About this class
Everything about the Frisky Foxes classroom is focused on increased social interaction, more complex cognitive tasks, and a greater emphasis on developing independence. Here’s an overview of what learning typically looks like:
1. Play-Based Learning
- Structured Play: Three-year-olds benefit from both structured and free play. The classroom features areas for imaginative play (like a pretend grocery store or dress-up corner), building activities (like blocks or construction sets), and sensory exploration (such as sand or water tables).
- Role-Playing: Imaginative play becomes more sophisticated. Children engage in elaborate pretend scenarios, which help them develop social skills, creativity, and language.
2. Motor Skill Development
- Gross Motor Skills: Three-year-olds continue to refine their physical abilities. Activities like climbing, running, jumping, and riding tricycles help improve coordination and strength. The classroom may include a mini obstacle course or playground equipment.
- Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor activities become more detailed. Children practice tasks like drawing with crayons, using scissors with assistance, and completing simple puzzles, which enhance hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
3. Cognitive Development
- Problem Solving: Children at this age are developing critical thinking skills. They tackle more complex puzzles, understand basic concepts of quantity and size, and experiment with simple cause-and-effect scenarios.
- Memory and Understanding: Three-year-olds improve their memory and can follow multi-step instructions. They start to grasp more abstract concepts like time (e.g., today, tomorrow) and categorization (e.g., grouping animals or colors).
4. Language Development
- Vocabulary Expansion: The vocabulary of three-year-olds grows rapidly. They use longer sentences and start to grasp grammar rules. The classroom includes activities like storytelling, singing, and interactive dialogues to support language development.
- Communication Skills: They become more adept at expressing their thoughts, asking questions, and engaging in conversations with peers and adults. They also begin to understand and use basic conversational skills, like taking turns in speaking.
5. Social and Emotional Skills
- Social Interaction: Social skills are a major focus. Three-year-olds work on sharing, taking turns, and cooperating with peers. Group activities and games encourage teamwork and empathy.
- Emotional Regulation: Children are learning to identify and manage their emotions better. The classroom environment supports emotional development by helping children express feelings, resolve conflicts, and understand others’ perspectives.
6. Routine and Structure
- Daily Routine: A consistent routine helps three-year-olds feel secure and understand the flow of the day. The schedule includes time for individual and group activities, meals, naps, and free play.
- Transitioning: The classroom uses visual aids, songs, or signals to help children transition between activities smoothly and manage changes in their environment.
7. Self-Help Skills
- Independence: Three-year-olds are encouraged to become more independent. They practice self-care tasks like washing hands, dressing with minimal help, and tidying up their play areas.
- Decision-Making: They start to make simple choices, such as selecting activities or deciding what to wear, which helps build confidence and autonomy.
8. Exploration and Creativity
- Art and Music: Creative activities are integral to the curriculum. Children explore various art materials (e.g., paint, clay) and engage in music and movement activities (e.g., dancing, drumming) to express themselves and develop creativity.
- Curiosity and Inquiry: Three-year-olds are naturally curious and enjoy exploring new ideas. The classroom environment provides opportunities for hands-on experiments, science activities, and discovery-based learning.
9. Learning Boundaries and Rules
- Social Norms: Understanding and following classroom rules become more important. Children learn about appropriate behaviors, such as listening to others, respecting personal space, and following instructions.
- Problem-Solving: They begin to learn strategies for resolving conflicts and understanding the consequences of their actions.
The Frisky Foxes’ classroom fosters growth through a balance of structured and unstructured play, emphasizing social interaction, cognitive development, and emerging independence. The environment is designed to support their expanding skills and curiosity while providing a nurturing space for learning and development.
Classroom goals
Our classroom goals are many and varied from day to day. Some of our main goals are to learn to “use our words” to problem solve problems, independent self-help skills (e.g. putting shoes on, putting coat on, etc.). We work really hard to learn pre-kindergarten readiness skills like standing in a line, sitting to read a book, writing our name, recognizing letters, etc. The main goal of all of our classrooms is to allow children to learn and grow in a loving, developmentally appropriate early childhood program.
Connect online with our classroom
Connect with the Foxes on BAND or at weelittlelambs@gmail.com
