Preschool for 3-year-olds
First friendships, growing independence and learning through play. Two mornings a week in Morton, with an optional Friday.
- Start when your child turns 3
- 8:30–11:30 AM
- Two mornings a week
- $350 per month
A personal, no-pressure visit with Dr. Michelle Peterson · About 30 minutes
Mornings, schedules & tuition
Now accepting Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Eligible families can use CCAP towards tuition.
Hours: 8:30–11:30 AM · Age: Children may start after turning 3 · Potty Training: Required
Payment Terms: Tuition is billed over 10 months. The 2026–27 full-year payment discount deadline was August 15, 2026. Enrollment requires a $100 non-refundable deposit.
Your child learns how to be at school
Practice taking turns, exploring new materials and expressing big feelings with caring teachers nearby.
Small classes
A 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Expert-led learning
Founded by Dr. Michelle Peterson, Ed.D.
Purposeful play
Hands-on learning, enrichment and outdoor play.
Our approach to learning · Compare preschool daily schedules
Explore the daily schedule & enrichment
A morning of purposeful play
The 3's daily schedule is structured around one principle: young children learn best when their day has rhythm, variety, and just the right amount of challenge.
Cognitive skills, early literacy, mathematical thinking, and creative problem-solving through teacher-guided play aligned to curriculum themes.
Creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in a monthly-rotating, student-driven environment unlike anything else in the area.
A rotating schedule of Spanish, STEM, Art, Communication, and Music & Movement — one subject per day, every day.
Gross motor development, physical confidence, and unstructured social time.
Self-care routines, table manners, and the social art of sitting and talking together.
The Developmental Playroom — A Spark Exclusive
Every day, your child spends 30 minutes in a dedicated, separate environment unlike anything they'll find at another preschool in the area.
The Developmental Playroom changes completely every month, rotating with our nine curriculum themes throughout the year. One month it's set up for space exploration. The next, an ocean adventure. Each setup intentionally embeds pre-academic skills — but your child just thinks they're having an extraordinary time.
This is the one space at Spark where children are entirely in charge. Teachers support and encourage — but the children lead the play. It's where collaboration happens naturally, where problems get solved creatively, and where social-emotional skills develop through experience rather than instruction.
Enrichment — Five Subjects, Five Days a Week
Every child in the 3's program experiences a different enrichment subject every single day:
Most preschools in Central Illinois don't offer a second language. At Spark, Spanish is part of every Monday — not because we expect three-year-olds to become fluent, but because the research on language acquisition is clear: exposing children to a second language during the preschool years builds neural pathways that make learning any language easier for the rest of their lives.
See the classroom.
Ask your questions.
Everything on this page becomes real the moment you walk through our doors. Schedule a tour and see the classrooms, meet the teachers, and discover why families across Central Illinois trust Spark Academy with the most important years of their child's life. Or call us directly at 309-291-3292.
Looking for something smaller? Learn about Fresh 3's Fridays →