MISS AIMEES PRESCHOOL

Preschool age children range from 3-5 and usually are potty trained.  Teachers encourage social, cognitive, language physical and personal development. We group these children by skills as apposed to age so that they may grow intellectually at a pace that they are comfortable with while still challenging them. Simply because a child is not potty-trained is not a reason for them not to advance.

Lessons are age appropriate but still challenging. They encourage self-independence and social skills. Math is taught with hands on approach. Children experience addition and subtraction skills through object manipulation, forming groups, add/subtracting and sharing (subtracting from the group) with others. Reading is an essential skill for life-long learning. Children discover alphabet recognition and phonics through rhyming, songs, poetry and simple concepts like learning to write simple words for example their name. Fine motor skills are refined through art projects like cutting and pasting, drawing, coloring and other crafts.  Language skills are emphasized thorough poetry, singing and foreign language development. We offer weekly Spanish lessons by a certified Spanish teacher.  A physically well body promotes an intellectually well mind. Classes like soccer and swimming are offered, usually for a small, added fee. Children also have plenty of outside time and beach time. They get to explore and learn about the wonders of the environment and grow their imagination.

Crafts are a wonderful way to not only exercise fine motor skills but also exercise the mind and creativity. Children not only do crafts for the holidays but as anytime crafts to promote imagination, hand eye coordination and artful expression. Some regard art in education as a luxury but creative activities that are simple are building blocks for child development.

What are the developmental benefits of art?

Crafts and making art involve motor skills. One of theses skills is holding such as hold a paintbrush or drawing with a crayon. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), age three developmental milestones should include drawing simple shapes like a circle or holding safety scissors. By age four, developmental milestones include drawing more complex shapes like a square and cutting straight lines.

Decision making is necessary for proper development. According to Americans for the Arts, problem solving and critical thinking skills is reinforced by art. These experiences of making decisions and choices during the process of creating carries over into other aspects of life.

Making art and talking about art improves language development. Children talk about colors, shapes and actions. This can begin in toddlerhood with parents crumpling up paper and naming it a “ball”. Elementary school children will use descriptive words when discussing their creations and elaborate on them discussing their feelings about their art.

Visual learning is enhanced through drawing, sculpting with clay or play-dough or string objects like beads. This is all more important than ever with the vast use of smart phones and tablets. Even toddlers know how to perform simple functions on these devices. 

According to Dr. Kerry Freedman, Head of Art and Design at Northern Illinois University, children must process more and more graphic information than ever before. They must learn how to interpret, criticize and use this visual information to make good choices utilizing it.

It encourages inventiveness. When children are able to express themselves and be art risk takers the develop innovative senses that they carry into adulthood. These early foundations of innovation may have lead to some of the great designs and inventions of our time.

Reading to your child is the number one way to improve education. This all begins with library trips. We go weekly to utilize all that Sullivan’s Island Public library has to offer. The children love the trips, storytelling and crafts at the library.

Reading to your child has wonderful benefits for parents as well. The Huffington Post published 5 Hidden Benefits to reading to your child. The obvious that the you as parents get some joy out of spending quality time with your child. Additionally we can assess first hand how your child is improving in preschool and address concerns early on. Reading with your child…

1. Builds bonds between your and your child, as well as your child and positive character figures.
2. Children who read daily are usually ahead of those who do not.
3. A rich vocabulary gives a child an advantage over those that do not.
4. Teach by example. Parents who read have children who read and everyone benefits.
5. It boosts self esteem and communication skills. Children who can communicate their wants, needs and thoughts are more likely to be engaged socially.

The Charleston and Mount Pleasant SC areas have some great reading resources that are free. Reading doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. A library card only requires proof of residency. These libraries also offer may electronic options.

Miss Aimee’s is located a few blocks from the Edgar Allen Poe Library on Sullivan’s Island, SC. The children love to take field trips to the library and look forward to circle time, reading the choices of each student. Reading fosters imagination which enhances creativity.

Miss Aimee believes that children are well adept to learn other languages. Spanish is offered by a certified Spanish teacher. Bilingualism has many benefits to children even at a preschool age. Charleston and Mount Pleasant is become more and more multicultural. Learning Spanish enables children to talk with other children of Spanish decent many who may have a home that is Spanish speaking only.

The are cognitive benefits as well. Some research suggests that bilingualism contributes to a persons creativity and promotes better problem solving for complex issues. These children actually benefit from a stronger working memory, and ability to retain facts that aid in multiple skills, increased ability to comprehend complex sentences as well as performing complex mental math problems. The new your times reports, these children may have an advantage in executive function, concentrate on activities directly and it may correlate with high school/life success.

The are academic benefits for bilingualism. Fluent knowledge of another language can have a positive impact on achieving higher scores in standardized tests. These include state achievement tests and well as tests like the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).  Knowing an additional language(s) has a strong positive impact on understanding grammar rules and meta-language skills.

What are some ways that I can help my child be bilingual?

1. Learn some of the same language that your child is learning so that you can practice at home. This also has positive memory benefits to you as well.
2. Play games like educational language games.
3. If your children have friends that speak the language make play dates or even get togethers with families. You will have a great time, too.