Spring 2008 Newsletter Page 2

Text Box: Think back to your kindergarten experience. Many of us remember painting, dressing up, building with blocks and maybe learning a few letters, colors, shapes or numbers. This year in our kindergarten we’ve done all of those things (and some we do on a daily basis). But kids are also reading in fun, colorful, age appropriate books. They are writing stories about who they played with at recess, their egg hunt or a family vacation. They can count by 5’s, tell you if a number is even or odd, show you a cylinder, create an A-B-B pattern and will soon be able to add and subtract numbers. These are just a few of the things 5 year olds are now being asked to do in Kindergarten. Most are ready for these new challenges and are proud of their accomplishments. Children who have been to preschool have been prepared with the social and emotional challenges of a school setting and are now better equipped to learn the cognitive skills of learning to read, write, and acquire math concepts . Because more academic demands are being placed on our kids, they need a strong foundation to help them meet these challenges. Along with a healthy family life, I believe that preschool is an invaluable piece of this foundation. So much growth happens during preschool. Quality preschools like the Cornwall Child Center have a curriculum in place that allows kids to acquire school readiness skills while having fun. Play is the work of children and is critical for healthy brain development as well as behavior, emotional and social management skills. For young children, school should mean fun and gaining social skills, not reaching academic criteria. If we allow children time to be imaginative and to socialize with adults and children, they will develop into well-rounded, creative people. If a strong foundation is built, they will be able to acquire these skills when the time is right. And preschool is the place where it all begins. Allison Bryant has been a teacher of young children for 9 years. She is currently teaching Kindergarten at Cornwall Consolidated School. Allison has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology and a Master’s degree in Reading.

Text Box: Board of Directors President: Mary Kay Elwell Vice President: Nan Frost Treasurer: Louise Dunn Secretary: Cara Weigold Mellissa Davis Sandy Dolinsky Melinda D’Onofrio Carol Ebersol Cay Hosterman

Text Box: The outdoor play area
at the Child Center

Text Box: David Hubbard Jennifer Hurlburt Markow Kathy West Cornwall Child Center Staff Director: Pam Brehm Teachers: Danielle Giulian Tracy Gray Rebecca Harrington