Jeya Carmichael spent 22 years in the teaching profession, much of that time in Adrian as part of the Adrian Middle School 5/6 faculty, before she decided it was time to retire. But in due course, “I wanted to get back into something, and teaching is what I do,” she said.
And so, she decided to open JC’s Li’l Tykes, a preschool and day care operating out of her home at 4123 W. Beecher St., Adrian. The facility opened last month.
JC’s Li’l Tykes, which is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, is a licensed facility geared toward 3- to 5-year-olds to help them be ready for kindergarten. That age group “really needs to be exposed to enrichment activities,” Carmichael said, adding that as a teacher she has seen first-hand that children who have attended preschool can do better once they get to school.
Children attending the preschool can come for either a morning or an afternoon session, each lasting about three hours. They will take part in a wide range of age-appropriate works including learning the alphabet and numbers, reading and being read to, art activities including drawing and painting, playing simple games, and play time.
Additionally, they get a nutritious home-prepared breakfast or lunch plus a snack. There is also an outdoor play area.
Carmichael also offers day care throughout the day, and will accept children older than 3-5 if, for example, a child in the preschool has an older sibling who needs day care. But her primary focus is on preschoolers.
She uses a curriculum she developed herself called “The Exploration and Discovery Program,” which she said is age-appropriate, stimulating and engaging.
“You can’t keep (preschoolers) on one task too long,” she said, so the curriculum is designed to provide a multitude of short learning experiences.
The goal is to give youngsters the opportunity to develop the skills they will need once they get to kindergarten, including not only the necessary academic skills but also the ability to share, to work with others, to develop their motor skills, and to grow as individuals. Parents will receive regular assessments of how their children are doing.
A native of Malaysia, Carmichael earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern New Mexico University and her master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.
In addition to her teaching work, she has been involved in a number of school-related activities including fundraising, afterschool programs and tutoring.
As the number of children at JC’s Li’l Tykes expands, Carmichael will have the services of an assistant teacher: Tammy Bennett, a mother of three who studied child development training at Jackson Community College and is working on an associate’s degree. She plans to study early childhood education at Siena Heights University.
Between the two women, “kids will get a lot of one-on-one time” with the adults, Carmichael said, ensuring plenty of interaction and quality time with the teachers.
More information about JC’s Li’l Tykes, its price structure, the curriculum, and details for parents who qualify for state child care assistance is available at www.myjcsliltykespreschool.com. Carmichael’s phone number is 260-0164.
This article was written based on information provided by the business.
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