Des Plaines Park District

Creative Corners Preschool

Come grow with us, registration for the 2024–2025 school year is open!
Monday, September 9, 2024 — Friday, May 16, 2025

We have a variety of unique preschool classes for ages 2–5. Children must be 2, 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2024, following District 62 guidelines.

Complete Creative Corners Preschool information is in our Spectrum Program Guide.
Download a pdf of the 2024-2025 Creative Corners Program information now.

Click here for a tour of our Preschool!

Click here for Spanish Immersion Information

Check here for Early Childhood Classes


The Creative Corners Class Program Guide and the Handbook were created to help you pick the right classes for your student and be well-informed about our preschool programs. Download them below.
Class Program Guide 2024-2025 PDF
 Handbook 2023-2024 PDF
You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader DC app to view these PDFs. Click Here for more information and to download the app.

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  • To register online for any of our Preschool Classes, Click Here
  • To download and read important Creative Corners documents, Click Here
  • To download a Registration Form, Click Here

To take advantage of our Monthly Payment Plan, please register in person at the Leisure Center.
Contact Candice.Morden@DPParks.org or call 847-391-5700.


 

Dual Agency Financial Aid Scholarships

Dual Agency Financial Aid Scholarships have been distributed 2024. Applications will be available in January 2025


We’ve been helping students learn and grow for more than 40 years!

We offer a variety of classes that provide both flexibility in scheduling and unique curricula designed to maximize your student’s academic achievement.

The Creative Corners Preschool Program provides each student with a quality early childhood experience by creating an atmosphere where students can grow socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually, through an engaging and exploratory curriculum. Our team uses the Illinois Early Learning & Development Standards in their teaching of academic skills to build a strong foundation, achieve benchmarks, and school-readiness.

Classrooms 108 & 110 have SMART Technology available: SMART Boards, SMART Tables and iPads. We continue to add technology features to our classrooms. These tools allow us to incorporate hands-on approach when teaching classroom concepts, and the technology offers more opportunities for your student to grow as a 21st Century Learner.

THE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM

The preschool classroom is divided into several centers designed to encourage learning through exploration, investigation, and problem solving. In order to effectively stimulate and motivate student’s curiosity, some centers stay constant, while the presentation of others will vary.

Circle time is a group gathering during which we share our ideas, plans, and observations. Circle activities are designed to stimulate youngsters’ thinking, enrich their social skills and expand their attention spans.

Gross-motor activities give students the opportunity to use their muscles—as well as their imaginations—as they engage in fun, healthy exercises, such as running, jumping and climbing. We also plan time for physical activity that encourages play in our gymnasium or interactive playground.

Fine-motor activities help improve small-muscle development and eye-hand coordination. Some common items found in the fine-motor/manipulative area include puzzles, beads and laces, pegboards, crayons and scissors.

Art activities help students creatively express their thoughts and feelings. They help reinforce fine-motor skills and concept development in areas such as colors, shapes and size relationships.

Dramatic-play activities help students express themselves, practice life skills, improve social skills, increase self-esteem, build vocabulary and solve problems. And, well, dramatic play is just plain fun!

Music activities promote students’ listening skills, creative expression, and social skills. In music, students can explore sound, volume, tempo, and rhythm.

Science activities offer students many hands-on opportunities for observation, exploration, investigation, making predictions and experimentation.

Sand and water activities allow students to experiment with textures and the properties of different substances. These activities also promote the development of other skills, such as math, science and language.

Block play gives students experience with many different concepts, such as shape and size discrimination, spatial relationships, number skills, balance, organization, cause and effect, and classification. Cooperative play skills, problem solving, and creativity are also promoted in block play.

Story time is designed to help students develop an appreciation and enjoyment of literature. Reading activities enhance children’s vocabulary and comprehension skills, and also expand their knowledge base

LUNCH BUNCH DAILY EXTENSION PROGRAM

Lunch Bunch is an extended preschool program in the afternoon. It is offered to students between the ages of 3 and 5 years old, who are looking for a semi-structured preschool experience with lunchtime included. Guardians will provide lunch.

  • Lunch from noon-12:30p
  • Free play 12:30-1:00p
  • Specialty activities 1:00–2:00p


Administrative & Leisure Center2222 Birch Street • 847-391-5700

Golf Center Des Plaines353 N. River Road • 847-803-GOLF

Lake Park Golf Course & Marina1015 Howard Avenue • 847-391-5730

Mountain View Adventure Center510 E. Algonquin Road • 847-391-5733

Mystic Waters2025 Miner Street • 847-391-5740

Prairie Lakes Aquatic Center515 E. Thacker Street • 847-390-4949

Prairie Lakes Community Center515 E. Thacker Street • 847-391-5711