years we have gone to Dutch Wonderland and the Whittaker Center.
Each week throughout the summer we end with our “Special Days”! We encourage the children to participate in a theme day. Some of our themes are Wacky Day, Hat Day, PJ Day, Patriotic Day, Splash Day, Bandana Day, and many more. Children involved are rewarded with participation certificates and pictures are taken to display in our class room.
We hope this summary of the school age summer program, has provided you with a general knowledge of the challenging environment provided for you and your child.