At Little Lights, our Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs are two separate learning environments designed to work together. Each program has its own purpose, expectations, and learning goals, creating a natural progression from early classroom readiness to kindergarten preparation.
Preschool — Building the Foundation
Our Preschool Program is the introduction to a more structured learning environment and prepares children for the next step into our Pre-Kindergarten program.
At this stage, children begin building the foundational academic, social, and classroom skills they will need as learning becomes more structured.
Preschoolers work on:
ABCs and early letter recognition
Counting and number recognition
Colors and shapes
Name recognition
Fine motor and pre-writing skills
Following simple directions
Participating in circle time
Sitting and listening for age-appropriate periods
Classroom routines and transitions
Sharing, taking turns, and learning alongside peers
Building independence and confidence
Our goal is not to rush children into advanced academics. Instead, we help them become comfortable, confident learners who understand what it means to participate in a classroom.
Preschool creates the foundation. Pre-K builds upon it.
Pre-Kindergarten — Kindergarten Readiness in Depth
Our Pre-Kindergarten Program is a separate, more academically focused program designed for children preparing to enter kindergarten.
We consider our Pre-K program a true kindergarten-readiness classroom, not simply another year of daycare.
We communicate with kindergarten teachers from both our local school district and a local private school to better understand the skills, expectations, routines, and learning concepts children will encounter when they enter kindergarten.
We then use that information to help shape our Pre-K experience.
Children are introduced to kindergarten-style concepts and activities in an age-appropriate way so that when they encounter them again in kindergarten, they are not seeing everything for the first time.
Our Pre-K students work more deeply on:
Letter identification and letter sounds
Early phonics and literacy skills
Name writing and handwriting development
Number recognition, counting, and early math concepts
Patterns, sorting, sequencing, and problem solving
Following multi-step directions
Completing structured learning activities
Longer and more involved circle/group instruction
Independent work habits
Classroom responsibility
Social-emotional skills and problem solving
Kindergarten routines and expectations
How the Two Programs Work Together
Think of our programs as a progression:
Preschool → Pre-Kindergarten → Kindergarten
Preschool teaches children how to become learners.
They learn classroom routines, how to participate in group activities, how to follow directions, and the foundational academic skills they will build upon.
Pre-Kindergarten takes those foundations and goes deeper.
Children begin experiencing more structured academics, increased independence, and kindergarten-readiness skills based on what they can expect in their next classroom.
By the time our Pre-K students leave Little Lights, our goal is for them to walk into kindergarten feeling prepared, confident, familiar with classroom expectations, and excited to learn.
More Than Kindergarten Ready
We don't want kindergarten to feel like a child's first experience with structured learning.
We want it to feel like their next step.
By intentionally connecting our Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs—and staying informed about what local kindergarten classrooms expect—we can give our children a strong, thoughtful transition from their earliest learning experiences into elementary school.
Our Process
Our Pre-Kindergarten program is designed to give children the experience of attending a traditional school program while still providing families with the flexibility and convenience of childcare.
Our Pre-Kindergarten program follows a traditional school-year calendar, similar to our local public schools.
The program begins with the school year and ends on May 28th. We follow the school calendar for scheduled holidays, breaks, snow days, and other school closures.
This helps children become familiar with the rhythm and routine of a traditional school year before they enter kindergarten.
Our structured Pre-Kindergarten school day runs:
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
During these hours, children are in their dedicated Pre-K classroom participating in structured learning, small and large group instruction, hands-on activities, independent work, social-emotional development, and kindergarten-readiness experiences.
The 9:00 AM–2:00 PM schedule allows children to experience a consistent school-day routine while still keeping their day developmentally appropriate for their age.
Before & After Care Available
We understand that most working families need care beyond traditional school hours.
That is why before and after care is available for families who need it.
Children enrolled in extended childcare can arrive before the Pre-K school day begins and remain in care after the program ends at 2:00 PM.
When it is time for Pre-K, children transition into their dedicated classroom for their structured school day and then transition back into childcare afterward.
This gives families the best of both worlds:
A private, structured Pre-Kindergarten education + dependable childcare for the working family.
Preparing for the Transition to Kindergarten
Following a school-year calendar is another part of how we prepare our students for kindergarten.
By the end of the year, children have already experienced:
A Monday–Friday school routine
Consistent arrival and classroom expectations
A structured academic day
School holidays and breaks
Snow days and school closures
Returning to routine after extended breaks
Increasing independence throughout the school year
An end-of-year transition similar to traditional school
When kindergarten begins, the school schedule itself won't be completely new to them.
Our goal is to make the transition from Little Lights Preschool Academy to Kindergarten feel like a natural next step in their educational journey.
Learning today. Leading tomorrow.
Schedule a Preschool Tour
We would love to welcome you and your little learner to Little Lights Preschool Academy!
Choosing the right preschool or pre-kindergarten program is an important decision, and we believe the best way to know if Little Lights is the right fit for your family is to come see it for yourself.
During your tour, you'll have the opportunity to see our Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten learning spaces, learn more about our daily routines and curriculum, meet our team, and ask any questions you may have about your child's next step.
Whether your child is just beginning their learning journey in our Preschool Program or preparing for kindergarten through our Pre-Kindergarten Program, we're excited to show you how each stage is designed to build upon the one before it.
Submit a tour request below and come see where your child's learning journey can begin!
