Pequeños at Play Hollow

 

Pequeños at Play Hollow is a child readiness program for children of all abilities 3  - 5 years old that offers bilingual English-Spanish immersion and cultivation of school readiness skills.  This program runs as a semester throughout the school year (Fall, Winter/Spring).

The activities and curriculum behind Pequeños at Play Hollow are created and implemented by professionals specializing in various areas of child development. They work collaboratively to create an environment that fosters a sense of well being, love of others, as well as love for nature and the community.   Through this foundation of knowledge and experience, this program envelops the skills and experiences we know all children would benefit from as they prepare for a lifelong journey of growth, learning, and global community.  

Want to check it out? Try our Pequeños Mini session starting Dec 13th and running for two weeks! Save your spot by click below:

 

Winter/Spring Semester (starting 1/3/2024) is open for registration!

 

What will the program include?

Pequeños will be conducted primarily in Spanish using music, play, art, and movement. Research has shown the many benefits of bilingualism for our cognitive development and health, particularly when introduced at an early age. Our program will allow children to begin their language journey that we hope will open doors for future life experiences and explorations.

 Following the instructors' unique expertise in motor, sensory, cognitive and linguistic development, children will have the opportunity to lay the foundational skills needed for the road ahead. Program activities are designed to promote development of motor planning and coordination, integration of reflexes, balance, support of the visual systems, social skills, musical exploration, life readiness skills, and more!

Using nature and our local community as the inspiration for our themes, children will learn about environmental cycles, topics, and events while exploring our local outdoor spaces and community resources. Research shows that play in nature supports executive functioning in the areas of working memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention control, the crucial areas needed for school readiness and learning.

 

When will it take place?

Pequeños at Play Hollow will run Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 11 AM following the Ballston Spa School District calendar and is a drop-off program. As a special offer for Pequeños participants, you will be able to add an additional hour-long drop-in participation at a reduced cost for your child to the Sensory and Social Play group. Sensory and Social Play will be running Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:30 to 12 PM following the program. This gives you the flexibility of adding on additional care time each week as you need it on either or both days.

How much will it cost?

The cost of the program is $75/week. The cost of an added hour of additional time each day in Sensory and Social Play will be $15 dollars per day as requested.  We do ask that you commit for 3 months to see progress in each child's skill development.  If unenrolling, we do ask for 2 weeks notice.

How do I secure my spot?

In order to save your spot, we ask for a $150 deposit which will be applied towards the last two weeks of enrollment. 

Who are the instructors for the Winter/Spring semester?

We are so excited to have an amazing team of local professionals, all experts in different disciplines focused on children, to be participating in this session of Pequeños of Play Hollow: 

- Natalia Martinez, MS, CCC-SLP TSSLD-BEA, is a bilingual English-Spanish speech-language pathologist with 13+ years experience working with children ages 0-21. She prioritizes her clients' ability to be heard and understood as well as their access to the community. Natalia is passionate about helping everyone she works with being able to achieve everything they set out to be.

- Laura Sullivan, MOT OTR/L and owner of Play Move Grow OT (playmovegrowot.com). Laura has worked with children ages 0-18 years in schools, clinics, daycares, and homes.  With advanced training in sensory integration treatment and a DIR Certified Expert Training Leader, Laura has a passion for connecting with kids and working with them to use their strengths to build confidence and develop a sense of self.

- Caitlyn Edson, Registered Dietitian with a focus on children and owner of Caitlyn Edson Nutrition (caitlynedsonnutrition.com). Caitlyn’s philosophy is simple: to make mealtime less stressful, to convey that all foods have a place and a purpose, and to help families work to raise eaters they can feel good about. 

How will pay be collected?

Caregivers can choose to pay either in weekly, monthly, or complete semester installments with a minimum of a 3 month commitment via recurring payments.

 This programming is open to 3- 5 year olds of all abilities. We look forward to your pequeño(s) joining us in January!