Lakeland College's early learning and child care (ELCC) students took the lead in a new space that provided more opportunities for child interaction.

In 2018, the second-year ELCC students moved their free children's four-week play program into a larger space, which increased the play program's intake to 25 families including 41 children. 

“Working and interacting with this many children is a great opportunity, as well as gaining team-building skills with my peers. Daycare providers need to be a united front, which makes for a better atmosphere for the child. This play program is a close representation of a daycare setting and an experience that will help me in my future career,” says Kayla Stepanick, an ELCC student.From November to December 2018, second-year early learning and child care students managed their own play program. They developed their own activities and gained valuable career-related skills.

From Wednesday, Nov. 21 to Thursday, Dec. 13, the ELCC students were responsible for the care of the 27 preschoolers and 14 infants and toddlers, as well as the day-to-day operations of the program. They developed a theme for the program, which Shaenna Kidner, an ELCC student, says is beneficial for the children.

“This year's theme was jungle which you can do a lot with in terms of developing activities and visuals. Creating a theme really helps sets the atmosphere. Instead of the child arriving to see blank walls, having a theme sets the tone forthe room, and changing it every year gives variety for kids who might be in the program for more than one year.”

From November to December 2018, second-year early learning and child care students managed their own play program. They developed their own activities and gained valuable career-related skills.

Once their second-year studies began in September so did the play program planning process. They worked as a team to develop a theme, the marketing and budgeting plan, parent handbooks, decorations for the two activity rooms, and healthy snack menus. ELCC instructors support the students at a distance, truly allowing them to lead their education.

“We are all working to become a director of a daycare centre so to have this experience while in school is a greatopportunity. We get the experience of building a business from almost nothing, and get to work with children as young as four months old to five years old. It's hard to do that from a book,” says Kidner.

From November to December 2018, second-year early learning and child care students managed their own play program. They developed their own activities and gained valuable career-related skills.

For 34 consecutive years, ​Lakeland students have been planning and operating the play program. In 2017, the ELCC program received a 2017 Silver Award of Excellence in the Program Excellence category from Colleges and Institutes Canada​.

Photos: From November to December 2018, second-year early learning and child care students managed their own play program. They developed their own activities and gained valuable career-related skills.