Kiyomi Kikuchi
Laughing and giggling voices echo from the Child Development Center and through the north portion of the Pierce College campus.
It is a great place to have a fun time learning – not only for children, but also Pierce students who need special skills for child care.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for students to become a teacher in the field,” said Gina Witherspoon, an assistant teacher and child development major.
Three types of students: student workers, volunteer workers and work-study students, train at the center for a certain amount of time each week.
First, they help experienced teachers. Afterwards, they watch and help the children inside and outside, including setting up the toys, lunches and clean-up time.They also work with other assistants.
“Children are learning from playing,” said experienced teacher Lori Bolin. Students working in the center are able to observe and assist the children’s learning process.
Not all assistant workers are child development students.
Nursing student Marine Efoyen works at the center one day a week. She is learning how to play with children to aid her in clinical pediatric nursing.
“It is a very good experience,” Efoyen said, adding that her interaction with children is otherwise rare because there aren’t many children in her family.
“Children give you a warm (feeling). They love you and trust you,” said Brittany Romero, a volunteer worker.
Most students will transfer to a university and get a job related to children after graduating from Pierce.
They love children and enjoy watching them develop at the center; eventually, they learn the skills and achieve their goal.
Learning while Playing ()
Learning while Playing ()
