Why Incy Wincy Kids?

The Incy Wincy Kids program is designed to enhance each child's ‘School Readiness’. Isn't my child getting ready for school by going to Pre School or Day Care? Why does my child need a special program like Incy Wincy Kids?

We're glad you asked…

The aim of the Incy Wincy Kids program is to provide the opportunity for preschoolers to experience fine manipulation and visual attention in a structured small group setting, where experienced therapists and teachers can stimulate and enhance specific skills which will enable competency in the classroom for years to come.

Readiness for school is paramount to success at school. Factors to consider include:

• Neural (brain wiring) connections and pathways are laid down early in life and are crucial to effective learning. It is far better to practise skills using appropriate techniques right from the beginning than to try and correct or relearn, once poor habits have become embedded in the neural pathways. This is where Incy Wincy Kids, with its team of experts in this field, can benefit your child.

• Children need to be ready to take part in their own learning when they arrive at formal schooling. Learning crucial motor coordination skills in a small group setting with specialists guiding your child's development will give your child a head start when it comes to being in a larger class group at school.

• The larger the gap at school entry, the harder it is to close. Louise and Liz have worked with many children in schools whose progress is being hindered by skill deficits that are avoidable with early explicit instruction.

• What children know and can do at the time they start school (‘School Readiness') helps determine their educational and lifelong success. Much recent research conducted over a number of years demonstrates the association between capabilities developed in preschool years ensuring academic and occupational success in later years. There is clear evidence that gaps in children's functioning and achievement develop early and are significant by the time they reach school.

What School Readiness skills does the Incy Wincy Kids Program target?

School Readiness involves having a range of age appropriate skills well developed. So, Louise & Liz have designed a program that prepares your child for ‘big school' in a fun and instructive way. Consider the skills that your child needs to do well at school. Many of these are enhanced in the Incy Wincy Kids program:

Motor co-ordination for activities such as using a pencil and scissors, unwrapping lunch, activities that involve eye hand co-ordination, good posture at the table, putting on and off a jumper, or art smock.

Visual Perception for skills such as attention to visual detail, recognition of shapes and colours, memory for shapes, letters, numbers.

Concentration and Emotional Adjustment such as being able to socialize, turn take, focus on tasks, follow instructions and deal with the structure of a formal classroom environment. Independence with tasks such as putting shoes and socks on and off, toileting independently, understand routines as well as cope with changes in the routine.

Language Skills to be able to follow instructions, and to understand and communicate with teachers and peers.

How does the Incy Wincy Kids program do this?

Incy Wincy Kids aims to enhance these skills by providing a structured program of activities. Activities include: gross motor, posture, left-right brain co-ordination, development of a dominant hand and tripod pencil grip. Also included are; recognizing and drawing basic shapes in a developmental sequence, cutting and in-hand manipulation skills and correct formation of letters in each child's own name. Each week there is a theme for the group, and the children work through a structured program. Groups commence with gross motor activity, move through group circle time, and finish with table top activities, including pencil and paper. The small group size allows for close supervision, correction and encouragement, tasks being presented in a fun manner, while allowing for peer interaction.