Since its inception, the Kiskadee Kids Playgroup uses various avenues to develop children’s ability to be imaginative; preparing them to be academic achievers throughout their lives.
One such project is its annual hat show, which was started in 2010.
The playgroup, under the tutelage of founder Desiree Albert, has seen much success in developing the children’s creative abilities. Through various projects like the hat show, they encourage children to explore and build their artistic skills.
“The parents and their children come up with their designs and showcase them at our small hat show event held at the school. It encourages the parents and children to work together and bond. Parents are usually amazed at how creative they can be. It also encourages the children to be inventive and explore how creative they can be. We invite local designers such as Sonia Noel and Carol Fraser to help with the coordination of the event, because the children and parents would get the chance to display their hats on the walkway in the school. We have scheduled the hat show for April 4.” Albert told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.
Albert recalled that the playgroup was opened in 2008 with only two children, but in later months grew to about 15 children with two teachers. Now there are 10 teachers with approximately 112 children, including babies. The playgroup accepts babies from three months old and nurtures them until 3 years 9 months.
The planned programme Albert uses, prepares the children for nursery school level. Language development, storytelling and reading are areas the programme targets. The children are shown a picture from a story book and remarkably, at such a tender age, elaborately narrate a story relating to the picture.
Albert, who served for 35 years in child care service, pointed out that one must love such a job because it requires a lot of patience and determination. “You must have love for this type of job in order for you to endure. Dealing with children is no easy task. I have so many years in this area that it has become second nature. I love children, and this makes it easy for me to work with them. Some children would push you. A child recently did this to me: He came in front of me while I was having lunch and blew his nose onto the floor,” she recalled.
