Care Beyond Imagination
IT'S THE PROCESS, NOT THE PRODUCT
Care Beyond Imagination
IT'S THE PROCESS, NOT THE PRODUCT
HOW WE ARE ALIKE...
Three Similarities That We Both Agree On...
Every Child Develops At His Or Her Own Rate
The first few years of life are truly remarkable. Although children usually follow a sequence mastering one skill before they acquire another, children naturally develop at their own rate.
“It’s The Process, Not The Product”
It’s the experience of painting, drawing, and cutting that matter most to your child’s development. For children, it’s easy to enjoy the process because they haven’t yet been conditioned to value product over process.
Children Construct Their Own Knowledge With Hands On Learning
We know children learn in many ways: visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, and social. Still, there is no substitute for activities that require kids to use their hands as well as their minds.
The STAR Preschool Difference
THE TWO BIGGEST DIFFERENCES THAT SET US APART...
HOW MATERIALS ARE USED
We Teach Children To Think Outside The BOX
Montessori programs only use Montessori designed materials. Each piece in a Montessori classroom is designed for a single purpose. Montessori allows children opportunities to problem solve, but only within the boundaries of the materials provided.
STAR Preschools encourages children to use materials and toys in the classroom in new and different ways for multiple purposes. We want children to develop creativity and problem-solving skills. In fact, it is built into the curriculum. Teachers are encouraged to asked children: How else can this be used? How could we make this better? Is it reflective of our “Growing Up Green” concept? A core concept of environmental awareness is “reuse”. How can we effectively reuse materials that already exist? Our teachers give children opportunities to “think outside the box”, Montessori programs do not!
THE INCLUSION OF PRETEND PLAY
Promoting Pretend Play Creates CARE BEYOND IMAGINATION
The other major difference is the approach to imagination and pretend play. Montessori theory is based on “practical life” experiences. They do not support pretend play as a means of cognitive development.
At STAR Preschools we believe young children learn by imagining and doing. We have well-equipped dramatic play areas to support this belief. Watching your child pick up a stone and pretend it is a zooming car or hopping a Lego across the table as if it were a person or a bunny are both great example of how we engage imagination.
Pretending Builds Skills In Many Essential Developmental Areas Of Life
Research has shown that pretend play provides children with a microcosm for life that encourages them to take the skills they have learned in classroom lessons and apply them to meaningful life activities. This process of application helps your child not only develop a skill, but learn how to use it in everyday situations.
Why Play...
Three Developmentally Appropriate Practices
- Play Is An Important Vehicle For Children's Social, Emotional, And Cognitive Development, As Well As A Reflection Of Their Development
- Play Gives Children Opportunities To Understand The World, Interact With Others In Social Ways, Express And Control Emotions, And Develop Their Symbolic Capabilities
- Play Provides A Context For Children To Practice Newly Acquired Skills And Also To Function On The Edge Of Their Developing Capacities To Take On New Social Roles, Attempt Novel Or Challenging Tasks, And Solve Complex Problems That They Would Not (Or Could Not) Otherwise Do
Pretend Play Builds Social and Emotional Skills
Teaches Sharing, Empathy and Builds Self-Esteem
Engaging in pretend play allows children to actively experiment with the social and emotional roles of life. Through cooperative play they learn how to take turns, share responsibility, and creatively problem-solve. Pretending to be different characters helps teach the importance of empathy. Children naturally have an egocentric point of view, but through maturation and cooperative play, they will begin to understand the feelings of others. In addition, pretending to be anything they want to be also builds self-esteem!
Children Understand The Difference Between Fantasy And Reality
At a young age, children begin to understand the difference between fantasy and reality. Imaginative play and acting out both familiar and fictional characters help children internalize this important distinction and use this knowledge in future real-life situations.
Children are encouraged to engage in dramatic play activities in the dress up, block play and even outside on the playground. These creative opportunities help children to better understand the world and provide them with the much-needed outlet for their emotions. In addition, these experiences help children to develop a sense of individuality and respect for other’s work.
Pretend Play Builds Language Skills
Helps Your Child Understand The Power Of Language
Children love to engage in imaginary play with toys and friends. They often use words and phrases you never thought they knew! Many times, our own words are reflected in the play of children. Kids can do a perfect imitation of us! When a child realizes the power of language through pretend play with others, they learn that words give them means to re-enact a story or organize play. Making this connection between spoken and written language provides a skill that will later help them learn to read.
Builds Vocabulary
Children build vocabulary when they engage in pretend play. Introducing theme-specific words during play will quickly expand a child’s use of words. Often children like to pretend to do the things that adults do. Providing them with magazines, books, paper, and pencils as dramatic play props, offers pre-reading and pre-writing skills to mimic real-life situations.
Children are encouraged to engage in dramatic play activities in the dress up, block play and even outside on the playground. These creative opportunities help children to better understand the world and provide them with the much-needed outlet for their emotions. In addition, these experiences help children to develop a sense of individuality and respect for other’s work.
Pretend Play Builds Thinking Skills
Helps Solve Problems
Pretend play provides important cognitive thinking skills. Whether your child is role playing or searching for materials to build a pretend house, they are using a variety of problem-solving skills. This critical thinking will be used in every aspect of their future life.
