--- title: "Preschool Curriculum for 3 to 5 Year Olds in Connecticut" id: "23548" type: "page" slug: "preschool-curriculum-in-connecticut" published_at: "2026-06-01T01:57:52+00:00" modified_at: "2026-06-01T01:57:52+00:00" url: "https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/preschool-curriculum/preschool-curriculum-in-connecticut/" markdown_url: "https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/preschool-curriculum/preschool-curriculum-in-connecticut.md" excerpt: "CT ELDS-alignedKindergarten-readiness focusedBrightwheel integratedNAEYC approved Explore other Experience Curriculum age bands in Connecticut Experience BabyBirth to 18 monthsExperience Toddler18 to 36 monthsExperience Preschool3 to 5 years About the curriculum What is Experience Preschool? Experience Preschool is a research-based curriculum designed..." taxonomy_language: - "English" --- [Brightwheel](https://mybrightwheel.com/) › [Experience Curriculum](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/) › [Preschool Curriculum](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/preschool-curriculum/) › [Preschool Curriculum In Connecticut](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/preschool-curriculum/preschool-curriculum-in-connecticut/) › Preschool Curriculum for 3 to 5 Year Olds in Connecticut # Preschool Curriculum for 3 to 5 Year Olds in Connecticut ## A complete, research-based preschool curriculum for Connecticut childcare programs — CT ELDS-aligned, kindergarten-readiness focused, delivered monthly, and integrated with brightwheel. CT ELDS-alignedKindergarten-readiness focusedBrightwheel integratedNAEYC approved Explore other Experience Curriculum age bands in Connecticut [Experience BabyBirth to 18 months](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/infant-curriculum/infant-curriculum-in-connecticut) [Experience Toddler18 to 36 months](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/toddler-curriculum/toddler-curriculum-in-connecticut) [Experience Preschool3 to 5 years](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/preschool-curriculum/preschool-curriculum-in-connecticut) About the curriculum ## What is Experience Preschool? Experience Preschool is a research-based curriculum designed for children 3 through 5 years. Each month, a complete curriculum kit arrives at your program — including lesson plans, hands-on materials, teacher guides, and family engagement tools — everything you need to build kindergarten-ready learners. Experience Preschool’s monthly kits are organized around developmentally rich themes that build language, literacy, mathematics, science, and social-emotional skills in an integrated, play-based framework. Each theme connects to all eight developmental domains, supporting whole-child development without fragmented subject-area instruction. Designed for preschool learning realities Experience Preschool balances structured learning with play-based exploration. Lesson plans are designed for 15–30 minute whole-group and small-group experiences, with clear teacher language, differentiation tips, and embedded assessment opportunities. #### What’s in each kit - 4 weeks of daily lesson plans - Hands-on learning materials - Teacher’s guide with differentiation tips - Family engagement take-home materials - Assessment and observation prompts - Literacy-rich read-aloud connections - Brightwheel digital activity companion #### Kindergarten-readiness focus - Phonological awareness and early literacy - Number sense, counting, and early math - Scientific inquiry and observation skills - Social-emotional skills and self-regulation - Oral language development and vocabulary - Fine motor: writing readiness, cutting, drawing - Approaches to learning: persistence, curiosity Connecticut-specific context ## Why Experience Preschool is a strong fit for Connecticut programs ### Connecticut preschool & Pre-K Key regulatory and market context for Connecticut programs 1:4Connecticut’s preschool-to-caregiver ratio for licensed preschool programs CT ELDSConnecticut Early Learning and Development Standards CT QRISConnecticut’s Quality Rating and Improvement System Connecticut’s School Readiness program and state-funded Pre-K require curriculum aligned to CT ELDS. Experience Preschool maps directly to Connecticut’s preschool standards. Connecticut’s QRIS links quality ratings to enhanced Care4Kids subsidy reimbursement. Higher-rated programs access better rates and state Pre-K partnerships. ### Connecticut preschool licensing context Connecticut’s 1:10 preschool ratio supports small-group instruction and individualized learning. Experience Preschool’s lesson plans include both whole-group and small-group activity formats, with clear teacher guidance for differentiation across developmental levels — making it practical for mixed-ability preschool classrooms. Skills & developmental domains ## Developmental domains covered in Experience Preschool Experience Preschool integrates all eight developmental domains from Experience Curriculum’s 35-skill framework, with activities calibrated specifically for the 3–5 year age range. Every monthly kit builds skills across domains simultaneously — supporting kindergarten readiness in a coherent, integrated way. Social-Emotional Attachment, trust, emotional attunement, early social responsiveness Physical Gross motor milestones, fine motor exploration, sensory-motor development Language & Literacy Pre-verbal communication, early vocabulary, caregiver narration and reading Math & Reasoning Cause-and-effect, object permanence, early spatial and number reasoning Science Sensory exploration, observation, natural curiosity about the world Creative Arts Sensory art experiences, music, movement, early