Enrollment is now open for the Summer Fun Program at Sunflower’s Incredible Years Preschool where youngsters can enjoy the balance of class time and play time, Coordinator Cathy Estes said. The six-week program is available to any child age 2-and-a-half to 5 years.
“A three-month break from the routine of learning can be detrimental to a youngster’s education,” Estes said. “So we have designed our Summer Fun Program to keep the momentum going.
“Preschoolers learn quickly at this early stage of development,” Estes noted. “Our curriculum and activities add to their knowledge every day as they continue to increase their cognitive, motor, self-help and language skills.”
This summer’s session will concentrate on three themes – the zoo, ocean and circus. Each will be featured for two weeks.
“Young children learn by repetition and association,” Estes said. “We integrate letters, numbers and shapes into each theme. Their new knowledge also is applied to the art and musical activities they enjoy so much.
“Striking a balance of learning skills and developing early relationships as they play is our goal in every session,” she added.
Summer Fun is scheduled for June 11 through July 20 for children ages 3-and-a-half to 5. Classes always meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, but parents have the option of adding Fridays to the schedule.
“The Friday classes for the older children offer more advanced learning,” Estes explained. “They take the theme to the next level with experiments and creative activities.”
Classes for children 2-and-a-half to 3-and-a-half run from June 12 through July 19 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Incredible Years uses the Itty Bitty Bookworm curriculum, which focuses on imaginative play; social/emotional development; language, literature and communication; arts and sciences; and physical development.
Program directors are Jolene Hindman, Shari Schneider and Jessica Kraisinger. Hindman has 13 years experience at Sunflower’s Early Education Center and Incredible Years. Schneider has a bachelor’s degree in human services, with a number of continuing education certifications. Kraisinger has a bachelor’s in general education/childhood development, and has been accepted into the master’s program in special education/ early childhood at Emporia State University.
Incredible Years, which is owned and operated by Sunflower Diversified Services, has scholarship funds available to those who qualify on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about summer or fall enrollment, call 620-792-4087.