At preschool, 'school is play'

As principal of Findlay City Schools Preschool, Jackie Nelson sees children make great strides and learn so many skills. For the children themselves, however, "school is play," she said. Children may not even realize they are, for example, receiving speech therapy, because it's designed to feel fun for them. "They don't realize how hard they're working," Nelson said. She said that the first day back from spring break, as soon as the children got off the bus, "They're yelling, 'I'm BACK!'" In the 2026-2027 school year, four of the 14 classrooms will offer full-day preschool, a decision the school board voted on in February. Nelson said Findlay City Schools previously experimented with full-day preschool, but this year, all classes are half-day. Research has shown that between birth and age five, children's brains are developing rapidly, Nelson said. "This age range – they are learning and growing so quickly," she said. "It's amazing." Access to early childhood education helps with that growth. Nelson said children's behavior tends to improve as they strengthen their language and communication skills, "because they can communicate their wants and needs." The preschool has even had students who started out nonverbal and later were speaking. "Every win is exciting," Nelson said. She said having children in preschool all day gives teachers more time to help them build these skills. In full-day preschool, "they do have to take a nap," Nelson said. It's built into the rules and structure. She said teachers talk about the importance of time away from screens and teach children, "here's how we rest," along with waking up and starting their routine again. Students practice learning specific skills, like how to ask to join a game, or solve a problem by breaking it into steps. An instructional poster on "Relaxing" advises children to start by thinking about how they feel, then take three deep breaths. Children also practice how to find their cubbies and get their coats. Nelson said she has seen children gain confidence through the school year, particularly those in full-day kindergarten. Sometimes staff get to interact with preschool alumni who are now in elementary school and come back with their families to show their younger siblings around during open house. "School is play" is woven into the facility itself. On the walls are colorful interactive puzzles. In each are a variety of smaller puzzles and spinners to help children with motor skills, placed at a height designed to support their core and shoulder stability. Bright colors can be found throughout the building, including art by children. This includes some painted rocks, each adorned with googly eyes with eyelashes, alongside the book "Scribble Stones". One wall, as a visitor enters the school, is covered with tiles created by an earlier class. Visual cues are also widely used as part of the learning process. A speech therapist researched how to create a communication board, so children can point to pictures to indicate "slide" on the playground, or "all done". A sensory room offers a climbing wall, along with a tunnel with streamers designed so children in wheelchairs or gait trainers can pass through. State law requires preschool services be available for children who need IEPs as they exit early intervention. They transition to preschool at age 3. The preschool is open to all children, however. Nelson noted the district's commitment to "believe in early childhood education". Families of children in general education pay tuition for their child to attend, while the state pays for children with IEPs to attend. Nelson said the district has been "aggressive in pursuing" a grant that supports children whose income allows them to qualify for free preschool. The preschool moved to what used to be Jacobs Primary School about five years ago. Nelson said the preschool always starts the school year with about 250 to 270 students. As more children transition out of early intervention, they join midyear and enrollment by the end of the school year is around 320 to 350. Along with teachers, the preschool employs physical, occupational and speech therapists, along with a school psychologist and behavioral analyst. Nelson said the field is facing workforce issues nationwide. She has encountered less turnover, but sometimes struggles to find substitute teachers for this age group. The preschool receives more applications than they have slots. There is a shortage of child care and early childhood education throughout the community, Nelson said, and many organizations do have to decline many applications. "Everybody's just trying their best," she said. Because there are limited spots in full-day preschool this fall, only children who will be entering kindergarten in fall 2027 will be eligible.