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outdoor classrooms

Hampton Cove Preschool understands the importance of incorporating physical activity and motor skill development into the school day and we strive to provide the ideal environment for this to take place. We plan to use our outdoor learning environment every day as a fully-integrated and complementary component of our comprehensive approach to helping your young child reach his or her fullest potential. Our outdoor learning environments have been carefully designed to provide children with optimum physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. We have included three distinct developmentally-appropriate outdoor environments:

Infants and Toddlers

Our Infant / Toddler outdoor classroom is a protected veranda bordered with interactive panels. The children will have a large, open area on which to practice their emerging skills of creeping, crawling, cruising, and, eventually, walking. Their developing visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile acuity will be stimulated with the wide variety of sights, sounds, smells and textures only available outside. Their social and language skills will be developed as the caring teachers talk, sing, laugh and play with the children.

Outdoor learning environment for infants

Preschool Playground

Our Early Preschool outdoor classroom is a bridge between the protection and security provided for the infants and the wide open exploration provided for older children. While there is another large veranda, it is not enclosed by a barrier. Where the infants were in closer contact with the loving adults, the Toddlers have more room to explore. They are provided with opportunities to climb, slide and swing over a soft rubber surface. A sandbox table and a large, mural art easel have been included in this area. We will provide a wide variety of movable parts to help children continue developing large and small muscle coordination, language, creativity, problem solving, negotiation and a whole host of other emerging skills.

Early Preschool Playground

Pre-K (3) and Pre-Kindergarten Students

Our Preschool outdoor classroom is the largest of our three outdoor areas. We know that children of this age need plenty of open space to simply run and use some of their vast store of energy. We also know that children need to climb and challenge themselves, enjoy riding tricycles and use their imaginations in countless ways. We have included a safe, but challenging, complex climbing structure on a soft rubber surface. There is also a meandering tricycle pathway, complete with an arched bridge, playhouse, gas pump and conversation benches. Additionally, a large sandbox and a natural pathway between these three areas has been created. We plan to introduce a myriad of plants, from crape myrtles and other trees to an herb, flower and vegetable garden. On rainy or particularly warm days, children can use our huge covered veranda in a variety of creative ways. On other days, you might find children enjoying lunch or snack there.

Pre school 3 and Pre K "Big Kids" playground

Indoor Gymnasium

In addition to our outdoor playgrounds / classrooms we are proud to be able to provide an indoor gymnasium for our students as well. This space allows for development of gross motor skills and play in an indoor environment when inclement weather and/or extreme temperatures make the outdoor playgrounds inaccessible. Materials for the indoor gym are chosen based on the ages and developmental levels of the children in each classroom. This area is also where our physical education classes will take place.

The indoor gym may also be used to extend classroom activities or provide an opportunity for differentiated instruction of gross motor activities such as music and movement activities. Our indoor gym space has been equipped with sports balls, balance beams, scooters, parachutes, miniature basketball hoops, and a climbing structure to facilitate creative play and to ensure that students have access to a physically stimulating environment every day, regardless of weather. Hampton Cove Preschool understands the importance of incorporating physical activity into the school day and we strive to provide the ideal environment for this to take place. Our after school program students and summer camp children will have access to the indoor gym as well.

"They want your child to be successful and they have been such a blessing for my family!"

I cannot begin to speak highly enough of Hampton Cove preschool. I have 2 children in separate classes and LOVE all the teachers (which is 7 total)! The staff is wonderful, the education is amazing and most of all every teacher knows my children's names. They are greeted by name every day. They want your child to be successful and they have been such a blessing for my family!

-Brie W.

"We are so happy with our choice to use this school!"

We were in need of a change for our one year old and decided to check out Hampton Cove Preschool. We were impressed from the second we walked in the door for a tour. It's clean, bright and cheerful and our daughter has learned so much. The transition from her old school to Hampton Cove Preschool went really well. The teachers provide wonderful care for our little girl and are great with communication. Our daughter is excited to go there every morning. We are so happy with our choice to use this school!

-Jessica W.

"The management, staff and teachers are top notch."

Hampton Cove Preschool is run very professionally and they always act in the best interest of the kids. The management, staff and teachers are top notch.

-Adrian S.

"We couldn't be happier with our decision to move to Hampton Cove Preschool!"

The infant room has been a great place for our daughter to grow and develop. The staff are all very loving and attentive to each baby. They also have a curriculum that includes story time, music time and much more. I recommend Hampton Cove Preschool to all of my friends! It's hard to leave your little ones while you work, but at Hampton Cove Preschool I know she is well taken care of and I never have to worry. We couldn't be happier with our decision to move to Hampton Cove Preschool!

-Nina L.