New day care centre offers fun and learning daily

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Licensed day care services in Rainy River has been a dream for the community for some time now.
Recently the Learn, Laugh and Play Children’s Centre opened in the community, temporarily operating out of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Eventually they hope to move into Riverview Elementary School but not until extensive renovations are completed there.
With spaces for 16 full time preschoolers (ages 2.5 to 5) and 10 toddlers, there is still room for local and area kids to attend. Centre Supervisor Kathryn Unger said that they are quite busy and have about 10-15 children utilizing the centre each week; some full time and some on a part time basis.
The day at the centre begins fairly early with some kids arriving at 7 a.m.
Once there they are allowed to have free play, having fun in the water play table, and areas like the housekeeping are where dramatic role playing fun is had.
A healthy snack is served at 8:30 a.m. based on the Canada Food Guide.
On some days the older kids may come to the day care centre before school and then are off to classes at 8:30.
The rest of the kids will then be divided into two groups (sometimes just one group, depending on attendance for the day). One group will go outside (weather permitting) to play while the other group will remain in doors for activities that involve learning via themes. “This week is colours and Valentines is coming up soon,” said Unger.
The group playing will stay outside for an hour and then they will switch off with the younger group going out and the older ones coming in to have circle time and learn.
Unger noted that the teachers also keep an eye out for any learning problems a child may have, such as speech or visual. “They then come to me, we speak to the parents and get the kids connected with resources to help them,” said Unger.
Learning activities can include things like creative art. “Last week the kids finger painted rainbows.” said Unger.
After the morning activities they can have a hot and healthy lunch at the centre and then it is nap time for about two hours.
Unger noted that the LLP Centre falls under the Rainy River Play School Inc.’s umbrella. That umbrella covers many groups including the Early Years Centre run by Gabe Langlais. “We try to take full advantage of all the resources available to us,” explained Unger.
With that in mind, every Wednesday morning the kids from LLP are taken over to the Rainy River Community Centre where Langlais runs a music program that is open to all babies and kids to age 5. They start with free play and then they have a music program. “It involves developing their gross motor skills through play and musical activities,” said Langlais.
After nap time each afternoon, the kids can go outside and play again until it is time to go home.
Unger said word is spreading about the really positive environment the kids have at LLP and for those who are not sure about what to expect she says, “We have an open door policy. Come in and check us out.”
They operate Mon. to Fri. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.