Young Preschool

We offer two rooms for children who are two or three years old. One of these rooms is licensed for 13 two-year-olds, and the other is licensed for up to 20 two’s and three’s. Both of these rooms serve as a bridge for children as they transition from toddlers into preschoolers. The teachers use The Creative Curriculum, and they focus on each child’s individual needs and developmental goals.

At this age, children become more independent and are often eager to try new things! Our teachers encourage that exploration and emphasize social-emotional development, as well as early literacy. The classrooms are set up to give children opportunities to explore and to have easy access to toys and materials so they can practice what they are learning.

The teachers work closely with parents when children are ready to learn to use the potty. At Lemay Child & Family Center, children will never be pressured to use the toilet nor will they be punished for having accidents. Parents provide their own diapers, wipes, pull-ups, and plenty of changes of clothing when the potty training begins.

The day includes lunch, nap, and an afternoon snack. Children needing breakfast should be at the Center by 8:30 a.m.

Preschool

Our preschool hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., although the Center is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to accommodate parents’ work schedules. The day includes lunch, nap, and an afternoon snack. Children needing breakfast should be at the Center by 8:30 a.m. Children will get the most benefit from our curriculum if they are here during our core preschool hours.

We have two preschool classrooms, each licensed for 20 children ages four and five. The teachers use Creative Curriculum to guide their classroom lesson planning.

The Center uses an “experiential learning” approach, where children learn through hands-on activities, dramatic play, group experiences, and routines. The teachers build lesson plans around children’s interests and ideas to help make learning real. Our preschool program is designed to help children prepare for kindergarten using the Missouri Pre-K standards as a guide. We continue to emphasize social-emotional development and literacy skills, although all areas of development are addressed.

To help all families afford our programs, we offer a scholarship program that many families qualify for. We also accept Missouri state childcare subsidies. Please call the Center at 314-544-3338 for more information about current rates and scholarship availability.