Summer Camp Program Brochure

Programs Offered:

Young Minds Preschool offers year round care that fits most families’ needs and schedules. We cater to the ages of 6 weeks to 6 years of age as well as summer camp and after school program for school aged children. An extensive amount of research and preparation goes into planning the curricula, lesson plans and activities for our days. For some adults it is hard to recognize that what looks like “play” is actual “learning”. Through many of our centers the children practice and experiment with different roles and situations providing them the chance to express themselves, relate to others, and observe how their choices and actions impact the people and environment around them. The selected toys and materials in the class have a distinct goal in progressing your child’s abilities to problem solve, master skills, and strengthen muscles that will be necessary for academic, physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth throughout life. As hard as it may be to identify these learning moments in the fun, often noisy and energy filled surrounding of an early childhood class, be assured that there is purpose to all your child is exposed to. Our teachers and staff have the education and experience in this field that helps them to recognize and utilize every teachable moment to meet the children’s needs and provide the best mean of advancement for the “whole child”.

Infant Program – At a ratio of 1 to 4, infants that are at least 6 weeks to 17.9 months are cared for in the most nurturing of environments. At these ages, it is important to build a strong bond with both the children and the parents. As each child will come in with his/her own routine, we will work on meeting these individual needs while progressing into a more uniform nap, feedings and play schedule as months progress. In this age group we use a language rich environment that exposes children to much needed sounds and vocabulary, a tool for successful social, linguistic and cognitive growth. The importance of feeling secure, loved and appropriately stimulated is established and practiced through our daily activities. From many cuddles, book reading, finger plays, songs, nature walks (weather permitting) to meeting all the needs of each individual child, our infants will bud into wonderful toddlers in no time!

Early Preschool Program (Tiny Tots) – Children 18 months to 2.9 years will be in this class. Our program will follow the state’s ratio of 1 to 5 or 1 to 6 depending on the average age of this group. Our daily focus will be to provide the children with a variety of activities and play that will strengthen their developmental needs while maintaining an age appropriate structure. We will work on their fine motor skills with activities such as finger painting, sorting shapes, simple puzzles, coloring, finger play, eating with spoons, picking up toys and so on. Gross motor skills will be enhanced by activities such as dancing, imitating games like “following the leader”, marching band, outside play time and walks, ball tossing and catching and so on. Basic introduction to shapes, colors, letters and numbers will be within our daily activities in ways that are fun and age appropriate. Also high on our priority list is teaching about feelings and manners and self help skills. Children this young will learn most if they feel secure, safe and loved. It is our teachers’ duties to provide this environment at all times for our children.

Preschool – Children ages 3 to 4 will join in this class. *The state ratio for this age group is between 1 to 8 and 1 to 12 depending on average age of children. In this class our little friends will continue to work on fine motor and gross motor skills with activities such as finger plays, painting, sorting, building, and lacing, outside play, dancing, stretching, mimicking and clean up. We will continue to work on manners, feelings and other social/emotional and self help skills. At this age, the attention span is a little higher providing us with longer interest in group time activities such as circle time, thematic arts and crafts and field trips. The children’s improved abilities and understanding allow more room for in depth exploration of our themes and provides us a greater chance to build more recognizable academic skills. Pending the children’s’ interest and abilities, in this class they will work on the letters, numbers, calendars, and name writing.

Pre-K and Kindergarten – *our state ratio for this age group is between 1 -12 or 1 -15. Children between the ages of 4 years (by September 30) to 6 years will unite to experience fun, hands on, experiment filled curriculum. With the basic skills already mastered through our previous classes or life experience, our children will get a lot accomplished in a day’s time. In this classroom children will be able to go in depth about all the things they are curiously exploring. The children will have more of a partnership with their teachers and be able to make more choices in regards to the themes and interests that will be introduced and discussed within the classroom. They will work on weather, calendars, basic time and money concepts through role play and circle time activities. With various centers to choose from, the children will be able to learn and refine important academic skills through their individual interest and choices. They will have a higher independence level as well as a greater attention span for more in depth learning. “Teacher time” will be offered to work on the needs and interests of individual children pending their readiness and milestone goals. Our Kindergartners are usually ready for more academics which will be addressed through independent center choices and teacher time throughout the day.

*Our actual ratios are smaller than state requirement which provides a better chance of bonding and individualized teaching opportunities.

Summer Camp – Our summer camp is a fun filled thematic unit, in one week sessions ( to provide exposure to many interests in themes and more flexibility for family summer plans), that gives our children time to accumulate various “summertime fun” experiences that will be reminisced throughout their adult life. Through science, art, drama, songs, cooking and much more, we will expose the children to fun based, relaxed skill building activities that will enhance their abilities for the new school year. We have field trips and water based activities geared towards our older children who will benefit from a more active schedule.

Before and After School – This service is provided for children and families that need care beyond the public school hours. Transportation is not provided at this time. Car pools are a great way to make new friends and share the load.

Young Minds Preschool classrooms are multi-age environments. Multi-age refers to the physical grouping of students as well as a philosophy about the best way to achieve outcomes for them. Students are grouped so that the age span of the class is greater than one year. The multi-age philosophy recognizes that students learn better when they have role models they can turn to for assistance, and when they are able to practice their skills by demonstrating to others. The multi-age class is based on a more family-oriented structure where differences are accepted, and nurturing is valued and encouraged.

How are students taught in a multi-age class?

In a multi-age class, students are taught in groupings that maximize the potential of their learning. Teachers take advantage of the range of experiences, knowledge and skills of the group to develop programs that are more effective for the developmental growth of each child. This age difference allows children to learn by example and reinforce their skills through demonstration and assistance of learning peers.

Won't my child get bored learning the same thing two years in a row?

Our curriculum and lessons are geared toward meeting the individual needs and abilities of each child. With that in mind, our teachers will plan for new experiences with new or returning popular themes that will maximize developmental growth.