Learn Self-Regulation Skills
Does your child like to roughhouse? Great! Many researchers believe that this sort of play helps develop the frontal lobe of the brain which regulates behavior. So, don’t worry about this type of activity encouraging your child to act out or become too aggressive. Rest assured that in monitored situations, rough-house play can help them learn the self-regulation skills to know when this type of play is appropriate.
Children are encouraged to engage in dramatic play activities in the dress up, block play and even outside on the playground. These creative opportunities help children to better understand the world and provide them with the much-needed outlet for their emotions. In addition, these experiences help children to develop a sense of individuality and respect for other’s work.
Promotes Abstract Thinking
The ability for your child to use a block as a phone, is a high-level thinking skill. Eventually, your child will recognize that numbers represent quantities and that combinations of letters represent the words that they can speak, hear, and read.
Ways For You To Nurture the Imagination
Not enough pretend play at your house?
Consider creating a prop box or corner filled with objects to spark your preschooler’s fantasy world.
You might include:
- Large plastic crates, cardboard blocks, or a large, empty box for creating a "home"
- Old clothes, shoes, backpacks, hats
- Old telephones, phone books, magazines
- Cooking utensils, dishes, plastic food containers, table napkins, silk flowers
- Stuffed animals and dolls of all sizes
- Fabric pieces, blankets, or old sheets for making costumes or a fort
- Theme-appropriate materials such as postcards, old plane tickets, foreign coins, and photos for a pretend vacation trip
- Writing materials for taking phone messages, leaving notes, and making shopping lists
Hear What Parents Have to Say…
"They gave us the most precious gift a working parent could ever ask for"
As a parent, there's nothing more reassuring than to see your child confidently walk to their classroom and almost forget to hug you goodbye because they're ready to play and learn.
"There is also an app that the teachers document diapers/potty, meals, naps and even pictures"
We LOVE Star Preschools! When we lived in San Antonio before moving to the Austin area, we took our daughter to a daycare there where unfortunately we learned that you get what you pay for.
"they have an actual CURRICULUM; the teachers are INVESTED"
We started Star Preschools in the fall of 2019, and it is a complete turnaround. My daughter is excited about school, she never wants to leave at the end of the day, and she adores her teachers.
"The school is so organized with their lesson plans and theme days"
The teachers are top notch! The facility is bright and fun. I love that they get to spend time in the library, theatre room, art room and cafeteria instead of staying in one classroom the whole day.
"I love the reports and pictures I receive from the teachers throughout the week"
We appreciate how clean the school is kept, and for us, that is a huge plus. It is so difficult to keep germs under control with kids, so we are happy the school makes an extra effort to keep the facility clean.
"They accommodate for what we need and want for our child Two weeks in at Star Preschools and my 3 year old was caught up on counting"
The teachers, administrative staff, chef, and everyone that works there feels like family.
"Star Preschools has already helped so much with her socialization skills"
The way they are able to tend to every baby’s need and keep track of who needs to be fed, changed, needs a nap, wants to be held or rocked, who has a food allergy, etc. is simply amazing!
"They are organized and put together and you can tell"
They are organized and put together and you can tell everyone is very well trained and that is something that is reassuring when you decide to leave your brand new baby for the first time.
"I absolutely believe we made the right decision with Star Preschools."
The Infant teachers have been so wonderful to our family. I absolutely believe we made the right decision with Star Preschools.
"Very cooperative and friendly staff"
I love their toddler team. Very cooperative and friendly staff! My kiddo is doing great there and it seems like he is learning so much each day.
"We’ve had experience with other places and Star Preschools has been our favorite"
Our son loves his teachers and is always smiling when I pick him up at the end of the day. Teachers from other classes know his name and it makes it feel more like a family.
"Star Preschools staffs and principals worked hard to welcome him"
You can get a daily report through their app, with photos and all details about your kid at school. Definitively, I do recommend Star Preschools to all families that care about your kid security, health, development, and care.
"she has learned more than I can imagine a 2 year old would know!"
Star Preschools has completely erased any doubts I've had and provided such a loving, educational, and nurturing environment for my baby girl! I am truly grateful for the caring, energetic, and kind staff that works here and would recommend them to anyone looking to get their child into a schooling program.
"The teachers are amazing & the place is clean."
The teachers are amazing & the place is clean. Can't ask for much more than that! Oh & my 2 year old already knows his alphabet, numbers, colors & shapes! That's all thanks to Star Preschools.
"my children have had a wonderful, loving experience"
Thanks to the wonderful staff, from the principal to cooks to teachers, my children have had a wonderful, loving experience.
"Thank you for all you do for Starboard Academy to providing a great learning environment for our children, with the right people."
We hope Starboard has an awesome teacher appreciation week - You are all so very appreciated, especially in a time like this with a pendamic.
"We are so happy that Starboard Academy opened up in Plymouth!"
We couldn't imagine another facility being so considerate and conscientious about mackenzie's food allergies. You have gone above and beyond to make sure mackenzie has healthy meals, snacks, and treats that she can enjoy safely.We can't say enough good thing and this card isn't big enough. We love the communication, photos and updates from the Kangarootime App. Both of my kids have grown so much and excited more than we could have imagined. Mackenzie comes home singing a new song each week, and can even identify some letters and numbers and she's not even yet! Jamison can identify all of his letters and numbers in reading and writing and knows his letter sounds. He is really going to miss your school, especially the infamous PIRATE SHIP PLAYGROUND. Thank you for all you have done!
what our parents are saying...
Our Accreditations and Certifications
