Program Details
To help children develop into self-confident, caring individuals, our programs are play oriented.  We believe “play is a child’s work” and that through active, focused play, children acquire the foundations for reading, writing and logical thinking.  Learning through play is the preparation children need before they can understand how to use abstract symbols such as letters and numbers. 

The Preschool Program offers a wide variety of experiences.  Through weekly themes, the children learn new concepts, allowing them to extend their play and share individual interests and ideas.

    Maintain a 1:10 teacher to child ratio

Emphasis is placed on socialization skills as children learn to play creatively and cooperatively through:
    Music & Movement   
    Creative Art Experiences
    Dramatic Play
    Language & Learning Centers
    Books & Storytelling
    Building Toys & Manipulatives
    Outdoor Experiences
    Science & Cooking Projects

Dinosaur School
Extensive research indicates that we should be expanding our definition of school readiness to include a child's social competency and positive emotional growth.  These often overlooked components of readiness have been found to be highly correlated with a child's success in school and ability to learn.

At Creative Years, we are pleased to offer Dinosaur School, a comprehensive social development curriculum which has been shown to be highly effective in promoting positive social behaviors as well as helping children to establish a firm foundation for future learning. 

During Dinosaur School, your child will meet Dina and her friends Wally, Molly and Tiny Turtle.  These dynamic puppets bring social concepts to life in a fun and interactive way.  The lessons are further reinforced with supplementary small group games and activities.

In recent research, Dinosaur School graduates showed an impressive 78% increase in overall social competency scores.  Children in this and similar social learning programs rank at least 10 percentile points on achievement tests.

CONGRATULATIONS, DINA!
The Incredible Years Dinosaur School Curriculum has received numerous awards including the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice Designated Blueprint Program, the National Institute of Mental Health Science Award, and the Lela Rowland Prevention Award. 

Creative Years Executive Director, Trish Boyle, is nationally certified by Incredible Years at the University of Washington for the Behavior Management Series, Dinosaur School Classroom Curriculum and the Parent Education Series.  Our teachers have received specialized training that enables them to present the program with fidelity to the model.

Program Benefits

Language, Literacy & Cognitive Development
Our program includes high-quality children's literature to promote a love of reading.  Our daily activities develop reading and writing skills and introduce important concepts such as phonological awareness, critical thinking skills, numeracy, and science discoveries.

Social Skills / Group Time
We encourage your child to talk, listen, share, take turns, cooperate, interact with friends, and learn the value of giving and receiving feedback.  Positive reinforcement helps children realize the importance of being a team player and refines skills needed to flourish in a classroom environment.

Creativity and Imagination
Activities such as dramatic play, music and art give every child the opportunity to showcase their abundant creativity.  We encourage all children to express their ideas in order to help build confidence, independence and imagination.

Physical Fitness and Fine Motor Development
We promote healthy physical development, coordination, balance and self awareness with a variety of fun, active movement opportunities.

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