Palatine Park District offers a state licensed preschool for children ages 3-5 providing a warm, accepting environment where learning is fun. The District’s experienced teachers offer a variety of developmentally appropriate activities designed to help children learn and grow socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Creativity and curiosity are encouraged to help foster a growing desire to learn and opportunities are provided to allow each child to reach their potential.
Curriculum includes pre-kindergarten skills, art, music, science, large and small motor development, and imaginative play. Outdoor play is included whenever the weather allows. Class size is limited to 20 students, led by two experienced teachers and an assistant. Teachers in the program are required to meet Department of Child and Family Services college training in education or child development.
Preschool classes for the 2017-2018 school year will be held from September 5 through May 22 and follows the calendar for days off school determined by Community Consolidated School District 15. Morning and afternoon options are available for various age groups throughout the week. Preschool registration requires a separate form available at Birchwood Recreation Center, 435 W. Illinois Avenue. For program availability, call 847.991.1960.
Limited space is available for fall registration at Palatine Park District’s four preschool program locations:
- Birchwood, 435 W. Illinois Avenue
- Eagle Park, 1425 N. Oak Street at Home Avenue
- Maple Park, 316 N. Winston at Anderson
- Parkside, 262 E. Palatine Road in Community Park
Palatine Park District believes that no matter where your child will be attending preschool, it is important they are prepared for this new adventure. The following tips have been compiled by Palatine Park District Preschool/Tots Coordinator, Karen Rude.
Helping Your Child Get Ready for Preschool
Sending your child to Preschool is a big step. For some children this will be their first school experience. For others this will be their second year of preschool, but with new teachers and classmates and perhaps a new building. We want to work with you to make the adjustment go smoothly. Here are some suggestions to help prepare your child for Preschool in September, especially if he/she has not been to Preschool before.
- Teach your child to handle bathroom needs without assistance, including wiping and managing clothing. Plan for easy to manage school clothes (elastic waists and sweats are best). It’s frustrating and embarrassing to have an accident because you can’t unbuckle a stiff belt or unfasten a shoulder strap on your overalls.
- Help your child learn to dress him/herself, including putting on shoes and jackets. The teachers will help with tying shoes and starting zippers.
- Teach your child to wash his/her hands without help, including turning faucets on and off, using liquid soap, and drying hands. At school we wash hands upon arrival at school, before snack, after blowing noses, and after using the bathroom.
- Teach your child to use a tissue to wipe or blow his/her nose, including disposing of the tissue and washing hands.
- If English is not the language you speak at home, the teachers will try to help your child learn some basic English words and phrases so that he or she can understand simple directions and communicate his/her needs to us. We may ask you to write down some words or phrases in your home language so that we can communicate more easily with your child at the beginning of school.
- Be sure your child has had the experience of playing at a friend’s house or staying with a babysitter. Children who have never been left with anyone other than a family member sometimes have a difficult time adjusting to Preschool.
- Take your child to story time at the library, and check out a book about starting school.
- Be positive yourself – children can pick up your apprehensions.
- You do not need to buy fancy new clothes for school – play clothes and gym shoes are perfect for class. Your child will need a backpack or bag to carry papers home.
Early Childhood Classes
There are also a wide variety of early childhood classes are also offered at Palatine Park District. From Preschool Prep, a class for those not quite ready for the full preschool environment, to cooking, art, singing, dancing, and sports, you are sure to find the perfect class for your young child. Additionally, Lunch Enrichment classes offers time to further improve pre-kindergarten skills and does not require preschool enrollment to register.
For more information about Palatine Park District Preschool, contact Preschool/Tots Coordinator Karen Rude at 847.496.6239 or krude@palatineparks.org.
Back to Home