Grand Haven Area Public Schools’ Young Fives Program provides children extra time to develop social and emotional skills that prepare them for entering kindergarten.

The Young Fives Program exposes children to the alphabet and numbers, as well as activities that reinforce number and letter recognition, reading, and common classroom practices.

The major emphases of the Young Fives Program are exposure, experience, and repetition. These three concepts are designed to help develop confidence in students so they are familiar with what to expect when they enter kindergarten. A complete description is available in our Grade Level Brochure.

Young Fives Program highlights..

• The teacher identifies objectives appropriate for the individual child’s developmental needs.
• Themes are based on student interest.
• Students participate in art, music, library/media, and physical education.
• Class sizes are between 12 and 18 students, with a maximum of 18 students.
• Classes meet every day for 1/2 day.
• Special education services are provided to qualifying students.
• Parents are required provide transportation. Buses will pick up children if present at an established stop.

Should my child attend kindergarten or Young Fives?

This question is one that should be discussed with the building principal, kindergarten teacher and Young Fives teacher. Some variables to consider are: maturity, ability to get along with others, ability to separate from parents supervision, fine motor skills, and attention span.

Will my Young Fives child be expected to know the alphabet?

Young Fives students are exposed to letters, but are not expected to reach mastery level. They are involved in activities that reinforce development of the alphabet.

Will my Young Fives child be reading at the end of the program?

Students are exposed to different types of literature. Students will develop a desire to want to read and reading will be introduced for enjoyment.

Young Fives - a typical day..