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Love A Lot founder Olga Bosio playing with Christopher Guazzo
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Finding a day care center in the city can be tough. That's why Tanya Guazzo started her search for one when she was three months pregnant. At most of the centers she looked at, she was told one of two things: There wasn't any room, or that four months (the age she wanted to start baby) was too young. Then she found Love A Lot Preschool, which opened this year. The school was only a bus ride away from her Stuyvesant Town home and, most importantly, it would have room for her baby son.
"When you are visiting day care centers, you sometimes get the impression that the people who are there might not be as active as you would like," Guazzo says. "But [at Love A Lot] the people have a high level of energy. We also liked the space -- the building was new, very clean, and very bright."
The Lower East Side preschool's name really captures the feel of the place, Guazzo says. Under the guidance of a caring staff, there's a lot of love going on and room to grow with the anticipated arrival of more students.
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| The children and teachers enjoy arts and crafts time |
"I love the children, and I love teaching them," says founder Olga Bosio. And her love takes many forms--from the way that she carefully selects her teachers, the way she fills the bright, airy classrooms with colorful toys, good books, and cozy furniture, and the way she makes sure the children's needs are met throughout the day.
The school opened in February, and its inaugural group of ten children--ranging from three-months to two-years-old--seem especially happy with it. They spend their days playing with toys, doing arts and crafts, enjoying the private grassy area behind the school (which will be soon be equipped with a children-friendly playground set and sandbox), singing songs, and reading books. In addition, each child gets personalized attention, like one-on-one story time. And the activities change throughout the day, every day, to keep things fresh.
With each activity, Bosio and her staff incorporate educational lessons catered to the children's age. For example, playtime with the babies becomes practice grabbing objects and developing sensory skills. Older children learn language skills and how to share.
"I've already noticed that [my daughter's] verbal skills are much better," says Carla Young, whose daughter, Clara is almost two. "She has gained more confidence there."
As the school grows, Bosio says she will bring in additional staff to teach the children lessons in French, Spanish, sign language, and music. The four- and five-year-olds will also have computer lessons.
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| Clara Young expresses her creativity at Love A Lot |
A day care director for the past 20 years, Bosio has an innate understanding and appreciation for taking care of children. She still runs a school uptown, but decided it was time to spread the "love" downtown. "I think this neighborhood has gone through a lot of changes, and it is progressing rapidly," she says.
Since opening the new school, she says she has grown to love the area so much that she plans on moving to an apartment in the same Suffolk Street building. Construction of this predominately residential building was completed this year, so everything in the center is new and pristine, including the toys, books, and furniture. There are also air purifiers in each room. Bosio says that cleanliness is a top priority for parents looking to enroll their children in a day care center. Another is security. Love A Lot has security cameras throughout the facility and a full-time guard.
In this safe and fun environment, Bosio and her staff offer infant care and education to children ages two months to five years old in four aged-based classrooms. The school's admissions are currently on a rolling basis, since it opened mid school-year. Bosio anticipates the rooms to be filled up with 60 children by fall. Currently there are four teachers--all certified in early childhood education--but the staff will grow to 15 by the fall. Each class will have one teacher and two assistant teachers, with class sizes of 15 for toddlers, and 10 for infants.
Love A Lot, which is a private organization licensed by the NYC Department of Health, offers full or half-day, and after-school programs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and if needed, extended hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The school will also offer a summer program as well as some scholarships.
Love A Lot will be hosting its next open house on Saturday, May 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. The school is located at 99 Suffolk Street between Delancey and Rivington. For more information about the program click here, or to schedule a time to visit the space, call (212) 529-2650.
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