Children and child development have stayed the same, but societal pressures on both parents and children have intensified. As skills that used to be taught in first grade are expected of younger and younger children, it becomes ever more crucial to remember the value of play. At Downtown Little School we believe that the role of the preschool is to encourage a child’s sense of wonder, active imagination, ability to relate to other people, willingness to try new things, drive to explore, independence, and natural, unhurried love of learning.