LITTLE PEOPLE PLAYTIME PRESCHOOL
Little People Playtime is a tuition-based preschool program offered by the Hampshire Township Park District. The preschool has been offering the local community quality early childhood programming since 1982. The preschool is staffed by dedicated personnel backed by education and years of experience.

The supply lists are available on the Park District website. Preschool programs begin in September and continue through May following closely but not exactly the School District 300 calendar. All participants in these programs must be “potty trained” and able to handle themselves in the bathroom.

The Facility at 441 East Jefferson Ave. is open on a regular class schedule 8:00am-3:00pm daily September through May.

Preview the current class offerings and general registration information in the online brochure available on this website or phone the preschool facility for more information 847.683.0896

Getting Ready for PRESCHOOL!

The following are some hints to help make your child’s preschool year(s) at Little People Playtime successful.  We believe a child cannot learn unless he/she is comfortable in his/her surroundings, has achieved a degree of independence, and is able to sit still as well as express himself/herself.  The academic skills are introduced and built upon as the preschool year progresses. Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised how much and how quickly your child learns from the Staff and from one another. 

Personal Hygiene Readiness

  Our Staff is always ready to assist in the bathroom, but your child will feel more confident if she/he is able to use the toilet, wipe, flush, wash and dry hands independently.  Complicated clothing, buttons, zippers, tights are all clothing challenges which should be practiced at home or avoided. We also feel it is important to establish this routine at home before coming to preschool in September so that there is little or no anxiety when using the bathroom at preschool.

   Is your child able to blow his/her nose?  Does he/she know what to do with the used tissue? And then wash and dry hands? Practice these skills at home as well as “catching” a cough or sneeze in elbow.

   

Separation Anxiety

   Many children go through a period of adjustment when being left in new surroundings with someone they do not yet know. Usually this anxiety lessens with each class attended. Our Staff is experienced in techniques to ease your child through this period. There are some things you can do at home if your child has never spent time with someone other than Mom or Dad. Begin slowly with leaving your child for short periods of time with a trusted friend or grandparent. Gradually increase the time. Gradually your child will understand that you do return for him or her. Hopefully you and your child have visited our preschool facility already during the registration process. We do have activities for parent and child during the initial class in September to also put you and your child at ease.

 

Eating Readiness

   Snacks at Little People Playtime are supplied by you for your child alone. Our policy is fresh fruit/raw veggies, dried fruit (but no gummy fruit snacks), and raisins, and all children eat at the same time. It is a good idea to set a time for snack at home versus the “grazing” habit. It is a good practice to see if your child is able to unzip and zip a baggie or open the plastic container, wipe his/her mouth with a napkin, and dispose of any waste in the proper receptacle. Staff is always available to assist, but independence is always a plus. Water is always an option and available to the children.

 

Social Skills Readiness

     The best way to develop social skills is by practice.  Invite children over for play dates or encourage your child to interact with other children at the park playground long before coming to preschool. Friends are a big part of a child’s life not only for companionship, but also to learn

HOW to act to keep a friend—sharing, playing nicely, taking turns, using words to ask for toys or to ask to play, etc.

 

Reading Readiness

   Setting a time to have your child sit with you to share a story is a preparation for “circle time” at Little People Playtime.  Sharing a story or book means listening and discussing. Our circle time is an important “teaching” time at preschool. Children sit, listen, express self, and wait turns. 

 

 Academic Readiness--Shapes, counting, alphabet, colors & puzzles etc.   

Almost all really good preschool toys incorporate colors, shapes, numbers, alphabet, and the ABC song from toddler age on.  Use these toys to encourage the development and learning of these skills to keep the learning fun.  What you do with your child is a beginning.  His or her year at preschool will build on these basics. Puzzles are wonderful problem solvers.  Begin with simple, few piece puzzles and work into more challenging ones.

Physically readiness  

   Get your child moving--running, galloping, skipping, jumping, climbing, hopping

 

v A few Readiness hints from the Staff      

 

      Coloring books are fun, but encouraging your child to draw is developing a higher level of expression.  Paints, crayons, and markers are all fun (messy) and learning tools. There is a correct way to hold a crayon, marker, pencil and in a fist is not it!  Try to break that habit as soon as possible.

    

         If you teach your child to print his/her name use upper care ONLY for the first letter. The rest of the letters should be lower case. Here is an example:  Erich

v     If you introduce scissors establish some house rules such as where to sit when cutting, what scissors to use, and what is acceptable to cut.

     

v     Before purchasing a jacket or coat have your child practice zipping or buttoning it.  If you practice in the store, you might see some challenges that could be avoided.

v     Before purchasing shoes and boots have your child practice taking them on or off in the store.  Make sure he/she can do this important task. 

      

v      Snaps on pants and coats can be tricky for little fingers.  Practicing this skill at home will make your child even more independent at preschool.