Both our Montesano and Aberdeen facilities offer high quality programs for children. We offer programs for school-age children in Montesano and for children 1 year- 6 years of age in Aberdeen. If you have any questions about these programs, please feel free to contact us.
At this age, children are meeting new challenges as fast as they come. Crawling, walking and eventually running are levels they accomplish in what seems like a blink of an eye. Children learn best if they are in a stimulating environment. Music, stories, outdoor play, interest areas, and art envelop much of the day. Our classrooms are sectioned into areas of interest so that children have the opportunity to fully engage with their peers with toys and equipment that is age appropriate and easily accessible. Our staff is dedicated to helping each child develop these skills through a trusting and loving relationship.
We have created our preschool curriculum to make children think with activities that will add wonder and encourage imagination. All activities are age based and ensures that everyone present can participate if they choose to. Children will receive encouragement and praise for their hard work and not just their finished product. We want children to be introduced to as many learning experiences as possible while in attendance. Along with the organized curriculum, children will also have access to a wide range of age appropriate toys to create whatever they can imagine.
Tracy's Tikes uses an integrated thematic approach within our preschool. We use bi-weekly and monthly themes that are meaningful and relevant to the children and can build on prior knowledge and experiences. By using a themed approach, our curriculum is able to cover a wide range of main themes and provide enough information in each topic to keep children interested, but not too much to overwhelm them. Areas of the environment will reflect a monthly theme. Children will be engaged in hands-on experiences, using materials that are age appropriate, curriculum-focused, that also represents a wide range of learning styles and abilities. The teaching staff will plan a daily schedule to allow children to learn the routines of their day and become comfortable within their environment. A list of a few themes: food/nutrition, dinosaurs, animals, the body, outer space, seasons, transportation, habitats, weather, 5 senses, occupations, our community, and so many more.
The classroom will be arranged to encourage individual, small group, and large group activities. The space is designed in a way that children can recognize the various areas, have access to their own materials, and be able to view their own work and other wall displays. Our focus at this age is social/emotional skills and kindergarten readiness. This is done with a focus on phonics, literacy, early math concepts, social interactions, emotional communication, and fine and gross motor abilities.
In our programs, we use a system of ongoing assessment of development. Teaching Strategies GOLD helps us plan for each child individually and ensures that every child is making progress. We know how important these early years are to children’s success in school and in life. Like you, we want to do everything we can to give your child a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Our programs share information with families about their child's progress 3 times per year. We preform a baseline assessment in early November where we have in person conferences with families to share information, mid year development data is shared at the end of February, and a final in person conference is held in May. This gives teachers ample time to track progress and share what the children are learning throughout their time in the program.
School-Age- (Montesano Program Only)
As children get older and more independent, they need new challenges. That’s why we offer a school-age program for before and after school care and enrichment programs that address the changing and more varied needs of growing school-age children. Reading, math, and science activities ensure that your child's mind is engaged and help create a lifelong love of learning and exploration. We also offer parent supports such as private transportation to and from Beacon & Simpson Elementary schools as well as after school help with homework. Tracy's Tikes made a quick pivot when COVID-19 school restrictions were implemented and was able to quickly create a classroom within our facility where the children could participate in their distance learning along with additional educational opportunities to fill voids such as hands on science and art activities. During the summer, pending available slots, school children have the opportunity to move to full time care to give parents the seamless transition and relieve the stress of finding additional care.