Pre-schoolers Learn About Kindergarten With Children’s Museum Program

When school starts in August, a group of 4- and 5-year-olds will have an advantage on that first day because they attended Count Down to Kindergarten during the summer.

Around 40 children attended the 20-week program, hosted by the Children’s Museum of St. Croix and funded with a grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

Classes were held one day a week for three hours in two sessions. Parents and grandparents attended workshops while their children learned through enrichment activities how to be successful in school.

According to Ellie Hirsh, Children’s Museum board member and Count Down facilitator, the program focused on health, nutrition, social skills as well as school subjects. They worked with fine and gross motor skills and learned how to use scissors and draw. The children learned about the sea, plants and food. Some days, the class had a theme such as gardening and children joined in to make snacks with vegetables and fruit.