Accent on learning
When it comes to a second language, it”™s never too early to start learning.
That”™s the thought behind the bilingual education offered at A Kid”™s World Preschool and Daycare, which opened in September in Mount Kisco.
Spanish is the primary language for which basics are taught, though when requested, the staff is also happy to integrate Italian.
Aleida Vitolo owns the preschool with her mother, Fidelina Orellana. The family business also includes Vitolo”™s sister-in-law, Danielle Orellana, who serves as its director.
All agree that the language skills taught at A Kid”™s World not only help the business stand out in a competitive field, but also offer something vital to children ages 8 and under.
“I think it”™s very important kids speak two languages,” said Vitolo, a native of Guatemala who has a degree in childhood development and more than a dozen years of day care experience. She operated a group family day care in a home setting nearby for a number of years, where Spanish and Italian were also integrated.
“We always attracted people because of that,” Vitolo said, adding the language choice isn”™t as important as the overall “feeding the brain.”
“They”™re sponges at these ages,” Vitolo said. “They soak everything up.”
While the staffers at A Kid”™s World are not expecting 6-year-olds to become fluent, they said what”™s learned in this informal atmosphere can set the stage for future study and advantages.
“In corporate America now, with offices that are overseas, in Puerto Rico or Latin America, you can communicate,” Danielle Orellana said. “You have an edge.”
Vitolo said knowing more than one language has never been more important. “We are in a country of many languages.”
At A Kid”™s World, the language instruction is presented in a low-key manner, whether in the sky-lit interior spaces or on the ample grounds featuring a large playground.
“It”™s circle time songs, flash cards, basic conversations,” Vitolo said. “They do this throughout the day. You teach it, and you also integrate it into their daily routine.”
The music teacher who visits weekly even gets into the act.
“She also includes other languages, mostly Spanish, but she teaches the kids to say ”˜hi”™ and ”˜bye”™ in other languages,” Vitolo said, adding students have picked up these words in more than seven languages.
Danielle Orellana, who has a master”™s degree in childhood education and a teaching background in science, said she was tickled when her 3-year-old daughter, part of the program, recently ”“ and excitedly ”“ shared the Spanish word for star, “estrella.”
Children, she added, don”™t feel self-conscious about pronunciation, for example, as older students might.
“They”™re not embarrassed. It doesn”™t matter how it sounds,” Orellana said. “I think it builds confidence in them, too.”
The language skills, she added, are just another facet of a thoughtful program that integrates art, nature, science and more.
“It”™s also important to have a well-rounded child. We also talk a lot about taking care of each other, being kind to each other.”
Vitolo said the focus now is on “trying to grow and develop the business,” which recently was approved to offer infant care so is accepting children from ages 3 months.
Camp programs are planned for the summer, with offerings ranging from arts and crafts to music to outdoor recreational activities.
A Kid”™s World Preschool and Daycare, at 236 S. Bedford Road in Mount Kisco, will hold an open house from 10 to 11 a.m. May 1. Those wishing to attend are asked to call (914) 244-8504 or email Danielle@akidsworldpreschool.com. For more, visit akidsworldpreschool.com.