Tiggy Winkle Preschool is a modern, fully equipped preschool designed to provide children ages 3 to 4 years with valuable learning experiences in a happy environment. The program is designed to improve the child’s social, emotional, intellectual, creative and physical development as well as to help develop your child’s self-esteem. Daily activities include opening circle, free play, story time, art, music and songs, creative movements, outdoor play, snack and quiet reading time. Each month of our program is based on a different learning theme and many of the daily learning activities are related to that theme.

The teacher to pupil ratio is 2 teachers to a maximum of 20 children per class. The staffs include certified Early Childhood Education teachers, with updated first aid and various workshops throughout the school year.

Our philosophy is based on the assumption that growth is a sequential process. Our goal is to help children develop their potential: socially, intellectually, emotionally, physically and creatively. By recognizing each stage of their development, we are responsible for understanding the child and assisting his/her individual, independent needs while encouraging him/her to explore and appreciate his/her world. We believe that children learn through play, about the world around them. “Play is the way the child learns what no one can teach them. It is the way they explore and orient themselves to the world of space and time, of things, animals, structures and people. Play is a child’s work.”

Our philosophy is child-centered. Our goal is to help each child gain a good feeling about themselves and others. We encourage each child to explore the world with curiosity and enthusiasm.

In order to facilitate meaningful choice-making, we give the child the chance to move about in a setting which offers many attractive, interesting and stimulating and valid things to do. Since the child becomes a person through his/her own individualized response to the environment, we will be open, flexible and willing to experiment with the environment; for as the child grows, so must his/her environment.

Although we do value free play, our program has an underlying structure to it. The security and well-being of all children in our preschool depends upon this structure which maintains certain limits, repetition and consistency.

The following model will be used to monitor the appropriateness of your child’s behaviour:

• Behaviour that protects the rights of others will be encouraged and supported
• Behaviour that protects your child, as well as others, from harm will be encouraged and supported.
• Behaviour that protects the environment or animals, objects or materials in the classroom will be encouraged and supported.

A positive attitude is used in disciplining your child – showing them a better way rather than condemning your child for what they have done. Praise is used liberally and the use of positive suggestion is often the answer in many situations. We do not use the time-out strategy.

Teaching children to express negative feelings in a positive manner.

Children are encouraged to use words instead of screaming, pinching or hitting.

We stop the child if he/she is not managing a particular situation. We tell the child why we have stopped their play – e.g. you are throwing sand; then we explain what they should be doing – i.e. sand is for digging, so we use the shovel to fill the pail.

We bend down or kneel so we are at the eye level to the child. Any discipline situations are personal and are only between the teacher and the child involved.

If the child has done something to harm another child, we explain what they have done in terms of feelings – i.e. you have hurt Johnny, pinching him has hurt him. You have made him sad.

We explain to the child how to handle the situation acceptably – i.e. ask Susie if you can play with the ball or ask if you can play with her so that you can share.

If the situation lends itself to removing the child from his/her surroundings for a short while then we do so, or we explain why we are removing the child from the situation.

If we see that the child is not able to manage, we redirect them to something they will be content with. Redirection is often the best technique to use.

We include the child and use praise liberally for things he does properly.

We encourage children to express their feelings verbally – i.e. “I don’t like that”, “I like you”, etc. We realize this age group is going through a transitional period from parallel play to social and group play. They are learning what feelings are all about and what it is like to have a conscience.

It is important to give choices only where he/she can make a definite decision.

Respecting and understanding the child’s feelings in any situation is very important.

Children enrolled in the program MUST BE toilet trained as the room is not set up for diaper changing.

A parent letter and calendar of events will be sent home monthly to keep you aware of our themes, daily activities and announcements. It is important to keep in mind that many more events occur during each session than what is printed on the calendar – i.e. improvised puppet shows, creative dances, songs, stories, etc.

Spontaneity and flexibility are important in our program so there may be times when the scheduled event is postponed or cancelled to allow for another activity to occur that will enhance the program and your child’s experience.

Birthdays are especially important to preschoolers. We always set aside a little time during snack time to sing “Happy Birthday” to them. We encourage healthy snacks but exceptions can be made. A birthday crown will be made by their class and  the “Happy Birthday” song will be sung.

In-center field trips are organized throughout the year. Special visitors are an important part of our program and you will be notified of these in your monthly newsletter and calendar.

School fees for the year are paid in the beginning of the year at the community centre office. The Kitsilano Community Centre requires that post-dated cheques dated the 1st of every month be made out when your child begins preschool. The cheques for each month are the same amount regardless of whether there are holidays during the month.

If you wish to withdraw your child from the program, you must give one full month (30 days) notice in writing to the Kitsilano Community Centre office and the preschool supervisor. Your remaining post-dated cheques will be returned to you.

Good nutrition is important to your child’s health and growth. Therefore, we stress that you send a nutritious snack with your child (no cakes, cookies, candy, etc). Fruits and vegetables are the best choices for snacks.

If your child is allergic to ANY foods, please inform us so that we can keep a record of it. Although healthy snacks are encouraged, we do make exceptions for birthdays and special events.

Since some children suffer from serious allergic reactions to certain foods –i.e. nuts, – we would appreciate if they are not included in your choice for snack at preschool.  We strive to be a “nut-free” classroom.

Introduction Circle/Circle Time – Welcome songs, introduction to the day’s activities, attendance
Free Play – Including planned art, science, cooking and math activities
Clean-Up – Song “Time to Put the Toys Away”
Wash Up Routine – Song “Come On Everybody and Wash Your Hands”
Snack Time – Transition song “Hungry, Hungry, I am Hungry”
Quiet Time & Books – Song “Come On Everybody and Sit Right Down”
Circle Time – Song “Time to Put the Toys Away so We Can Have Our Circle”
Outdoor Play (weather permitting) – Song “It’s Time to Line Up”
Good Bye Circle – Song “The Goodbye Train is Coming”
Dismissal

Please have your child’s immunization record up to date prior to starting Tiggy Winkle Preschool. If you have not filled in all of the information on the registration form, please do so as soon as possible for your child’s own protection. It is very important to keep your child home when they are sick with a communicable disease and if you do not want them to participate in outdoor play. Please inform us of any infectious diseases so that other parents can be notified (i.e. chicken pox).

We encourage children to get involved in their activities. Please dress your child appropriately so that they can participate in all activities without worrying about getting dirty or wet. Please send outdoor clothes appropriate for the weather. In the event of an accident (bathroom) we would change your child’s clothes. We have spare articles of clothing which we would ask you to return after laundering. Please label all of your child’s belongings with name and telephone number.

At times, we have activities planned where punctuality is important. Therefore, children should be brought to school at the appropriate time. Please bring your child into the classroom so that staff know they have arrived.

Children will be dismissed from inside the classroom and will leave on arrival of the parent or a designated pick up person. Please be punctual when picking up your child. Many children become anxious if they are not picked up at the same time as the others. If you will be delayed, please advise us at 604-257-6993. If your child is to be picked up by someone else, please inform the staff and sign the “Pick up Sheet.” Please also tell your child who will be picking them up. Your child will not be dismissed if you have not informed us of alternative pick up arrangements.

Please be on time. Your child is eager to see you and tell you about their day. Waiting can be really hard sometimes.

When the door is open, we ask that you stay at the door, and your child’s name will be called. Your child knows that they need to wait for you on the carpet area. This is one of the preschool’s safety rules.