The Preschool Enrichment Center is an Educational Child Care and Preschool Program for Children Aged 2.9 to 5 Years of Age.
The Cole-Harrington Preschool Enrichment Center provides an educational child care program to 65 children aged 2.9 years to 5 years living in Canton and its surrounding communities. The program consisting of two spacious, bright classrooms is open year round from 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is located on the beautiful grounds of the Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) at 3 Randolph Street in Canton.
CURRICULUM
The program utilizes the High Scope cognitively oriented curriculum and elements of the Montessori philosophy and follows the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care’s Preschool Frameworks. The daily curriculum is designed to meet children’s emotional, social, cognitive and physical needs and includes:
Outdoor Time — children take a walk to the lake, go for a nature walk, visit the farm animals on the grounds of the MHS or play on the playground.
Children’s current interest in acquiring academic skills is supported and enriched through all of these activities. The materials and equipment used to implement the curriculum reflect the lives of children and families we serve and also reflect diversity found in today’s society. The materials encourage exploration, experimentation and discovery.
Free Play — children become involved in various classroom areas including: sand and water table, library, writing area, literacy area, art, computer, blocks, dramatic play, games, science, gross motor, and play dough/clay area.
Small Group — children participate in teacher planned activities such as cooking, science observations and experiments, story telling, language, literacy and math games, woodworking, large and small motor activities, social studies, dramatic play, art and music.
Plan, Do, Review Time — children plan where they want to play, what they want to do and the materials they will need to complete their planned activity. After they “do” their activity, they reflect and review their success with others. The emphasis is placed on recalling events and listening to one another.
Large Group Time — where children participate in literature based or music activities.