Preschool

Tender Years Academy Preschool

Looking for a high quality Preschool in Camp Hill, Hampden Township, Hershey or Mechanicsburg? Designed to accommodate students ages 3 to 4, Tender Years’ Preschool program is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and taught by certified teachers who are passionate about early education. We offer a full-day program as well as a half-day program (morning or afternoon).

Preschool Curriculum

At Tender Years, our curriculum is based on the PA State Early Learning Standards that are in line with the standards that are required in the public school system. In addition, our lessons are constructed around a theme. These themes usually reflect the seasons, holidays, or concepts of interest from the world around us. Some examples of themes that you may see are:

Lesson plans are posted weekly for your review. Please feel free to ask your child’s teacher any questions that you may have about the activities that are planned.

Observations and Evaluations

Our teachers make regular observations to track developmental progress. Several times a year we will do a formal evaluation of your child’s progress here at school. At this time, you will be given the opportunity to schedule a parent/teacher conference to review the evaluation and discuss your child’s Preschool education with the teacher.

Discipline and Guidance

The following methods are used in the Preschool classroom to encourage and help the children to do the right thing and make good choices:

• Modeling appropriate behavior
• Praise and compliment good behavior
• Redirect to another activity
• Explain why an action is inappropriate
• Consequences for actions

Removing the child from the group may primarily be used as a means of separating the child from others while the child regains control of himself/herself. We teach the children to express themselves non-violently, as well as, encouraging self-control, self-direction, responsibility, and cooperation. Practical, safe, and logical consequences will be presented in discipline situations. Parents will be informed if a major discipline problem develops. While it is important for parents to know about any problems, it is not our intention for further action to be taken at home. Open communication is the best key to successful discipline. In addition, each teacher may implement other discipline or guidance methods on an individual basis such as: sticker reward systems, or other forms of behavior modification.  If and when necessary, Tender Years, inc. will make appropriate referrals to outside organizations. 

Daily Information & Communication

Information for parents is posted in a designated area of the classroom. Lesson plans, schedules, and menus will be found here. The teacher will also communicate about your child’s daily activities and post them in Tadpoles. We ask that you check your child’s cubby daily for other items such as permission slips and letters from the director.

Needed Items

Toileting items such as wet wipes and pull-ups may be necessary if your child is newly potty trained. We encourage our Preschoolers to wear underpants, however, at nap-time, or at times that we may be out of the building, a pull-up may prevent accidents. We can also keep a box of wipes available if your child needs them to help with wiping.

Extra clothing should be kept in your child’s cubby. We suggest keeping a long sleeved shirt, a short sleeved shirt, two pair of pants, two pair of socks, and several pairs of underpants. When your child’s clothes have been changed, we will send the soiled items home to be washed. Please remember to replace the extra clothing items that were used as soon as possible. Children grow quickly! Please check periodically to make sure that the clothing is the right size, and weather appropriate.

Bedding for nap-time use should include a crib sheet and a blanket, or a small sleeping bag. Large pillows are not needed and are difficult to store according to health guidelines; please do not send them in. All bedding will be sent home weekly to be laundered. If you accidentally forget to bring in your child’s bedding, Tender Years does have clean sheets and blankets for your child to borrow. Nap-time “friends” are welcome, as long as they are “soft and small”. If a toy used at nap-time becomes disruptive, the child will be asked to put it in his/her cubby.

Meals & Snacks

Tender Years provides a nutritious breakfast and afternoon snack. A menu for each is posted in the classrooms and can be found under the meals tab, which will give you an idea of the types of snack items that we will serve. If you would like to bring in a special snack for your child’s birthday, please communicate with your child’s teacher. For lunch, you may choose to pack a lunch, or purchase a hot lunch from our catering service for an additional cost. Menus are available to help you make your choices. When packing lunch, please note that we are not permitted to microwave food for the children. You may pack hot foods in a thermos, or pack items that are ready to eat. All items that require refrigeration must be labeled before putting them in the refrigerator. No glass bottles, please.