Preschool
Preschool Program
Preschool services are available at our Cordova, Easton Preschool, St. Michaels, and White Marsh Sites. At our preschool centers, children spend their days in a nurturing environment, where they socialize, practice important skills, and learn through play. We provide a balanced and nutritious breakfast, a lunch supplement (milk and fruits or vegetables), and an afternoon snack. Children have quiet rest time every day, giving them a chance to physically rest and emotionally unwind.Â
All of our preschools utilize the Children Discovering Their World Curricula, developed by the University of Maryland’s Center for Early Childhood Education and Intervention. Children Discovering Their World is broken down into two curricula: Children Explore Their World for 3-year-olds and Children Study Their World for 4-year-olds. These lessons are based on the concept of project-based inquiry. Children complete several projects throughout the school year that expose them to a variety of subjects. Each project builds upon their knowledge and increases in complexity. Students in our preschools are having fun, exploring the world around them, and are highly engaged in the learning process!
“Research shows that 3- and 4-year-olds who attend a high-quality preschool are more successful in kindergarten and beyond.” Click the link below to learn about the factors that make up a “High Quality” preschool program.
(Source: Reading Rockets)
All of our sites are licensed and accredited through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and are consistently awarded an EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School Age Care) Check Level 5 rating. In 2023, MSDE designated our Easton Preschool Site a Center of Excellence. We open our doors to childcare providers from across our region to share information on classroom design, best practices, family engagement, community partnerships, and the Accreditation and EXCELS processes.
In each of our programs, we also incorporate age-appropriate educational enrichment activities. Through our innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) projects, children learn about the world around them and use their creativity to solve problems. Our 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds also participate in the Raising A Reader Program. Each week, we send home a bag with several books that you and your child can enjoy reading together. More time spent reading books with family translates to a wider vocabulary, higher test scores, and future academic success.Â
Additional Literacy Programs include VIOLETS and Dialogic Reading.  VIOLETS (Vocabulary Improvement and Oral Language Enrichment through Stories), part of the State of Maryland Ready at Five program, helps young children develop their oral language, pre-literacy skills, and background knowledge.  Dialogic Reading assists in the development of reading comprehension skills by making the child the storyteller through prompts and discussion.
Pre-K Expansion
Our Preschool Site in Easton is the first childcare provider in Talbot County to receive a Pre-K Expansion grant from the Maryland State Department of Education through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Since the program began last fall, children have benefitted from a rich blend of academic and enrichment experiences designed to support the whole child.Â
In addition to a strong focus on early literacy and foundational math skills, the expanded Pre-K program incorporates other meaningful learning opportunities. These include art and emotional mindfulness programming through a partnership with For All Seasons, music instruction with Easton Music Academy and Jump Start with the Arts, yoga, hands-on STEAM projects, and other activities that encourage creativity, movement, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth.
Over the past six months, Critchlow’s preschool teachers and leadership team have participated in extensive training alongside MSDE and TCPS to ensure the curriculum supports kindergarten readiness and meets the State’s highest standards.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY
“Play improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of children and young people. Through play, children learn about the world and themselves.”
(Source: nidirect.uk.gov)
Find a Critchlow Adkins Preschool Site near you!
Click the buttons below to explore a day in the life of a Critchlow preschooler and find information on fees and tuition assistance!