Many families are wondering about the best schooling choice for their child who will be 4 years old by September 1: a play-based preschool or Transitional Kindergarten (TK).
We understand this is a significant choice that will be informed by your family circumstances and values. To inform your decision, below we outline key offerings of Skytown’s unique play-based, emergent curriculum.
Play based: We believe children learn best by having time for uninterrupted play. We trust them to follow their curiosity as they interact with their environment through play. In doing so they engage in concepts of math, art, and literacy in an age appropriate way. They tell stories and collaborate and connect with peers through socio-dramatic play. This self-driven foundation will serve them throughout their educational journeys.
Child-led: Skytown creates a safe and appropriately challenging space for preschoolers. Within this setting, and with adult support, students can explore and play as they choose. Children are the authors of their own play and make meaning for themselves. This allows them to engage at their own pace, meet challenges, and learn by following their own curiosity.
Adult child ratio: Our preschool program has an excellent 4:1 student to adult ratio. This allows for direct support as students develop new skills through play and especially as students learn to navigate conflicts, understand the viewpoints of others, and grow socially and emotionally. The high number of adults also provides security for children to feel attached to adult caregivers who support them as they take age-appropriate risks in a safe environment.
Social-emotional learning: Children benefit from a focus on social-emotional development during the preschool years. This includes ample opportunities for conflict resolution where students learn resilience and empathy through listening to others, speaking up for themselves, and facing disappointments and challenges. This learning also translates to executive functioning skills, widely recognized as a key component of school readiness, including self-control, organization, and time management.
Parent education: Skytown is an intentional community of parents, teachers, and students. We work to bring early childhood education alive through our parent education, which offers a chance to learn about child development and addresses challenges that arise in the preschool years. We build a community dedicated to raising children with their development in mind.
What about “school readiness”? We believe that through self-directed play and with secure attachments to adults, children leave Skytown ready to start Kindergarten with confidence and a love of self-driven learning. An additional year spent playing can increase core social, emotional, and executive functioning skills. These skills serve students well when they turn to the demands of kindergarten. They will enter kindergarten able to advocate for themselves with adults and peers and have increased confidence in social settings. These are all key ingredients for a successful transition to the elementary school years.
See more information about Skytown’s approach by reading our Philosophy and FAQs.
Additional resources:
Power of child-led play and overview of importance of play in learning: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/documents/powerfulroleofplay.pdf
Importance of play: http://www.earlychildhoodfunders.org/pdf/Play_pamphlet_eng.pdf
Social and Emotional Learning: https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-does-the-research-say/
Power of play for pro-social and executive functioning: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/3/e20182058/38649/The-Power-of-Play-A-Pediatric-Role-in-Enhancing?autologincheck=redirected
