Parents in Sleepy Hollow often ask us, “What exactly is a play-based preschool?” The phrase sounds simple, but the meaning goes deep. A play-based preschool like ours, Discovery Village, is built on the idea that children learn best when through play.
“Play is the highest form of research.”
Albert Einstein
What Play-Based Preschool Really Means
In our project and play-based preschool, we don’t expect children to sit for long lessons or memorize facts from a worksheet. Instead, their day is filled with opportunities to explore, imagine, and create.
We use The Creative Curriculum by Teaching Strategies, a comprehensive, research-based early childhood program that supports development across social-emotional, physical, language & literacy, cognitive, science and the art domains. Through hands-on investigations and individualized instruction incorporating creative expression, we align learning with early learning standards.
With Teaching Strategies GOLD, an observation-based assessment tool, teachers track children’s progress, and share the results with families. Instead of using tests, teachers watch and document what children do during everyday activities and play. The tool organizes progress across key areas including social-emotional skills, physical development, language, literacy, math, and more, so teachers can see each child’s strengths, plan next steps for learning, and share progress with families.
From a child’s view of the world, they are playing all day. From an adult perspective, we are carefully tracking milestones, goals, and growth.
You might see children building towers with blocks, acting out a story in the dramatic play area, painting at an easel, or working together on a puzzle.
Each of these activities is an opportunity to build skills.
- Joining together to build a model of a community with recyclable materials incorporates math, literacy, and social studies.
- Imaginative play with puppets helps children practice language, literacy, sharing, and cooperation.
- Art projects incorporating natural and recyclable materials strengthen small muscles in the hands while also supporting children to express feelings and cultivate creativity.
Why Parents in Sleepy Hollow Choose This Approach
Many parents tell us they want more for their children than early academics alone. They want their children to build friendships, develop resilience, and manage emotions. These are the skills that help children thrive not only in kindergarten but throughout life.
What It Looks Like Each Day
In our classrooms near Sleepy Hollow, spaces are carefully arranged to encourage exploration. There is an art corner, a reading nook, and a dramatic play area alongside shelves of blocks, puzzles, and science materials. Teachers weave projects into these spaces, inspired by children’s interests.
Preparation for Kindergarten and for life
There is so much more to a play-based preschool in Sleepy Hollow than simply child care. Through the simple act of play, children explore, create, and develop. Parents here choose this approach because it blends learning with joy, giving children the skills and confidence they need both to succeed in kindergarten, and well into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a play-based preschool different from a traditional preschool?
Traditional preschools mostly use worksheets or structured lessons. A play-based preschool with a research based curriculum uses activities like building, painting, and imaginative play to teach the same skills in a more natural way. Our curriculum engages children in activities to develop social-emotional, physical, language & literacy, and cognitive skills, while also immersing children in science and art activities cultivating curiosity, creativity, and a life-long love of learning.
How does play-based preschool prepare kids for kindergarten?
Through play children develop the range of skills needed to excel in kindergarten and beyond. This includes skills in the range of vital early childhood learning domains including social-emotional, physical, language & literacy, cognitive, science and art. Our daily rhythm and routines allows flexibility with clarity of what is expected, supporting children to become more independent. They gain confidence from these experiences as they enter kindergarten.
Why do parents in Sleepy Hollow prefer play-based preschool programs?
Families choose this model because it balances care and education. Children build friendships, gain confidence, and develop a love of learning that continues well beyond preschool.