What is Blue Bird’s Therapeutic Preschool Program?
Blue Bird Day’s therapeutic preschool-level program fosters socialization, sensory regulations, and skill building in young children. It is designed for children with developmental delays, including Autism (ASD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), Down Syndrome, ADHD, stuttering, articulation and phonological disorders, and sensory based feeding disorders. Our therapy program at Blue Bird Day is unique in that your child’s day will be individualized based on your needs and goals for your child and family. Your child will receive a combination of therapies in a peer-orientated setting, including occupational, physical, speech, developmental, behavioral, and social work therapies. Our program utilizes an intensive therapy approach with an emphasis on relationship-based interventions and helps provide children with the tools they need to succeed in a traditional classroom.
How is the Therapeutic Preschool Program Incorporated into the Day?
Our preschool-level program takes place Monday through Friday and is split into two sessions. Session 1: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Session 2: 12:00 – 4:00 PM. The day includes therapeutic rotations, large group circle time, snack, and lunchtime. Extended Day Sessions, consisting of additional therapy services, may be available before or after the program, depending on staff recommendations and availability.
What Goals are Worked on During the Preschool Program?
After a comprehensive evaluation, you and your team will work together to build functional and meaningful goals for your child. In addition, your child will be assigned goals aligned with the Blue Bird Day Hierarchy of Skill Development ©, a systemized approach to target abilities across all areas of development in order to promote growth and learning. We believe that the skills developed at each level build to create meaningful participation in daily life and a transition into the school environment. To ensure that skills are not missed, all children in the preschool program begin at level one of our Developmental Hierarchies ©.
What Other Services Compliment the Preschool Program?
Your child’s team will work with you to determine the best plan for your child. Individual, social group, and home sessions are often recommended. These sessions are aimed to help your child fine-tune skills with individual attention, generalize skills with peers, or help you manage behavior at home. Those enrolled in our preschool program typically do a combination of the individual home and clinic sessions; however, these are dependent on team recommendations.
What’s the Difference Between the Preschool and Kindergarten Programs?
Blue Bird Day’s preschool program is for those children that are just beginning to socialize with peers, participate in classroom-type activities, and separate from their caregivers. The preschool program is in session from Monday-Friday for 4 hours per day. Blue Bird Day’s kindergarten program is an extension of the preschool program and focuses on small group learning for academic readiness. The kindergarten program is in session Monday-Friday for 5 hours per day. For preschool and kindergarten, therapeutic goals and treatment plans are individualized to meet each child’s unique needs and are reviewed on a regular basis.
Admissions Process
West Loop
1233 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60607
Wheaton
140 E Loop Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189
Northcenter
1921 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613
