Our approach to education for preppers (2 1/2 to 3 years old)
The Prepper programme was designed to meet the special needs of maturing children to prepare them for the transition into the preschool classroom.
My Little L.E.A.P.® Books
As children reach this stage, they experience rapid increases in physical, cognitive, developmental and social skills. We introduce them to My Little L.E.A.P.® Books, designed to challenge those skills and to support further exploration about language, letter recognition, shapes, colours, numbers, maths, and art at home.
Reinforced Potty Training
The children are more independent at “potty time” in our Prepper classrooms, where continued potty training is reinforced and practitioners are prepared to support individual needs. Their journey will be supported using their own personal Flexi Flamingo potty training resources.
Technology
As society becomes increasingly more driven by technology, it’s more important that children are introduced to technology at an early age. At The Learning Experience®, our Preppers begin this early education process with a very basic introduction to technology.
What our curriculum for Preppers includes
Our Prepper curriculum is tiered to meet the children at this transitionary period and lays the groundwork for skills that will be needed for success in preschool.
PREPPERS WILL EXPERIENCE:
- Continuation of sign language with Gibby Gibbon® to further develop language skills
- Continued exploration of manners and etiquette with Penny Polite®
- Introduction to early literacy skills through our Phonics with Phoebe® Early Connections Kit
- Introduction to L.E.A.P.® home learning books and exposure to technology such as L.E.A.P. Interactive® boards and classroom devices* to hone 21st century skills
- Physical fitness and gross motor activities with Flexi Flamingo® including outdoor learning environments to encourage movement and play
- Potty Training with Flexi Flamingo®
- Circle time to foster communication skills and social-emotional development
*iPads are available in our Preppers and up classrooms as appropriate for milestone development. Children will interact with the iPads on a limited basis with adult monitoring to explore digital concepts.
Our programmes for Preppers
L.E.A.P.® Interactive
L.E.A.P. Interactive® early childhood education programmes introduce our children to our proprietary L.E.A.P. Interactive board, as well as L.E.A.P. Interactive home learning books, giving them hands-on learning through cutting edge technology. Using digital tools, they apply learned concepts such as tracing, tapping and dragging, or circling to focus attention on lessons.
L.E.A.P. Interactive® offers a variety of additional applications to engage the children. They include a variety of STEM options featuring games that can be used to explore mathematical concepts, there is even a habitat app that allows children to explore where different animals live. Other apps offer the opportunity to get musically creative while making music with either a piano or virtual drums.
Manners and Etiquette
We make manners for Preppers the foundation of kindness and positive behaviour.
Our proprietary character puppets are a great tool for the children, which includes our Manners coach, Penny Polite®, who helps re-enact positive behaviour scenarios.
Sign Language
As our little learners build on their skills in Sign Language, they’re learning to sign and communicate their needs and daily interactions.
At the beginning of every month, the monthly sign is printed on the calendar and sent home with families to extend the lesson and to continue practising at home. Parents are also kept abreast of the monthly sign with a QR code taking them directly to a live action video of Gibby Gibbon modelling the monthly sign.
Physical Fitness Programmes
The Learning Experience® makes physical fitness an important part of early childhood education, with the help of our friend, Flexi Flamingo, who supports our children with healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Starting at the Toddler age, children are learning to move their bodies, as well as to keep their bodies and minds healthy by starting to identify healthy choices.
At The Learning Experience®, they’ll learn about going to the doctor and about tools medical professionals use to help them stay healthy. They’ll learn, too, about health and hygiene, expressing their emotions and calming their anxieties with calming yoga for children, and are even offered ways to develop their gross motor skills with balancing, walking, hopping on one foot or two feet, and more.
Our year-end milestones
Every day will be a fun new adventure at The Learning Experience® for your little one, and while our lessons and curriculum prepare them to meet important goals, we want to ensure they are developing at the right pace.
A SNAPSHOT OF SEVERAL OF THE MANY MILESTONES YOUR PREPPER SHOULD REACH THIS YEAR:
- Consistently follow simple, two-step directions
- Become familiar with routines and understand the flow of the day
- Demonstrate large muscle movements such as balancing, catching balls, and standing on one foot
- Initiate pretend play scenarios with practitioners and peers
- Respond to questions asked by practitioners and other trusted adults using three- to five-word phrases consistently
- Use increased vocabulary and ask questions such as, “Why?” and “What’s that?”
- Demonstrate independent self-help skills such as washing hands, toileting, and feeding
- Intentionally select toys and materials for play and exploration
- Intentionally select peers to play with
Enrichment Programmes for Preppers
Our enrichment programmes are an extension of the curriculum, providing in-depth, hands-on learning experiences to our little learners enabling them to develop mastery in a fun and engaging manner. At no additional cost, our enrichment curriculum provides a home-to-school connection for all children with specifically chosen kits to take home following each session, allowing the continuation of the child’s passion outside of the classroom.
Little Musicians
Our Little Musicians Enrichment Programme provides age-appropriate kits for our little learners to use to explore instruments, beats, and songs. They will use their creative expression, interact with their peers, and ultimately build confidence as they learn emotional regulation and strengthen their cognitive language abilities. Families will have the opportunity to join in a family showcase at the end of the programme to support home learning.
Little Engineers
Our Little Engineers enrichment programme provides age-appropriate kits for our little learners to use to participate in problem-solving activities that encourage creativity, perseverance, and real-life application skills. Children will work through challenges and tasks individually, in pairs, or as a team, leading to the strengthening of relationships and social-emotional regulation. Families will have the opportunity to join in a family showcase at the end of the programme to support home learning.
Little Athletes
Our Little Athletes Enrichment Programme provides age-appropriate kits for our little learners to use to engage in the foundational concepts of sports. Children will increase their gross and fine motor skills by learning to throw, catch, kick, balance, and much more. Our Little Athletes Enrichment Programme for Infants to Preschoolers includes learning the fundamentals of basketball and football.
Little Athletes
Preppers Kit
The Prepper enrichment kit is specifically designed to meet age-appropriate developmental milestones, supporting the development of their gross and fine motor skills of each child. This enables children to engage in learning to throw, catch, kick, balance, and much more. All these items go home at the end of the 10-week programme continuing their learning!