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Play is very important in all our programs. Our children can progress from
independent play in our programs for younger children, to parallel play in our middle-aged
groups, to cooperative coordinated play by the older children. All kinds of play are
valuable at First Parish.
At First Parish, we organize all of our classrooms to promote active learning and to
encourage children to think and talk about their discoveries and creations. Positive
self-esteem and self-confidence are fostered at First Parish by offering our children
activities that they can master. Confidence is built as children take pride in helping
to clean up their room, pour their juice at snack, put on their own coats, spell their own
names, or complete a puzzle.
In all of our classrooms, children will have the opportunity to develop through dramatic
play. Our younger children will pretend to cry, sleep, and eat. They soon include stuffed
animals, dolls, or toys in their play. As children approach 3, they being to participate in
make-believe play with other children. Our 4 and 5 year olds engage in social-dramatic
play that provides opportunities to rehearse adult roles. Active play helps children make
sense of the world.
You will also see an assortment of art materials, blocks, musical instruments, reading
areas, writing materials, listening centers, sand, water, and woodworking areas in all
of our
classrooms throughout the year.
Large motor development is very important for young children. In all of our programs, we
offer outdoor play whenever weather permits. Running, jumping, climbing, skipping,
hopping, throwing, and balancing come naturally to children. We also sled on the hill in
the winter. It is our goal at First Parish to give our children plenty of practice
with their motor development. On days that we do not go outside, we have an indoor recess
room that all of our classes use on a rotating schedule.
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Our Playground is the place to be!