About the Program
The TCDN Explorer program provides a complementary program to The Kids Place (TKP), either before or after public school kindergarten. Here, kindergartners have the opportunity to develop social skills and take control of their own learning in a relaxed atmosphere.  

A Convenient Location
The program, located at the Swarthmore After School Club (SASC) building in the courtyard behind the Swarthmore Rutledge School, is in close proximity to The Kids Place. Teachers escort children to their kindergarten classroom or receive children escorted from kindergarten. Explorer teachers maintain close communication with The Kids Place teachers.

Curriculum
In this alternate learning space, children can extend physical, social, emotional and cognitive learning opportunities. Focus is on facilitating children’s self-initiated play, developing relationships with staff and other children, understanding others, and conflict resolution skills. The daily schedule consists of free play, snack, theme-related group time and activity, outside time, lunch and story time. The curriculum includes exploration of thematic topics that emerge from the interests of both staff and children. Learning activities incorporate Pennsylvania Learning Standards and include the following:

• Literacy development with reading, writing, dramatic theater, and poetry
• Math skills, making charts and graphs, counting, number recognition, weighing, measuring, estimating and money
• Science and nature exploration
• Arts and crafts, dramatic play, music, foreign language and culture study
• Listening and critical thinking skills

Enrichment and Activities
Outside play and exercise is held on the school playground and the extraneous spaces of the schoolyard. Explorers have a French lesson once a week and culminate their year with a musical or dramatic performance, shared with families. Families are welcome to share an activity, photos, recipes, games, etc. as it relates to a theme. Monthly theme activities are posted and periodic letters of information are sent home.

Food Program
Families are responsible for providing a lunch with a drink, and a snack that children can eat while at The Kids Place. Explorer teachers provide a snack during the program hours. Snacks are nutritionally balanced and can be prepared by the children themselves as part of curriculum.

Extended Enrollment Options
In addition to the Explorer program, other enrollment options include the Before School Club (7:15-8:30) and/or the After School Club program until 6:00. Extended enrollment options are also available on The Kids Place school closing days with separate registration. Visit the summer programs page for information about TCDN’s Summer Club.

Our Commitment to Quality
The SASC site, which Explorers are part of, is proud to be accredited by the National Afterschool Association (NAA), and has been recognized as a program that meets standards of quality developed by research in the field. TCDN also participates in PA Keystone STARS, a system of continuous quality improvement, and this site has earned a Keystone STAR 4A rating.

For enrollment information, click here or contact us.