Overview

Where we play, build explore and have fun!

Located at the Community Recreation & Environmental Center (CREC) 9000 Parkview Drive Haverford, PA 19041



• Recreation Preschool-age Program for Ages 2.5 – 5
• Program yearly enrollment is from September – May
• Monday – Friday from 9:00am – 12:30pm (with Extended Day option)
• Registration for the upcoming program year begins in January.
• Residents Only
• Children must be potty trained*

To be added to our waitlist, please fill out the Little Explorers Waitlist form.
If you would like to schedule a tour, please call 484-380-2730.
Questions?? For questions or to set up a tour contact Director Julien Simpson at jsimpson@havtwp.com or call 484-380-2730

2025-2026 Program Year

Dates:

• September 8, 2025 – May 29, 2026

Times:

• ½ Day: 9:00am – 12:30pm (includes lunch time)
• Full Day: 9:00am – 2:45pm

Fees:


10% Sibling Discount for second, or more, children enrolled during same program year

• 2 Days a week: Tuesday & Thursday

$2,578 for the year

$286 a month



• 3 Days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

$3,744 for the year

$416 a month



• 4 Days a week: Tuesday – Friday (Limited Space)

$5,004 for the year

$556 a month



• 5 Days a week: ½ Day Monday – Friday

$6,185 for the year

$687 a month



• 5 Days a week: Full Day (Includes Extended Day, Limited Space)

$8,555 for the year

$951 a month

Extended Day (available most days)

Register for extended day online, calling ahead, or checking for day of drop-in space.

The Extended Day program includes enrichment, story time, teacher directed academic activities, quiet time and outdoor play.

• Time : 12:30-2:45 p.m. | **Pick up time is 2:45pm.**
• Fee : $25 per day

About Little Explorers

The Little Explorers philosophy is rooted in progressive education. We honor preschoolers’ natural love for exploration and play by providing a learning environment that inspires them to engage with the world. Our instructional methods embrace creativity, encourage imagination and socialization.

Program Curriculum Overview
The Little Explorers program allows children the freedom to play, explore and discover while providing structure and support for individual growth. We provide developmentally appropriate activities and academic opportunities for each child based on their abilities and interests.
Our daily routines allow for distinct learning. Below is an example of a typical day.

• Inside play/Centers (free choice activities with peers, teacher directed table top activities)
• Group clean up
• Morning Meeting (greeting friends, reading stories, discussing daily themes)
• Snack
• Outside Play/Gross Motor Activities
• Lunch
• Pack Up/Say Goodbye
• Specials: Science, Gym, Music

The Little Explorers program maintains an excellent child to teacher ratio, currently we average 5:1 in our classes. We have blocks, dress-ups, and our play kitchen set to nurture preschoolers’ imaginations. We use playdough, painting, and drawing on our chalk board to develop fine motor skills. Your child will have the opportunity to explore our hiking trails, as well as take advantage of our natural environmental playground. Our program strives to support all stages of development and to cherish each child’s ability to make meaningful connections with new friends, teachers and the world around them.
The Little Explorers program approaches academic readiness by fostering a child’s love for learning. Our instructional methods inspire children to engage with other children and the world around them through the process of play. The classroom encourages children to value the process of exploring and experimenting with raw materials, not just the final product. The children learn to: ask questions, take a guess, predict outcomes, and look for patterns. The skills acquired during this program provide the strong foundation for future academic success. Not every child comes to our classroom in the same place developmentally. For this reason, our academic process is based on the differentiated instruction model. We cater to each child as an individual.

Policy Information

• Arrival and Dismissal Car line – Please drive slowly in our parking lot.

- Arrival Please pull your car up to the sidewalk. A teacher will greet your child, help them out of the car and walk them to the classroom.

- Dismissal: A teacher will walk your child to the car, please pull into the parking lot if you need to assist your child with buckling up. -It would be helpful if you placed your child on the driver side of the vehicle. -Pick up is promptly at 12:30pm. Please contact us if you will be late.

• We love to play outside

- Sneakers (or equivalent) are best for our program

- Always assume we will be going outside. Please send your child with appropriate outdoor attire every day.

- We play outside on snowy days. If there is snow on the ground, please pack snow boots, pants, and appropriate attire for playing in the snow.

We love puddles! It is strongly recommended that all children have rain boots for rainy/wet days.

• We love to get messy

- We encourage you to send your child wearing clothes in which you are comfortable with them getting messy.

- The children have many opportunities to get hands-on experience with the materials inside as well as outside the classroom.

- Please provide an extra set of clothes to remain in our classroom. Place them in a large ziploc bag with their name on it and we can store them easily.

• Snack

- We provide a healthy snack for all the children. If your child has dietary restrictions or allergies, please speak with your teacher to make arrangements.

• Lunch

- All children will need to bring their lunch. We encourage you to provide a healthy, simple lunch and drink in a reusable lunch bag/box.

- Unfortunately, we are not able to refrigerate or heat food. Also, we will not permit the children to share food.

• Food Allergy Policy

Please be advised, if need be, we will notify parents of food restrictions for our lunch and snack programs.

• All Abilities Welcome Policy

  - Children of all abilities are welcome in Haverford Township Parks & Recreation programs. With your help, we will do all we can to meet your child’s needs.

• Illness Policy - Email your teacher or call and leave a message at the CREC

- Please keep your child home if they experience any of these symptoms within 24 hours of school: a fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, severe cold symptoms (coughing, continuous runny nose etc…)