Basic Preschool

Basic Preschool

Three and Four-Year-Old Program

Poko Loko offers full and part-time Basic Preschool programs for our three and four-year-olds. Ratios are kept low, one teacher per ten children for three and four-year-olds. All meals are provided including breakfast, lunch, and two nutritious snacks. Parents are responsible for providing diapers, wipes, and pull-ups as your child potty trains. Our three and four-year-old program is increasingly structured to help your child learn socially and cognitively as well as continuing language development. Our theme-based daily curriculum will include stories, singing, creative art, letters, numbers, months, picture cards, colors, and shapes. Special guests such as musicians and artistic performers are also part of the three and four-year-old curriculum.

Basic Preschool

Daily Schedule

Half-day hours include 6:30 a.m.–12 noon; Full-day hours include 6:30 a.m.–6:00 pm

Early Morning—Student Arrival

(6:30 a.m.– 9:00 a.m.)

As parents drop off their child, a warm welcome awaits. Three and four-year-olds are free to explore and interact with the different areas of enrichment that each classroom offers. Cereal and milk for breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m., and if the weather permits they will head outdoors to our playground for some social interaction and gross motor development.

Structured Learning 

(9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)

Our basic preschool program begins each day with circle time. Children are acclimated to a certain daily routine and are expected to participate in all activities. These activities will include daily art projects, reciting the alphabet, months of the year, days of the week, and counting 1-25. The morning ends again with circle time and a special theme related story from the teacher. Every morning, a healthy snack is offered and outdoor playtime is allotted.

Afternoon

(11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

As noon approaches, the children grow hungry and tired. Our in house chef always prepares a meal that is both balanced and nutritious. After lunch, our three-year-olds nap on their individual cots for 2-3 hours.

Late Afternoon—Parent Pick Up 

(2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

Every afternoon will begin with another healthy snack. Now that your child is older, we will reinforce our daily curriculum with an afternoon worksheet. When completed, the room is opened up to free play and social time. Outdoor play time is also available until your child is picked up.

Our Space

    • Libertyville Basic Preschool #1
      Libertyville Basic Preschool #1
    • Libertyville Basic Preschool #2
      Libertyville Basic Preschool #2
    • Libertyville Basic Preschool #3
      Libertyville Basic Preschool #3
    • Libertyville Basic Preschool #4
      Libertyville Basic Preschool #4
    • Libertyville Basic Preschool #5
      Libertyville Basic Preschool #5
    • Libertyville Basic Preschool #6
      Libertyville Basic Preschool #6
    • Libertyville Playground #1
      Libertyville Playground #1
    • Libertyville Playground #2
      Libertyville Playground #2
    • Libertyville Playground #3
      Libertyville Playground #3

Information

  • Our three and four-year-old ratio is one teacher per ten children.

  • Periodically throughout the year children will move up to an older room. The children are usually eager for this move because they are going to a new room that is stimulating and exciting. Their curriculum is getting more challenging, and they will be encouraged to learn and try new things. To help with this change, Poko Loko will let the child visit the new room before she moves. Parents will also be informed of this move.

  • Our children take their naps on cots. Each child has his own cot with a blanket and sheet that is washed at least once a week.

  • As three and four-year-olds, the children are introduced to a preschool schedule that is modified to be appropriate for their young age. Every morning the children have their preschool activities; these include story time, circle time, music time, etc. Each child also completes a project; the projects include finger painting, easel painting, bingo markers, coloring, etc. Throughout the day, the children have structured play times; activities during these times include playing with small manipulatives, large manipulatives, dramatic play, reading books, etc. The children eat breakfast, two snacks, and lunch together, and they all nap at the same time. Every month the parents receive the curriculum that their child’s class is following. The curriculum includes the special subjects the children are learning and any special projects they will complete as well as our special songs, books, and activities.

  • Poko Loko provides cereal and milk for breakfast for children who are at the center by 7:30 a.m. The children are fed a snack at about 10:00 a.m. and then again after naptime. Snacks may include fresh fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers, etc., and milk or juice. Children are served a hot, nutritious, delicious lunch every day. Parents may take a copy of our monthly menu to see what we are serving. Please let your child’s teacher know if there is anything your child cannot have.

  • Please leave a weather-appropriate outfit at the center in case we have to change your child for any reason. If your child has a special blanket that comforts him at naptime, please feel free to leave that with us also. Please label your child’s clothes and special articles with his name.

  • We have areas for all of our children to play outside. We ask that you leave your child with appropriate outerwear (including hat and gloves if needed) so that he is comfortable while outside. During the summer months, you will be asked to leave a swimsuit or an extra set of clothes so that your child can participate in water play. In the winter months we ask that they have appropriate clothing so that the children can play about in the snow.

Communication

Communication with parents is very important to Poko Loko as we strongly believe in building and maintaining healthy parent-teacher relationships. Therefore, we encourage both parents and teachers to share concerns, problems, information, and anecdotes verbally on an as needed basis. Our teachers and directors are always available to help out in any way possible. Conferences will also be held twice a year to help evaluate your child’s developmental progress. As always, parents are welcome to visit throughout the day.

Reading