Our Programs
Purple ‘Potamus Preschool offers a developmental and age appropriate program where children can discover a secret world where play, creative freedom, self trust and personal responsibility opens the child’s mind and heart to the excitement of learning and the enjoyment of sharing it with others. We understand and emphasize learning should be fun, therefore, children will be encouraged to learn through play to discover and develop their social, physical, intellectual and emotional skills.
Preschool Program
Our Preschool Program offers a rich variety of projects such as Creative arts, Gross motor, Fine motor and Group activities that build upon established foundations for learning while focusing on advance language ability, mathematical reasoning, and scientific thought. Children develop independently and in small groups. Our learning centers allow limited group sizes and offer guided experiences that encompass all the skills and understanding necessary for optimum development and academic success. Our students are free to choose any centre they wish to play. Our teacher directed group time will introduce different languages and phonics at appropriate times, sing songs with and without music, read or tell oral stories, finger plays, rhyming words and open discussion time.
Why Junior Kindergarten is so important at Purple Potamus Preschool (Ages 4-5)
As the new school year begins, parents and teachers of preschoolers have much to think about. Research in recent years has highlighted the importance of early education, and we all want the best for the children we care about. Parents and teachers of four-year-olds might not realize, however, that this is also the perfect time to begin thinking about kindergarten.
Many parents and teachers do not start thinking about preparing for the transition to kindergarten until a month or two just before kindergarten begins, because they may not be aware that successful transition to kindergarten is a process that begins the year before. The transition from early education programs to kindergarten can be a stressful time. It is important for our Preschool to have tools and resources that can guide children and families through the process.
The year before kindergarten is the time to learn important skills, such as tracing the shapes of letters and numbers, following simple instructions, recognizing the title of a book, and matching rhyming sounds not only that, it also involves new social experiences like taking turns, having good attention span and going to school every day need to be considered as well. For many children, kindergarten is their first experience in a formal school setting. All of these skills are important for future school success, because together they form a foundation of strong pre-reading and pre-writing skills
Tasks that may be second nature to older children, like properly holding a pencil and listening to a story with a group, are some of the vital skills kindergarteners will be expected to know when school begins. At Purple Potamus we gradually expose children to these types of experiences during the year before kindergarten so your child will become familiar with them. Joining a play group, attending story hour at the local library, and encouraging interaction with new friends are great ways to introduce your child to new social experiences, which will help them do better in school both academically and socially.
An additional benefit of preparing early for kindergarten we at Purple Potamus make Report Cards of each child showing which skills the child has or has not mastered. This is valuable information to share with kindergarten teachers. By starting early and learning new skills along the way, your child will have a strong start to the exciting year of learning that lies ahead
Why Teach Your Child a Second Language?
Besides developing a lifelong ability to communicate with more people, children may derive other benefits from early language instruction, including improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills.
Parlex Vous Francais? Or Uted Habla Espanol? Program
Will a Second or Third Language Interfere With My Child’s English Speaking Ability?
In most cases, learning another language enhances a child’s English ability. Children can learn much about English by learning the structure of other languages. Common vocabulary also helps children learn the meaning of new words in English. Experimental studies have shown that no long-term delay in native English language development occurs between children participating in second language classes and those schooled exclusively in English. Our students get the opportunity to experience the feel of using different languages like French and Spanish.