UEP staff members priotrize creating a secure attachemnt with their students. We believe that it is essential to meet our students immediate needs while tending to their social and emotinal well being. Our curriculum is organic and evolving because we do not believe that curriculum for small children is a one size fits all concept. You can find elements of Reggio, Montessori, Waldorf, and Highscope in all our classrooms.

Why is play based preschool so important?

In today’s society there is a push to start teaching kids at an earlier and earlier age. There are even programs out there to teach your baby letters and toddlers to read. As a parent, it is hard to know which direction to go in. You want what is best for your child and you know children love to play but at the same time you want them to be successful and may question how does play lead to success in school. Play is the natural way a child learns from their environment. There are years of research that show play is the most effective way for a young child to learn, develop skills and regulate their emotions which are the building foundation to future success in school. You want your child’s first school experience to be one based on research not a place that values superficial learning that can inhibit your child’s imagination, initiative and independence. Our play based curriculum supports your child’s natural curiosity while providing them with learning opportunities.

If all my child is doing is playing, why do they need preschool?

If you give a young child a stick, an empty box and a ball, they will turn it into a toy or a game. Their imagination is endless but left to their own, the stick, ball and box, will only lead the child to so much new knowledge. That is where the well trained preschool teacher steps in. He/She is there to turn that play into a vocabulary building activity, a positive social interaction, and a physical or cognitive challenge. The UEP staff is specifically trained to make play educational for your child!

How do I learn more about your curriculum and program?

You can email jenni@ueps.org to learn more about UEP’s curriculum.

The philosophies found in Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Kohen and Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn will also guide our teachers in providing a caring nurturing and educational environment