Did you know that play is an important part of early child development?
Long before that first day of school, children are already using play to learn about the world, express themselves, and grow new skills. We at MCPL believe in the power of learning through play. That’s why we’re excited to share our new kindergarten readiness program, Preschool Play and Learn, for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers. This program creates opportunities for preschoolers to play, have fun, and explore—all while building the skills they need to enter kindergarten.
Read on to learn more about this exciting program, including locations and times:
What is Preschool Play and Learn?
Preschool Play and Learn is a library-led program for children 3-5 years old and their caregivers. This program features a variety of play-based activities. Activities are designed to help get preschoolers ready for kindergarten by building essential skills across five early learning domains.
How does the program work?
Children and caregivers are invited to the library to participate in a short circle time, followed by 30-40 minutes of play-based activity stations.
These activities build school readiness skills by developing the following five early learning domains:
•Language & Literacy •General Knowledge •Arts •Social & Emotional Development •Motor Skills
Language and Literacy
- Listening and responding to conversations. Clarity of speech. The use of vocabulary learned through conversations. An enjoyment of books and an understanding of print. Letters, letter sound, and rhyming word identification.
General Knowledge
- Includes general knowledge of mathematics, science and technology, and social studies.
- Mathematics: Counts and recognizes numbers 1-20. Describes and sorts objects by color, shape, or size.
- Science and Technology: Asks questions and makes observations about the world around them. Recognizes cause and effect. Makes predictions.
- Social Studies: Learns about self and family. Explores Community.
Arts
- Plays, dances, and moves creatively. Experiments with different art materials and mediums.
Social and Emotional Development
- Gets along with others. Follows rules, routines, and multi-step directions. Walks in line. Recognizes and manages emotions. Stays on task.
Motor Skills
- Gross motor skills demonstrate large muscle movements—walks, runs, skips, jumps and climbs. Throws, catches, and kicks a ball.
- Fine motor skills include the use of scissors and glue. Holds and uses crayons, markers, and pencils. Traces lines, curves, and basic shapes. Builds with blocks.
Preschool Play and Learn is designed to promote kindergarten readiness. Kindergarten readiness is about what kids should know and be able to do when they start kindergarten. It refers to a child’s readiness to make a smooth and successful transition and integration into the kindergarten environment where they will be ready to learn. This includes skills like letter recognition, identifying colors, counting, and even gross motor skills.
Children who start kindergarten ready are more likely to remain on track by the time they enter third grade and beyond. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 46% of Montgomery County students demonstrated readiness on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.
As an informal learning space where all are welcome, MCPL hopes to provide support to preschoolers and their caregivers so that preschoolers can arrive at kindergarten ready to learn.
When and where will this program be offered?
This program is currently offered at the Twinbrook Library but will roll out at other locations around June 1, 2025. To find a Preschool Play and Learn event near you, check out our calendar of events.
Finding Support in Your Community:
There are many community resources available throughout Montgomery County to assist with preparing your child to be successful at school.