Early Education
Getting an early start on a life of joyful learning, beginning at age 2.
At Tuxedo Park School, we believe a child’s earliest school experience should be filled with warmth, joy, and a sense of wonder.
Our nurturing environment provides the consistency, care, and engaging experiences that build a strong foundation for learning. Through close observation, thoughtful guidance, and personal attention, we develop a deep understanding of each child—honoring their unique learning styles and interests. With meaningful hands-on experiences and open communication, we create a path of discovery that fosters confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Tuxedo Park School’s Early Education program provides two- and three-year-old children with a happy and engaging environment, featuring a beautiful, well-equipped outdoor space and playground designed for fun and essential gross motor development.
Pillars of the Early Education Program
At Tuxedo Park School, we are committed to providing a warm, nurturing, and stimulating environment where our youngest learners feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow. Our program is developmentally appropriate and guided by the following principles:
Building a Love for Learning
We create a caring and engaging atmosphere that encourages children to explore, discover, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Whole-Child Development
Our program is designed to support physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth, ensuring each child’s unique needs are met.
Collaborative Learning
Through carefully crafted activities, children develop essential communication skills while gaining valuable experience in leadership and teamwork alongside their peers.
Confidence and Growth Mindset
We foster a strong sense of self-worth and instill a positive attitude toward learning by building independence across domains. Intentionally designed collaborative and independent learning experiences cultivate resilience, curiosity, and determination in the face of new challenges.
Social and Emotional Development
Through play and meaningful interactions with teachers and classmates, children build essential social skills, empathy, and an understanding of their role within a community.
Belonging to a Supportive Community
Through programs like our buddy classes and cross-grade interactions, children build meaningful relationships, develop communication skills, and feel a deep sense of belonging. Surrounded by role models, they gain valuable social connections and a strong foundation for future learning and growth.
Our Early Education program lays the groundwork for a vibrant, engaging, and developmentally rich early childhood experience, preparing students for a lifetime of learning.
Curriculum
A Day in the Early Education Program Includes:
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Dramatic play
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Creative block building
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Active outdoor play
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Early literacy skills through shared reading and writing, nursery rhymes, poetry, letter names and sounds, and storytelling
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Early numeracy skills through counting, patterns, shapes, and colors
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Celebrations of diversity and family
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Learning about the life cycle in our organic garden
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School-wide events
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Mixed-media arts and crafts
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Hands-on science activities
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Interactive music/movement
The Early Education program is thoughtfully designed to support children as they take their first steps toward independence.
In a warm, supportive environment, we help our youngest learners develop the social and emotional skills needed for preschool, including the confidence to separate from caregivers. Through engaging, age-appropriate activities, children begin to practice essential routines such as lining up, taking turns, sitting at the table for meals, and learning basic bathroom etiquette.
We focus on strengthening fine motor skills through activities such as playdough, cutting, and drawing, while strengthening gross motor skills with movement-based play, including kicking balls, hiking, and tricycles. Each day is filled with creativity and exploration, including sensory play, arts and crafts, storytime, music and dance, outdoor recess, and dramatic play—fostering a love of learning in a cheerful and encouraging setting.
Classroom Educational Goals
Children grow and develop at their own pace. We strive to meet each child where they are while keeping developmental milestones in mind. These overarching goals guide our approach, with the understanding that every child may need individualized support or enrichment.
2 Year Olds:
- Physical Development: Developing gross and fine motor skills; improving body control
- Social/Emotional Development: Beginning to move from parallel play to interactive play; expressing and regulating emotions
- Communication: Developing the ability to communicate needs; asking and answering questions
- Independence: Putting on shoes and jackets; organizing and managing belongings; setting up a rest mat; cleaning up after lunch; washing hands
- School Readiness: Following directions; transitioning between activities; cleaning up; beginning to sustain attention on a single activity
3 Year Olds:
In addition to building on 2s milestones, children will:
- Early Numeracy Skills: Counting; one-to-one correspondence; recognizing numbers as values; understanding concepts such as more/less; identifying shapes and colors
- Early Literacy Skills: Recognizing letter names and sounds; following a story; asking and answering questions about a story; developing rhyming and phonemic awareness through songs, games, and targeted activities
- Physical Development: Strengthening gross motor skills (jumping, skipping, hopping, running, climbing, and core strength for proper sitting) and fine motor skills (developing a tripod grip; buttoning and zipping; participating in daily classroom activities)
- Social/Emotional Development: Navigating peer conflict through flexibility and compromise; engaging in interactive imaginative play; sustaining imaginative play over multiple days
- Creativity: Exploring ideas through art, music, imaginative play, and hands-on learning
- Independence: Increasing self-help skills such as dressing independently; unpacking and packing belongings; setting up and cleaning up
Enrollment Options
At TPS, we offer three flexible enrollment options for our Early Education Program: five half days, three full days, or five full days. Since our program follows the school-year schedule, we ask that families commit to their chosen option. However, if your child is ready for more time at school, we’re happy to transition them to a full schedule when the time is right!
schedule |
Tuition |
|---|---|
|
Early Education (Five full days: 8:30am - 3:00pm) |
$25,864 |
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Early Education (Three full days: 8:30am - 3:00pm) |
$15,906 |
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Early Education (Five half days: 8:30am-12:30pm) |
$15,906 |
Required
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the admissions process?
- What options are available for lunch and snack?
- Can my child attend for half days?
- Does my child need to be potty trained?
- Do you offer tuition assistance?
- Are there multiple child discounts?
- How large are your class sizes?
- What ages do you serve?
What is the admissions process?
What options are available for lunch and snack?
Can my child attend for half days?
Does my child need to be potty trained?
Do you offer tuition assistance?
Are there multiple child discounts?
How large are your class sizes?
What ages do you serve?
Meet the Teachers
Louise Ranger
Early Education Head Teacher
Lindsay Obrig
Early Education Assistant Teacher