In the years before children attend kindergarten, they’re naturally curious and open to engaging with the world around them. This makes these years the perfect time to nurture a love for learning. At Denver Christian School, 3- and 4-year-olds build social, emotional, academic, physical, and spiritual foundations in our play-based early childhood programs. Children learn through active play and gain the skills needed for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Whole-Child Development
Six Spheres of Learning in Preschool
At Denver Christian, we nurture the whole child through six interconnected spheres of growth. Explore how each sphere is expressed at the preschool level.
Spiritual Growth
God Worshiper
Morning Worship shapes daily rhythms through class-specific songs; prayer woven into meals, birthdays, sickness, and classroom needs; Holy Spirit Time inviting children to rest quietly with Jesus; spiritual formation embedded in ordinary moments.
Worship, prayer, and Bible storytelling are naturally integrated into classroom life; spiritual growth emerges through music, devotions, and shared routines rather than formal programs.
Growing awareness of God’s love and forgiveness; early expressions of the Fruits of the Spirit in peer interactions; ability to recognize and affirm God-given gifts; foundational habits of prayer, worship, and trust, preparing students for deeper engagement.
Cognitive Growth
Truth Discerner
International meal connecting family cultures and classroom community; Fry Bread Day honoring gratitude and history; birthday prayer moments creating rhythm and belonging; daily worship and prayer reinforcing early cognitive, relational, and spiritual awareness.
Enrichment embedded naturally within classroom rhythms; music, movement, imaginative play, and storytelling support cognitive development without standalone program structures.
Growth in early literacy and numeracy readiness; increasing curiosity, confidence, and attention; vocabulary and problem-solving developing through play; teachers strengthening practice through CEUs and Colorado Shines to maintain high-quality early childhood instruction.
Physical Growth
Wellness Steward
Snack and lunch by the pond on warm days; outdoor moments blend movement, nature, and daily routines; physical rhythms that support coordination, calm, and healthy habits.
Physical development nurtured naturally through daily play and movement; gross-motor activities and outdoor exploration embedded in routines rather than standalone programs.
Developing healthy eating habits and physical independence; growing body awareness; early understanding that caring for the body is part of living gratefully and responsibly as God’s children.
Creative Growth
Beauty Creator
Making blankets for babies at Children’s Hospital pairs creativity with compassion; outdoor and sensory-rich moments that nurture curiosity, beauty-awareness, and playful exploration of the world God made.
Creative enrichment occurs naturally within daily classroom rhythms; music, art, building, and storytelling support expressive development without standalone program structures.
New themes are introduced each day, encouraging novelty and exploration; students grow as imaginative thinkers and confident makers; early understanding forms that creativity reflects God’s image and prepares them for more structured creative expression in kindergarten.
Personal Growth
Image Reflector
Daily routines such as table time, circle time, and shared games serve as spaces to practice self-control, kindness, and patience; Compliment Fridays invite children to affirm peers by naming how they show God’s love, often tied to the Fruits of the Spirit.
Personal growth is woven into classroom life; group play, shared responsibilities, and daily interactions help children recognize their giftings and appreciate those of others without formal programs.
Growth in patience and waiting; increasing awareness of others’ needs; early habits of encouragement and affirmation; foundational personal responsibility and confidence within a caring classroom community.
Social Growth
Shalom Restorer
Morning Worship with songs chosen for classroom needs; Holy Spirit Time invites children to rest quietly with Jesus; daily routines support emotional expression, care for peers, and age-appropriate Christian community.
Social and emotional formation embedded naturally in classroom life; prayer rhythms, worship moments, and shared play shape relational habits rather than standalone programs.
Growing awareness of God’s love and care; early understanding of forgiveness; practice of the Fruits of the Spirit with peers; Compliment Fridays build confidence, gratitude, and habits of affirming others in Christ-like ways.
How Children Develop in Our Play-Based Early Childhood Classes
Children benefit from our structured days that include a variety of learning and play activities. In each of our early childhood classes your child will:
- Build Literacy, Pre-Reading, and Writing Skills
- Storytime, songs, and free writing activities all help children build important literacy and writing skills. One tool we use is Zoo Phonics, which teaches letters and sounds through fun movements and animal themes.
- Gain Math and Science Skills
- In our HighScope program, students are fully engaged as they plan active learning activities, explore concepts and develop skills at various centers, and practice oral language skills with their teacher by reviewing what they learned.
- Engage in Faith Formation
- Prayer and discussion about God’s beautiful creation are woven in throughout the entire learning experience. Activities include making the Wordless Book as a way to share the Gospel and learning about cultures around the world through our unit, God So Loves the World.
- Practice Healthy Social-Emotional Interactions
- Teachers help children learn conflict resolution and restorative practices in order to build healthy relationships with peers and create an environment of respect for others.
- Develop Through Physical Education
- Daily time on the playground lets young children expend energy, practice gross motor skills, and learn to take turns. Once a week, each preschool class has a designated time with a physical education teacher for more organized activities.
- Learn Listening, Counting, and Words With Music
- Children regularly sing songs or listen to music in the classroom and attend music class with a music teacher once a week. Singing and playing rhythm instruments teaches children concepts around listening, counting, and putting words together.
Experienced and Caring Teachers
All of our early childhood teachers hold Early Childhood Education credentials. Our teachers are dedicated to getting to know every child and family and focus on frequent communication with parents to let them know how their child is progressing in school. Our small classrooms, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12 to 2 in the 3’s Program and 18 to 2 in the 4’s and Jr K Programs, allow children to receive individual attention.
Our Programs
We offer a number of early childhood classes designed to help young students grow and flourish in their first classroom experiences. See below for general age guidelines; our early childhood staff will assist in determining the most appropriate class selection based on your student’s age, abilities, and developmental stage.
| 3 year old Preschool Age 3 by August 1 | 3-4 year old Preschool Older 3s and Young 4s | 4 year old PreK Age 4 by October 1 | Junior Kindergarten Young 5s |
| M/W 8:30-12:30 | Tu/Th/F 8:30-12:30 | M, T, W, Th, F 8:30-3:15 or Tu/Th/Fr 8:30-3:15 | M, T, W, Th, F 8:30-3:15 or Tu/Th/Fr 8:30-3:15 |
| Emphasis on oral language, social/emotional skills, self help skills. | Emphasis on social/emotional skills; self help skills; introduces letters, numbers, phonics, pre-writing skills. | Emphasis on social/emotional learning, cognitive skills, physical development. | Students with previous PreK experience. Must be able to demonstrate self-help, knowledge of some literacy and math. |
Explore Early Childhood for Your Child
If you would like to learn more about how our early childhood program can nurture your child, contact our admissions team. Email Carrie Johnson, our Director of Admissions, at cjohnson@DenverChristian.org or call 303-763-7919.