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St. Albert Public Preschool offers an inclusive Preschool environment that provides support and services for children of all abilities.
We believe the early years are a crucial time for growth and development. Through play, exploration, and structured learning, we help children build confidence, independence, and essential skills in a loving, fun, and nurturing setting.
Typical Developmental Milestones
By certain ages, children typically reach important developmental milestones in areas like speech, language, social skills, and emotional regulation. Understanding these milestones can help identify if your child is on track or may need extra support.
Speech
By 2 years, children are typically able to:
- Say 200-300 words.
- Use the following speech sounds: P, B, D, M, N, H, and W.
- Be understood 50% of the time by unfamiliar listeners.
Language
- Combine 2 words (like “more juice” or “mommy eat”).
- Begin using simple word endings, such as ‘ing’ (eating), plurals (boats), and possessive markers (baby’s bottle).
- Point to major body parts and clothing items as well as pictures in a story.
- Follow 2-part directions, such as, “Go get your coat and bring it to me.”
- Demonstrate an understanding of in, on or under.
Social
- Participate in simple games like peek-a-boo.
- Enjoy playing near and parallel to other children.
- Engage in playful interactions with you, using eye contact and facial expressions.
- Ask for help from an adult when they face problems.
- Point at things to show you what they find interesting.
Emotional
- Look for you when they feel stressed.
- Notice when others are upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone cries.
- Comfort others in ways they like to be comforted, like patting your back or bringing you their favourite toy.
- Look at your reactions in new situations to decide how to act. If you look worried, they might cry. If you look happy, they might smile and laugh.
Speech
By 3 years, children are typically able to:
- Put sounds at the beginning of words, like ‘bus’ instead of ‘us’.
- Put sounds at the ending of words, like ‘boat’ instead of ‘boa’.
- Use the following speech sounds: K, G, T, F, NG, and Y.
- Speak clearly. Parents understand their child most of the time.
Language
- Use at least 3 to 4 words together in sentences, like “I want more juice."
- Understand and ask many questions, like “Where is your coat?”, “Who’s that?”, and “What is soap for?”
- Describe activities, feelings, problems, and tell simple stories.
- Use more of the little words, like is, a or the.
- Follow 3-part directions, like "Go get your coat, bring it to me and wait by the door."
Social
- Notice other children and join in their play.
- Look to you to understand what is allowed but may also test boundaries.
Emotional
- Calm down within 10 minutes after being separated from you.
- Comfort others in ways they might like to be comforted.
Speech
By 4 years old, children are typically able to:
- Use the following speech sounds: V, S, Z, SH, CH, and l.
- Speak clearly. Parents and others understand your child all of the time.
Language
- Use longer and complete sentences, like “I want to go out and play on the swing.”
- Use more grammar, like plurals (boats), possessives (daddy’s hat), pronouns (I, you, me, she, he, we), past tense (walked), and some question words (what, who, where, why). There are still some errors.
- Understand most concept words (colour, shapes, locations, texture, time).
- Pay attention to short stories and answer questions about the story.
Social
- Pretend to be different characters during play, such as a teacher, superhero, or dog.
- Ask to play with other children if none are around, like "Can I play with Alex?"
- Adjust their behaviour based on where they are, like behaving differently at a place of worship, library, or playground.
- Enjoy being a helper.
Emotional
- Use words instead of physical actions to express anger and resolve conflicts.
- Share their emotions, like "I feel mad."
- Have better control over frustration and impulses, allowing them to ask for help and wait patiently.
- Start listening to other children’s perspectives and show concern, like asking "Are you okay?"
- Comfort friends who are hurt or sad, like giving a hug to a crying friend.
- Avoid dangerous actions, like not jumping from high places at the playground.
Every Child Develops at Their Own Pace—And That’s Okay
If your child isn't meeting all of these milestones, that's okay!
Every child grows and learns in their own way and at their own speed. Some children may need a little extra support to develop the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond—and that’s exactly what St. Albert Public Preschool is here for.
About St. Albert Public Preschool
St. Albert Public Preschool offers an inclusive learning environment that provides specialized supports and services for children of all abilities. We believe the early years are a crucial time for growth and development. Through play, exploration, and structured learning, we help children build confidence, independence, and essential skills in a loving, fun, and nurturing setting.
Our preschool provides:
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Individualized support for children with developmental delays.
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Guidance from experienced educators and specialists.
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A safe, engaging, and inclusive environment where all children can thrive.
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A curriculum designed to encourage social, emotional, and cognitive development.
We welcome children between the ages of 2 and 4 (they don't need to be potty trained).
All children must be 2 years 8 months as of September 1 (birthday before December 31, 2022 for the 2025-2026 school year). This lines up with the age of entry for kindergarten, so that children can complete up to two years in preschool, depending on age of entry, before they start kindergarten.
The program is offered three days a week (Tuesday-Thursday) for children in unfunded spots, and four days a week (Tuesday-Friday) for children who are receiving support and services through PUF, with morning and afternoon classes available.
How Registration Works
Once we receive your child’s registration, we carefully review it for any developmental concerns. If concerns are noted, we will arrange a short screener with our Speech-Language Pathologist to determine if your child qualifies for Program Unit Funding (PUF) support.
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If your child qualifies for PUF support, they will be enrolled in our program with access to specialized services.
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If your child does not meet PUF criteria, they will be placed on a waitlist for any available community spots for the 2025-2026 school year.
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Because community spots are limited, we encourage families who do not have developmental concerns to explore other preschool options as well.