Early childhood education center in Chicago area, IL

Penny Lane School, Chicago:
Penny Lane has two quality schools located in the Chicago Ridge and Oaklawn neighborhoods, south-west of downtown Chicago in Cook County, IL. Penny Lane is a privately owned and DCFS licensed facility that offers various educational and child care options. We provide early childhood education serving families throughout Woodlawn, Englewoood, Evergereen Park, South Shore and South Chicago. Penny Lane plays a major role in guiding children's development and providing them with experiences that nurture their social, cognitive and physical abilities. We want your child to feel secure and independent, to move from one activity to another as easily and confidently as possible.

- Infants program:   Ages 6 weeks to 15 months
- Toddlers program:  Ages 15 months to 2 years
- Two Year Olds program:  Ages 2 - 3 years
- Preschool program:  Ages 3 - 4 years
- Pre-kindergarten program:  Ages 4 - 5 years
- Kindergarten program:  Ages 5 - 6 years (Must be 5 yearrs by September 1st)

* Our early childhood education curriculum includes Spanish, Computers, Music and Movement, Rhythm instruments and a P.E curriculum.

Additionally:
- Before / After School program:  Ages 5 - 12 years
- Summer Day Camps:  All ages

Why Choose Us?
* Tender, loving, gentle care in a playful atmosphere.
* Developmental Early Childhood Curriculum. Lesson plans designed for your child.
* Breakfast, hot lunch, nutritious snacks (includes formula).
* All staff CPR & first aid certified.
* Children are taught by experienced & qualified licensed teachers.

Penny Lane's two part philosophy unites quality education with concerned day care. Our students enjoy a nurturingloving day care environment. Their day is filled with learning opportunities designed for their individual ages and abilities, which build upon their natural curiosity.

Carefully guided, creative play periods fulfill educational goals, including concept learning and problem solving, which promotes self-confidence. Penny Lane plays a major role in guiding children's development and providing them with experiences that nurture their social, cognitive and physical abilities.

Social & Emotional Skills:
* Developing self-confidence:  Confident children have a "can-do attitude" about life. They are not afraid to try new things. They don't give up when something is difficult--they keep trying until they get it. To build self-confidence, we plan activities and provide materials that are challenging for children--but not too challenging--so they experience success. We see what interests children. We encourage them to experiment and find answers to their own questions as they play.

* Learning self-control:  Children with self-control are able to manage their emotions and not simply act out if they are angry or frustrated. They talk about the problem rather than calling another child names and using threats to get their way. We teach children how to calm down and help them use words to get their needs met: "I don't like it when you hit me. Stop it!" or "I was still playing with the shovel. You can have it when I'm finished."

* Making friends: Every child needs a friend. Children who do not have friends are often unhappy. They worry about why others don't like them. They feel alone. As they get older, children without friends often have trouble learning and may resist going to school. We watch for any problems and we teach children how to make and keep a friend.

Children learn social and emotional skills form the ways people treat them. When you visit our classroom, you will see and hear what we do to help children develop social and emotional skills.

Our classrooms are set up for learning. Children have many opportunities to make choices, come up with ideas, experiment, and take responsibility for their work. Here's what you'll see when you visit:

* Materials are on low shelves, in containers, and on hooks so children can get them independently and put them away.

* Shelves are neat and uncluttered so materials are easy to see, remove, and replace.

* Picture and word labels are on containers and shelves so children know where materials belong and learn to use print.

* There are distinct areas - blocks, dramatic play, toys and games, art, discovery, library, sensory tables, music and movement, cooking, computers, and different play spaces outdoors--so children know what choices are available and make decisions.

* A variety of learning materials are in each area so that no matter where children choose to play, they learn.

* Similar materials are grouped together to teach children to sort and classify--skills that are important to understanding and solving math problems.

The time children spend outdoors every day is just as important to their learning as the time they spend in the classroom. Unless the weather is severe, we take children outdoors every day, often more than once.

Large muscle activities are essential for children's health and well-being. Too many children today are overweight. One reason is they don't get the large muscle activity essential for healthy development. Children need time each day to run, leap, hop, jump, slide, climb, and throw and catch a ball. These activities build strong muscles and a sense of pride. They are important for another reason as well. Brain research shows that physical activity actually wakes up the brain for learning.

The outdoors greatly increases our learning environment. It is a natural setting for scientific investigations. Children find and study bugs and butterflies, plant seeds and watch them grow, and compare the feel of the bark on different trees. In some climates they notice the leaves change color and fall to the ground and learn about ice and snow. In other climates they learn how plants survive on almost no water. We talk with children about their discoveries and encourage them to continue investigating what they find outdoors.