In the fall, a class of preschoolers at Wyoming Valley Children’s Association (WVCA) gathered around a huge plastic container, cheering on a Monarch butterfly struggling to emerge into the outside world. The children waited for days to welcome this orange and black friend into their midst. They understand and use the words  “migration,”  “chrysalis,” and “metamorphosis,”  and are eager to take these concepts home to share with family members.

    This is a major event!

    At WVCA, our mission is to provide rich  learning environments, designed and facilitated by certified Early Childhood teachers – environments created to stimulate imagination, encourage reasoning, and boost self-confidence and self-esteem. They build on the skills that are already emerging in our young students – pre-academic skills, language and literacy, creative expression, and respect for cultural and personal diversity.

     The well-equipped, indoor play area and newly-acquired, accessible, outdoor playground enable the children to engage in physical play, while learning the concepts of sharing, turn-taking, following directions, and adhering to established rules.

    Perhaps one of the most important facets of early childhood education is the development of appropriate social behavior in all settings. At WVCA, staff members have received training in, and are  proponents of, Positive Behavior Supports, which stresses the importance of modeling acceptable behavior for children and providing positive feedback in response to appropriate behavior.

    WVCA offers this very rich preschool experience to all children, ages 3-5 years, regardless of developmental level. Our classroom populations are smaller, allowing more opportunity for individual attention. Half-day classes, morning or afternoon, up to 5 days a week, as well as a Montessori-based Kindergarten Readiness class, offer up to 30 hours of programming per week. The center is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Private Academic Schools.

    In the spring, chicken eggs will arrive and the anxious waiting begins again. By the time the chicks hatch, the children will understand the concepts of “incubation,” “rotation,” and “fertilization.” Again, they will be eager to share their knowledge with friends and family.

    These “major events” at WVCA’s Together We Grow Preschool will
live in the minds of these young students  forever.
The early childhood education they receive will set the stage for their future. Please call 570-714-1246 for information on classes.