A Sense of Belonging
Before children can focus on learning, they need to feel safe. Every element of our environment — the familiar teachers, the consistent routines, the welcoming community — is designed to communicate: you belong here.
The Preschool at DUMC · Doylestown, PA
Preschool & Kindergarten Readiness Programs
A nurturing first step for children ages 3–5, built around belonging, curiosity, and the kind of warm guidance that makes every child feel seen. Programs designed around your family's schedule — and your child's readiness.
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Ages 3–5
2-Day, 3-Day & 5-Day Options
8:1 Student–Teacher Ratio
Our youngest learners
Ages 3–4 · 2-Day Program3-Year-Old Preschool
For many children, this is their very first experience in a school setting. Our 2-day program is intentionally gentle: small group, familiar faces, and an environment unhurried enough for a three-year-old to settle in at their own pace.
Play is the curriculum here. Through guided exploration, circle time, art, music, and outdoor moments, children begin to develop social confidence and early language skills in a space that feels safe enough to take real risks.
- Schedule
- Tuesdays & Thursdays
- Hours
- Morning session: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Builds foundational social and emotional skills
- Develops early language and communication
- Nurtures independence and a love of learning
Building readiness, one day at a time
Ages 4–5 · 3-Day Program4-Year-Old Kindergarten Readiness
Four-year-olds are curious, expressive, and ready to engage more deeply with the world around them. Our 3-day program meets that energy with structured exploration — weaving early literacy, numeracy, and creative expression into days that feel purposeful without being pressured.
Children in this program work in small groups, practice listening and turn-taking, and begin developing the concentration and confidence that kindergarten will ask of them. Teachers who have been part of this community for years bring a consistency that children quickly grow to trust.
- Schedule
- Monday, Wednesday & Friday
- Hours
- Morning session: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Introduces early literacy and pre-reading skills
- Builds mathematical thinking through hands-on activity
- Strengthens attention, listening, and collaboration
The full transition to kindergarten
Ages 4–5 · 5-Day ProgramGrowing Into Kindergarten
For families whose children are ready for a fuller week of school — or who want the richest possible foundation before kindergarten — our 5-day program offers the most complete experience we provide. The rhythm of five full days builds the routine, resilience, and academic readiness that makes the kindergarten transition feel like a natural next chapter.
Mornings are structured around intentional learning; afternoon enrichment options extend the day with exploration-based discovery. Throughout, the emphasis remains on nurturing the whole child: curiosity, empathy, independence, and belonging.
- Schedule
- Monday through Friday
- Hours
- Morning session: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Afternoon option available (see Afternoon Adventures)
- Comprehensive kindergarten readiness across all developmental domains
- Builds a strong daily school routine and self-regulation
- Deepens friendships and sense of community belonging
Find the right fit
Compare Our Programs at a Glance
Each program is built around a different stage of readiness. Here is a simple side-by-side view to help you find the best match for your child and your family's schedule.
| Program | Age | Days | Morning Hours | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Year-Old Preschool | Age 3–4 | 2 Days Tue & Thu |
9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Social–emotional foundation, play-based exploration, first school experience |
| 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Readiness | Age 4–5 | 3 Days Mon, Wed & Fri |
9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Early literacy, pre-math, language development, cooperative learning |
| Growing Into Kindergarten | Age 4–5 | 5 Days Mon – Fri |
9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Full kindergarten readiness, daily routine, academic and social depth |
| Afternoon Adventures | Age 3–5 | Flexible add-on | 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Extended exploration, creative enrichment, continued nurturing care |
| Discovery | Age 3–5 | Flexible | Varies | Thematic, curiosity-driven learning that extends the core curriculum |
8:1
Student–Teacher Ratio
In a classroom of eight children, every child is genuinely seen. Teachers learn your child's rhythms, remember their favorite stories, and notice when something is off. That kind of attentiveness is not accidental — it is built into the structure of every program we offer.
What children carry forward
What Your Child Gains Here
Our programs are designed around the whole child — not just academic readiness, but the confidence, curiosity, and belonging that make learning possible in the first place.
Language & Early Literacy
Rich conversation, read-aloud time, and a language-forward classroom give children the vocabulary and listening skills that are the true foundation of kindergarten readiness — far more than worksheets ever could.
Curiosity & Creative Confidence
Children who leave our programs are not just ready for kindergarten — they are genuinely excited about learning. They ask questions, take creative risks, and approach new challenges with the confidence that comes from being known and encouraged.
Social & Emotional Skills
Learning to share, wait, listen, and care for others are skills built slowly through daily practice. Our small-group setting gives children the time and safety to develop these foundations at their own pace.
Fine & Gross Motor Development
From cutting and drawing to outdoor exploration, our programs support the physical development that children need to thrive in a kindergarten classroom and beyond.
Independence & Self-Regulation
Children learn to manage transitions, express feelings, and navigate small challenges — skills that make every future classroom experience smoother and more joyful.
Extend the day
Afternoon Adventures & Discovery
For families who need more flexibility — or children who simply aren't ready to stop learning — we offer enrichment programs that complement our core curriculum.
Afternoon Adventures
Available Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Afternoon Adventures extends the school day with a nurturing, unhurried environment. Children eat lunch together, rest, and engage in open-ended creative and outdoor exploration. It is less structured than the morning program by design — a natural winding-down that still feels purposeful and warm.
Discovery
Discovery is our thematic enrichment offering — a program that deepens and extends what children explore in their core classes through project-based, curiosity-led investigations. Designed to complement any of our morning programs, Discovery gives children the space to go further with ideas that genuinely fascinate them, guided by teachers who know them well.