History

Philosophy and Goals

Tiny Tot Preschool was established in 1948 in Evanston, Illinois, by Jean Rieker. 
In 1953, the school moved to Skokie and has been in the present location since 1959. 
We have four large rooms with a large well-equipped playground adjacent to the building. 

Tiny Tot continues to be a family business with Miss Jean's daughter, 
Bonnie Shanahan now directing the center.

ExelleRate Illinois

In January 2014 Tiny Tot Preschool has been awarded a Silver Circle of Quality. Our staff worked very hard to achieve that accomplishment. We continue on a daily basis to maintain and improve our services to you and your families. To learn more about Excellerate Illinois, please visit their website.

Parent Handbook

Please feel free to download and read the Parent Handbook bellow.

parent_handbk_2014.pdf
File Size:	973 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Vision

A community providing a positive outlook of learning for all children and inspiring a lifetime desire to learn.

Philosophy
Tiny Tot embraces a developmental approach and play-based philosophy in working with young children. We believe that children are natural learners that acquire knowledge in the process of their own developmental maturation. As children grow older, they acquire new skills and experiences that facilitate the learning process. For example, as children grow physically, they are more able to manipulate and explore their own environment. Additionally, they are more able to understand the point of view of other people. Tiny Tot consents with all theorists of learning that the child uses play for self-teaching. Teachers are expert facilitators of that learning process. We strive to provide an environment that offers materials, equipment, space, time, and trusting adults that allow children to organize their ideas, feelings, and fantasies into a plan for play. Through play, children then explore and manipulate ideas and relationships without doubt about their own skills, and become experts in problem solving, self-control, and citizenship skills that will assure their success in life.

Goals

• Value each child as an individual
  
• Provide opportunities for children to gain confidence and knowledge about the environment
  
• Understand and meet children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual developmental needs
  
• Foster an excitement about learning
  
• Encourage children to become active participants in their learning through experience and exploration of hands-on materials and environments
  
• Teach the 21-century skills, such as problem solving, decision making and collaborative communication
  
• Encourage creativity and innovative thinking
  
• Provide a positive environment in which each child can develop to his or her fullest potential
  
• Establish a positive working partnership with the families
  
• Encourage parental involvement through a variety of activities and communications
  
• Encourage in children an acceptance of others through empowering the classroom community
  
• Increase an awareness of the outside community and to provide opportunities for involvement
  
• Utilize the community services and resources available to further enriching of our program
  
• Continually develop teacher expertise by observation, research, and professional development opportunities