Welcome! I am Keri Tate, teacher/owner of Wee Play Preschool. I have worked with children for all of my adult life..that's a long time. I have been married to my best friend Larry for 41 years. We met in sixth grade. :) Larry is an administrator at Springfield Clinic. We have two grown children - Britt and Ryne. They are married and Britt has three children with her husband Tim. Ryne and his wife
Kim have a little boy who lives right behind us. I love my 4 Grandsweets! Larry and I are both lifelong residents of Springfield, IL. We moved into our current home seven years ago, after living in our former home for 33 years. I received my bachelor's degree from University of IL Springfield in 1992. I majored in child and family counseling, minored in women's studies, and completed the requirements for teacher certification. I have volunteered, taught in, and administered children's programs for nearly 40 years. From elementary classroom to childcare centers to after school programs, I'm sure I've learned as much from my students as they have learned from me.
17 years ago, I opened Wee Play Preschool. My vision was to serve children and families by giving them the very best in early childhood learning worlds - a loving home environment along with a fully-developed play-based curriculum. Covid threw me a bit of a curve ball and Wee Play was closed for over a year and a half. I'm excited to re-open to preschoolers in January 2022. At Wee Play Preschool, our wee ones are provided with learning opportunities through a play based curriculum. We serve children ages 2.5-6. Our classroom is a bright, fun place full of books and appropriate materials. We value families and work in partnership to provide a well rounded preschool experience, through daily communication, monthly events, and quarterly conferences. What are the advantages of Wee Play Preschool? Small class size - only 3-4 Wee Ones will be here at any time. Most preschool classes have around 20 students. Our facility - Wee Play Preschool is located within our Victorian home near Washington Park. Its central location, proximity to the park, and quiet neighborhood are all convenient. The double driveway makes pick up and drop off easier for you. Our yard is large, allowing for lots of outdoor play space. The unique layout of our home provides a classroom space with three entrances/exits located near a bathroom, and adjacent to a screened in reading porch, which we use throughout most of the year. There is plenty of space, and we use it all! Play based curriculum - Wee Play Preschool is a place where Wee Ones learn by doing things. Instead of filling out a worksheet about matching objects, we use real objects to match. Instead of looking at a worksheet about how plants grow or butterflies go through metamorphosis, we actually grow plants and care for caterpillars as they change into butterflies. Wee Ones learn best when concepts are concrete, real, and relevant. Wee Ones are assessed each quarter, and I meet with parents regularly to discuss their child's portfolio. Me! - I am a former elementary school teacher. I've been a daycare center director, after school program director and early childhood education trainer. I have 40 years of experience - yes, I started my career when I was 10. Throughout my adult life, I have prioritized children and made them the focus of my life. I respect children as people, admire their drive to learn and explore, and love interacting with them. If you're looking for a creative, high quality early childhood learning experience for your child, please call and let's see if Wee Play Preschool is the best choice for you and your family. Personal and professional references available upon request.
