New England Country Day School


Threes Program

At three years old, a child is able to communicate his needs a bit better than last year. He also listens better, concentrates for longer periods of time and best of all really interacts with friends. Three-year-olds are magical thinkers.

The Threes Program provides an environment that is rich with hands on experiences for the children. The Program schedule is designed to allow specific times for the areas outlined in the curriculum and is followed on a daily basis. The classroom is designed to allow for specific program areas including but not limited to puzzles, art, dramatic play, quiet time, sensory exploration, and blocks enabling individual and small group activities. The classroom design also enables the child to begin to understand the limitations within the room and to begin to follow clear and precise rules for each activity.

The Threes Program curriculum is presented at the developmental level of the children within the class. All skill areas interact with each other in the appropriate proportions to allow for the development of a well-adjusted child possessing a positive and healthy self-esteem.

  • Discovery Opportunities and Sensory Experiences - The Threes Program curriculum allows the child to develop awareness to the natural environment. To encourage curiosity and wonder about the surrounding world providing discovery experiences into the physical world.

  • Language Acquisition and Cognitive Development - In the Threes Program children are encouraged to use verbal self-expression, to develop vocabulary and to understand the meaning and use of words. Teachers use open-ended questions to stimulate the children's communication skills. Receptive and expressive language is enhanced through such activities as finger plays, poetry, story time, listening activities, dramatic play and show and tell.

  • Creative Expression - The Program's curriculum allows for choice, exploration, imagination and expression of self and feelings in art, music and creative movement. Through the creative use of different media children are encouraged to explore and express themselves artistically. Music provides opportunities for language acquisition and self-expression. Creative movement encourages children to utilize their sensory motor skills and gain skill in body control.

  • Cooking, Science and Math - Learning about the physical world happens in many ways. Science is experienced through many different activities including planting, color blending, water experiments and cooking. Experimentation through cooking introduces children to measurement, time, and shows how food changes when cooked. It also helps them experience different foods. Math is presented in everyday activities like counting the number of crackers being passed out at snack time.

  • Self-help Skills - The Threes Program provides opportunities designed to promote independence and builds on successful experiences. Teachers work to help develop self-confidence and a sense of self worth by allowing choices within limits. Activities are provided that stimulate the child's natural desire to be independent and are structured into the daily routine. Children are encouraged to do activities on their own and to accept responsibility for their actions.

  • Social and Emotional Development - The Threes Program establishes the guidelines for socially acceptable behavior and self-confidence. It provides a nurturing, flexible and calm environment where affection is given, self-concept is enhanced and independence is encouraged. Children are encouraged to use their words to express their feelings. They are encouraged to share, take responsibility for their actions, and to respect others as well as themselves. Children also begin to learn about cooperation, taking turns and following directions.

  • Cultural Awareness - Around the age of three, children become aware of race, gender, ethnicity and disabilities. They also become sensitive to both the positive and negative images presented to them by the people surrounding them, especially adults. The Threes Program presents opportunities for positive experiences with many different cultures through stories, songs, activities, visitors and holiday celebrations. We work to encourage children to respect the diversity of others.

Learning and play go hand in hand. At three years, the child is really beginning to socialize. Through play children develop the social skills necessary for daily living. The children are given encouragement and support so they can play, explore, experiment, manipulate and learn from their surroundings. This type of early childhood experience lays the foundation for all future learning.