aesthetic awareness Social Studies Family and community identity, cultural connections, sense of belonging Approaches to Learning Curiosity, persistence, initiative, attention — foundational learning behaviors CT ELDS alignment Experience Preschool activities map to specific CT ELDS preschool standards across all domains. An alignment document maps every activity-to-standard match, supporting documentation requirements for Connecticut’s CT QRIS system and Pre-K programs. Sample monthly themes ## What arrives each month Each Experience Preschool kit is organized around a developmentally rich monthly theme. Here’s a sample of what a program year looks like. SeptPre-K #### Community Helpers Social studies theme exploring community roles, helpers, and civic responsibility. Builds vocabulary, early writing, and social awareness skills. Social StudiesLanguageWriting NovPre-K #### Exploring Nature Science-focused theme with hands-on nature exploration, observation journals, and early data collection. Builds scientific inquiry, math, and literacy skills. ScienceMathInquiry FebPre-K #### Friends and Feelings Social-emotional theme building empathy, conflict resolution, and friendship skills. Supports self-regulation and the social skills needed for kindergarten success. Social-EmotionalSelf-regulationCommunication AprPre-K #### Growing and Changing Life science theme with planting, observation, and life cycle exploration. Builds early literacy (informational text), math (measurement, data), and scientific thinking. ScienceLiteracyMath Digital integration ## Experience Preschool and brightwheel: a complete solution Experience Curriculum is now fully integrated with brightwheel, the #1 childcare management platform. For Connecticut programs already using brightwheel for billing, attendance, and family communication, adding Experience Preschool creates a seamless curriculum-to-portfolio workflow. ### Document as you teach Educators can log observations directly in brightwheel during or immediately after activities. Notes link to developmental milestones and build each child’s portfolio automatically. ### Keep families connected Parents receive real-time photos, videos, and activity updates through brightwheel. Experience Preschool family take-home content can be shared digitally, keeping caregivers at home aligned with the classroom. For programs documenting Connecticut CT ELDS preschool observations, brightwheel’s milestone tagging and portfolio features significantly reduce paperwork. Documentation can be exported for CT QRIS reporting or family conferences. Frequently asked questions ## Questions about Experience Preschool in Connecticut #### Is Experience Preschool aligned to Connecticut’s CT ELDS preschool standards? Yes. Experience Preschool is formally aligned to Connecticut’s Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (ages 3–5). An alignment document maps each Experience Preschool activity and skill to specific CT ELDS preschool domains and standards. #### Can Experience Preschool help my Connecticut program achieve a higher CT QRIS rating? Many Connecticut programs find that using a structured, research-based, CT ELDS-aligned curriculum supports their CT QRIS rating. Experience Preschool’s built-in observation tools and kindergarten-readiness focus also support rating requirements. We recommend confirming specific requirements with your local childcare resource agency. #### Is Experience Preschool appropriate for Connecticut Pre-K programs? Yes. Experience Preschool is designed for 3–5 year olds and aligns to Connecticut’s Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (ages 3–5). Programs participating in Connecticut’s Pre-K initiatives will find that Experience Preschool’s structured, standards-aligned approach meets curriculum requirements. #### What is the cost of Experience Preschool for Connecticut childcare programs? Experience Preschool pricing is based on program size and the number of children served. Connecticut programs may also qualify for subsidized pricing if serving children through state-funded Pre-K programs. Pricing details and a free tour are available through the [brightwheel website](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/) . #### How does Experience Preschool support kindergarten readiness for Connecticut children? Experience Preschool is designed with kindergarten readiness as a core outcome. Activities build skills across all eight developmental domains, with particular emphasis on language and literacy, mathematics, and social-emotional skills that Connecticut kindergarten teachers identify as most important for school success. Keep exploring ## Related pages [Same stateExperience Toddler in ConnecticutFor programs serving children 18–36 months in Connecticut](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/toddler-curriculum/toddler-curriculum-in-connecticut) [Same stateExperience Preschool in ConnecticutPre-K curriculum for Connecticut programs serving 3–5 year olds](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/preschool-curriculum/preschool-curriculum-in-connecticut) [Standards alignmentConnecticut Early Learning StandardsHow Experience Curriculum maps to Connecticut’s CT ELDS standards](https://mybrightwheel.com/early-learning-standards/connecticut/) [Same age bandPreschool Curriculum HubPreschool curriculum resources and state-specific links for all 50 states](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/preschool-curriculum/) ## Ready to bring Experience Preschool to your Connecticut program? Research-based preschool curriculum for Connecticut programs — delivered to your door every month. [Get a free tour](https://mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum/)