Grasshopper Room

Age Range: 3-5 years

Staff Ratio: 1:11 am 1:8 pm

The grasshopper room caters for children age 3 – 4 years. We follow a high scope based approach. High scope encourages and supports the development of all children through child-led activities. Our main focus is to promote a happy fun relaxing atmosphere that will support an early start to life long skills.

Our room is divided into different areas, home, quiet, sand, water and also a construction area with plenty of materials such as table top activities and art supplies which are easily accessible to the children to use at any given time throughout the day.

Our daily routines follow a familiar pattern which consists of short work periods broken down into large group and small group times to allow for regular breaks and free play. The routine allows for active and quiet play. For the more active play we have a large secured playground ideal for adventure and exploring. For our down time we enjoy our yoga on a weekly basis which encourages us to sit with our emotions and feelings in a safe space. It also gives us the opportunity to have a giggle at ourselves when we wobble and fall but we always get back up and try again.

Our activities are linked to Aistear which we follow on a daily basis; we develop a plan that will encourage practical life skills such as putting on shoes, socks, coats, brushing teeth, washing hands etc. Little steps of independence promote confidence and achievement. Our activities are based on the children’s interest and stage of development. The children are learning through fun and exploration, they are actively involved with people and materials where they learn from each other how to play and carry out their own ideas creatively and imaginatively. It also challenges them whilst moving at their own pace.

We expand and explore new activities all the time so children will become more familiar with new things and more comfortable with their personalities, likes and dislikes.

We encourage parental input and we welcome parents to visit or participate at any time.