Brandon Twp.- Pajamas and penguins.
Those were the themes on a recent Wednesday morning at Nature Kids Preschool, where children ages 3-5 play, learn, and build self-confidence in a center-based program.
‘Our job is to prepare children for Kindergarten,? says Cindy Purkey, a certified teacher and owner of Nature Kids Preschool. ‘One of our goals is to make each child feel special and develop their self-esteem. It’s hard to learn things when you don’t feel good about yourself.?
Purkey has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and has taken additional classes in early childhood development. She owned Purkey’s Preschool in Lake Orion for several years and opened Nature Kids Preschool two years ago with business partner Bindy Nantais, who is also a certified teacher. The preschool accepts new students throughout the year and the population of students has increased from five children last year to 20 this year.
The state-licensed preschool is located in Lake Louise Church of the Nazarene, 2300 Ortonville Road, but is not religiously-affiliated.
Centers are scattered about the bright, expansive room, including art, science, block center, and dramatic play.
Mayli Hurin, 4, says her favorite is the kitchen corner and the block center. When Grace Montreuil, 5, is asked what she likes about preschool, she responds, ‘I like going outside and learning.?
Purkey has a different theme every week for the children. This week is penguins and they are reading about penguins, and doing penguin art, too. Next week will be polar bears.
Purkey and Shirley Graves, a teacher assistant, work with the children on small motor skills, patterns, classifying, graphing and more. Every Monday, there is a letter of the week. A typical day at the preschool involves play time for 10 minutes, followed by carpet time with calendar, weather, a song, and discussion of the theme; moving from center to center for about an hour, a story and snack, and time outside on play structures and more, weather permitting.
‘This has always been a dream,? said Purkey of her work as a preschool teacher. ‘I like never knowing what children are going to do or say.?