For 35 years, Lakeland's play program has been putting students in the lead.

The program is a chance for second-year early learning and child care diploma students to put everything they've learned in class into practice. 

With the support of their instructors, students spent the semester learning, planning and preparing to welcome children into their care. Now, as the first session of the program wraps up, they have a chance to reflect on the challenges and successes of the program, as well as the lessons they learned along the way.

“I love children and I've always wanted to work with them and make a difference in their lives,” says Jennifer Yurko, one of the students involved in the program. “It was really nice getting to connect with all of the children. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from the children as well.”

Twenty-three second year ELCC students were divided into two groups to run the free play program, the first offering the program in December. The second group will run a similar program in April.

The thematic decorations are made by hand, toys are carefully inspected to ensure they are safe and appropriate for the age groups who will be playing with them, and everything is put into place to welcome the forty-four children whose parents sign up to participate in the program. Creating a theme, decorating classrooms, organizing nutritious snack menus, implementing important safety and cleanliness protocols and ensuring the program will meet the children's emotional, physical and social needs is a lot of work and the students work together to create everything they need.

“Teamwork makes a very big difference,” Yurko explains. “It does get stressful, but if we all work together, we can get it done.”

Karamjeet Kaur, another student who participated in the program, agreed, saying, “Everyone's doing their best and learning to appreciate teamwork. It was harder at first, following the schedule, but we've gotten better at scheduling, so it's easier for us now.”

For their fellow student Mandeep Kaur, the entire experience working in a daycare setting was a new one.

“I'm from India,” Mandeep says. “I didn't go to daycare there. My practicums in this program were my first experiences with daycare and I'm so glad I'm part of this program. Now I know how to run registration, what information we need to give to parents and how to care for the children that come to us. I've gotten really good knowledge from Lakeland that will help when I open my own daycare.”

The most important lessons that the students learned, however, came from the children themselves.

“The children are such mighty learners,” says student Shyanne Blomquist. “We watch them and take their lead throughout the program. They plan our whole day. You never know how strong the children are in learning until you're here. It's really eye-opening.”

The next session of the play program runs in April and registration is free.

Photos: (Top) A student in the infant room with one of the children. (Top middle) Jennifer Yurko with children in the preschool room. (Top bottom) Karamjeet Kaur plays with cars with a child in the preschool room. (Bottom) A child in the preschool room poses with a student.