Did you know? Children experience rapid brain development during the preschool years. High-quality pre-K can help them learn and grow, leading to a lifetime of discovery.
A high-quality pre-K program will expose children to different kinds of learning and exploration during the day. MECK Pre-K uses the Creative Curriculum®, which is a hands-on, project-based approach to education that incorporates real life experiences into the learning process.
MECK Pre-K students spend each day learning, practicing real life skills and expanding their knowledge. Teachers are trained to follow a child’s interests, build on previous knowledge, and provide real world experience based on that knowledge.
You can also support your child’s discovery at home! Here are some simple tips and ideas you can try.
Give them a new perspective. Give your child a magnifying glass and encourage them to look at different things through the lens. Outside, they may look at grass, insects, soil or leaves. Inside, they might look at food, liquids, fabric, or toys. Ask them open-ended questions. “Does it look different up close?” “What do you see through the lens?” or simply, “What do you see?”
Encourage “messy play.” Sure, it’s no fun to clean up a mess, but kids learn a lot through messy activities! And you can minimize the mess by using a smock, setting up an activity in the bathroom or kitchen, or doing things outside. Here are simple ideas:
- Fill a plastic container with sand or rice and hide small items in container. Then encourage your child to dig them up and figure out what they are!
- Let them help in the kitchen. Crack open an egg, talk about what’s inside, and show them how to scramble the egg. See what happens when you put them in the pan. (And of course, be careful around hot pans, and wash your hands after!)
Go to a library. Kids can discover new things in books. Let them wander the children’s section and pick books with interesting covers. Take them to the nonfiction picture books and see what interests them. Do they respond to animals, vehicles, buildings, other cultures, or other topics? If you’re not sure what books are developmentally appropriate, ask a librarian for help. They love to make recommendations.
Go for a “walk and talk.” Walk around your neighborhood and ask your child to describe what they see. Repeat key words and phrases back to them and point out what you see. Describe the colors, texture, smells and appearance of things you see.
About MECK Pre-K
MECK Pre-K is high quality pre-K open to all four-year-old children in Mecklenburg County at no cost to families. Classrooms are located in licensed childcare centers and taught by licensed teachers and highly qualified assistant teachers. You can apply online at MeckPreK.org.
Do you have a child who is not old enough for pre-K this year? Sign up for our email list and be notified when they’re eligible for MECK Pre-K. Simply go to MECKPrek.org/future-meck-pre-k-students and select your child’s age group.