Preschool Program Descriptions

The West Haven Child Development Preschool Program provides a welcoming, safe and educationally stimulating environment, where children can grow and learn at their own rate. It provides a positive setting for children to learn to play, create, and explore with other children their own age.  In this program, run by professionally trained teachers, children combine learning with play. Children develop the ability to overcome obstacles to achieve a goal. This crucial trait is taught by engaging in learning activities and sticking with them until they solve the problem or complete the project.

As the Center’s name states, this is a place that not only provides parents with needed child care but also works with the parents in helping to promote each child’s growth and development. Since many of the children spend many hours each day here, it is important that it is a place where they feel (and are) safe and secure – where the staff takes a genuine interest in each child’s well-being. The aim is to develop each child as an individual, while at the same time instilling in them the basic rules and values.

At WHCDC, the preschool teachers utilize the WHCDC Curriculum Guide and the CT Early Learning Development Standards (CT ELDS) when developing both individual and group plans.  These both focus on the importance of values, beliefs, and experiences of families in the classroom.  Our curriculum also takes into account both the children’s interest and development.  The CT ELDS have domains, strands and learning progressions relating to Cognition, Social Studies, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development and Health, Language and Literacy, Creative Arts, Mathematics, and Science.  Teachers complete a weekly calendar, teaching strategies form, and planning sheets that have been adapted to include all standards in the CT ELDS.  Teachers individualize planning to fit where each child is developmentally. The children are also supported and encouraged to work together in a group. This support and encouragement will contribute to their healthy development.

*Hours of program operation reflect changes due to COVID-19 protocol

**Enrollment numbers adjusted due to COVID-19 protocol