Pre-Ones
Our Pre-Ones program is dedicated to fostering your child’s natural curiosity. We offer a busy, yet structured daily routine with an endless possibility of learning. Your pre-one is on the move and eager to absorb every bit of his environment. Mary Sears Children’s Academy teachers maximize the potential of everyday learning experiences by developing the natural learning ability of your pre-one and movement. Our learning program is individually designed to challenge your child. All children are placed according to age and ability and we can reward your child with promotions.
Movement & Perception
Mary Sears Children’s Academy takes an active approach to helping pre-ones development; emotionally, intellectually, socially, and physically. A pre-one child is beginning to pull themselves up and learning to walking. They have physically moved into a different plane past crawling. They have a new perspective and can move by themselves. They are challenged intellectually (visual perception and gross motor skills) and are very excited to be able to visualize an object. Providing activities and toys that strengthen his fine motor skills are essential to developing early writing and self-help skills. Our teachers engage your child in gross motor activities every day at our indoor and outdoor play spaces.
Since 1964, Mary Sears Children’s Academy has met the total needs of our pre-ones on an individual basis. We provide daily progress reports to keep the lines of communication open and provide each parent with an update of your child’s daily accomplishments and routine. Creating a community and building strong relationships with and among families is extremely important at Mary Sears Children’s Academy. Our curriculum and daily communication is designed to support this important partnership.
Program Highlights
Learning: The alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors; these four areas of learning are presented daily in our learning programs. This will increase your pre-one’s knowledge, create awareness, and stimulate the brain to help them learn, grow, and change according to their own ability. All learning materials in the room are disinfected twice daily for sanitary purposes.
Books: Our pre-ones are read to daily and they love the visual stimulation. We present stories by puppetry, big pictures, and other media that stimulate your infant’s interest. Readers are leaders, and pre-reading skills can begin now! From the very beginning you can instill in your pre-one a love for learning.
Music: Children love music and our program is very musically oriented. We are singing, laughing, playing musical instruments, and singing Mary Sears Songs throughout the day. Music is enjoyable and a big part of our day. Children love the sound of the musical instruments (bells, tambourines, piano, xylophone, drums, etc.). We even have our very own Mary Sears Marching Band!
Exercise: Exercising stimulates the body and core muscles. It strengthens bones, creates energy, and promotes mental awareness. This cognitively creates a desire to learn and an excitement with their communicative skills.
Balls: Pre-ones love to touch and watch the ball move and go after it. Balls are colorful, come in different shapes, have sound, are musical, and the great big ones are used for stretching the child’s core during gymnastics. They are phenomenal. These excellent gross motor skills are performed daily to strengthen muscles used for walking.
Mirrors: We work with each pre-one in front of the mirror; they love to view themselves, laugh, and smile. Our floors are heated, so your baby can creep, crawl, roll and have fun in a safe, clean, and sanitary environment
Feedings: Depending on your Pediatrician suggestion, we can puréed food and a sippy cup for drinking. At this point, parents do not need to send any food to school. Your infant will have the taste of table food and the texture of baby food. At 10 to 12 months, depending on each child, table food is introduced. Communication with the Director determines the next step.
Nutrition: Nutrition is key in a child’s growth. We want to build strong bodies, minds, and stimulate mental awareness. We introduce whole nutritional foods daily, including protein (meat), vegetables (raw and cooked), fruits (a variety), grains (breads, pasta, and rice), and dairy (milk /milk products). All meals are home-cooked, nutritious and delicious at our day care/academy.
Cribs: Each pre-one has their own crib, labeled with their name, three sets of sheets. Each child has their own basket of materials under their crib including books, musical instruments, interlocking items, rattles, etc. These are not shared with any other children.
The Pre-Ones program is available at all locations: Joliet, Lockport, Manteno and Orland Park.
