
Little Dolphins
(3 to 4 years old)
At “Karavaki”, our Little Dolphins participate in activities meant to develop their basic skills in a way that is creative, fun and playful. Our activities are interdisciplinary. Designed according to distinct thematic units drawn from our children’s interests, each activity helps children of this age achieve our educational goals (whether linguistic, cognitive etc.). We respect each child’s unique identity and foster creative participation in activities, in a cooperative and understanding environment. Our school’s daily program provides our Little Dolphins the opportunity to approach knowledge and express themselves in many ways, through words, mathematics, art, music, theatre and kinetic activities.
Playtime
Playtime is vital to a child’s development. Our entire educational program has been constructed with this in mind. We also make sure to enhance playtime with targeted activities. Playtime provides our Little Dolphins the opportunity to act freely, investigate the world around them and interact with each-other, develop their linguistic skills and express their feelings, create and develop symbolic functions, and ultimately, to have fun.
Language
Spoken Word
Our Little Dolphins are encouraged to participate in discussions, narrate personal experiences, describe objects and events, explain their actions and listen carefully to their peers. Through these experiences, toddlers develop both verbal and listening readiness.
Children’s Literature
Our school’s daily educational program includes structured literature reading activities. Literature plays a vital role in cultivating children’s imagination, cognitive ability and reading conception and ultimately provides children with an excellent source of entertainment. Our children also develop a host of different skills through the conversations we have when reading literature and the activities that may follow (play-acting scenes from the books, memorising poems and songs). What’s more, our Little Dolphins also read books that provide knowledge and information and open excellent opportunities for meaningful discussions. Books are windows into a world of knowledge.
Lending Library
Our classroom has a small bookshelf where Little Dolphins can flip through books during the school day. Leafing through books, children cultivate a love for reading, observe images, pretend to read, create their own story with the heroes, comment, learn to notice books…
Fine motor skills
Activities such as puzzles, learning how to tie shoelaces, building things and playing with dough all help toddlers improve their hand and finger motor skills. Our ultimate goal is to provide children with the necessary hand-eye coordination to prepare them for when they begin learning writing.
Mathematics
Our Little Dolphins have the opportunity to explore spatial concepts and relationships as they play. They can compare, discover properties, classify, observe similarities and differences, create patterns and so much more.
Learning about the world around us – Harnessing the environment
At “Karavaki”, we want our Little Dolphins to get acquainted with the natural environment. We encourage them to observe, ask questions, explore animals, plants, natural phenomena, the weather, the seasons…
Creativity and Expression
Music
Fine Arts
Theatrical Games
Physical Education
Traditional games
Music and Movement Education
The main purpose of music and movement education is for toddlers to develop their musical ear through playful activities that combine music with creative movement, spoken and sung speech, imitation and dramatisation. Music and movement education offers toddlers a new means of communication: they’re called on to participate in collective activity and develop their social skills, while at the same time developing basic gross and fine motor skills and body coordination. It’s also a prime opportunity for toddlers to cultivate their imagination, critical and creative thinking, all while discovering a unique form of entertainment.