Children play with a parachute during Lakeland College's student-led play program.

Early learning and child care (ELCC) students took their studies beyond the classroom and straight into the jungle for their play program.

This student-led program is a critical component of the ELCC curriculum, offering students the opportunity to design, market and manage a free child care program for local children throughout November and December.

“The play program is going really well,” says Destiny Brophy, an ELCC student from Bruderheim, Alta.

“It's very important because you can just sit there and learn and take tests, but you're not actually getting to do the things. This gives us a chance to actually plan and implement a program. In our practicums, we do get hands-on experience, but we're at a daycare that's already set up and we're following their lead. Here, we get to be in the lead. The easiest way to show us how to do that is just letting us do it.”

A human services student and a child play pretend drinking tea during the student-led play program.

Students planned a jungle theme for the play program and 17 children have participated, ranging in age from infancy to five years old. This year, the experience has been an eye-opening one for both the ELCC students planning the program and the children attending.

“These kids haven't really socialized very much,” Brophy explains. “They've all grown up in lockdown and are finally getting to socialize. This gives them the chance to come and play with other kids and meet other kids for the first time. We've seen tremendous growth from these kids. They went from not wanting to be here to not wanting to leave.”

ELCC student Sierrah Logan, from Pierceland, Sask., agrees, saying, “This gets the kids socializing and experiencing, coming out of their bubble. We get to see their interest as the weeks go on and how they develop.”

A early learning child care student helps a child finish a puzzle during the student-led play program.The student-led experience is especially exciting for Logan, and part of the reason she was inspired to go into early learning and child care in the first place.

“I enjoy working with children because I like to think that it's shaping the future generation,” she explains. “It helps them lead and see what they can become in the future.”

For Shanita Pahtayken from Onion Lake, Sask., her experience at Lakeland has been just as transformative.

A group of children play with building blocks during the student-led play program.

“What we are learning here, we will take with us throughout our career,” she says. “We'll be able to teach these children how to learn and grow through play. When I came to Lakeland College, I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't know what I was going to learn. And now being here and doing all of the curriculum and activities and the practicum, it has been really amazing. I love every single experience. I love being in the classroom with the teachers, being around the other students and being with the children doing practicums. You really grow to love being here.”

Photos: 1. Children play with a parachute during Lakeland College's student-led play program. 2. A human services student and a child play pretend drinking tea during the student-led play program. 3. A early learning child care student helps a child finish a puzzle during the student-led play program. 4.

Photo Gallery: HS-2021-play-program will appear here on the public site.