A day of intergenerational fun

By Ettie Zaklos, Preschool of the Arts Founder & Director

Here at Preschool of the Arts, we are a family. We share common goals and aspirations for our children and know the value in investing and fostering relationships that last a lifetime. That is why every year we host one of our most popular events — Grandparents Day! Unfortunately, last year’s event was canceled due to the onset of the pandemic. But this year, with 12 months of experience in adjusting and redesigning plans, we were determined to do whatever it takes to safely host this special event for our community.

One of the many heartrending outcomes of the pandemic has been the forced distance between family members, especially grandparents, many of whom fall into a higher risk category, with their precious grandchildren. We cannot imagine the loss of missing out on a grandchild’s milestone, and we knew that we wanted to do our part to facilitate a safe environment for our families to connect.

Purim fun at Preschool of the Arts included festive costumes, Mishloach Manot, Hamantaschen baking and a grand masquerade!

As always, safety was first. We planned an outdoor, socially distanced event that welcomed one class at time to limit exposure. Our guests and students did an outstanding job adhering to all the health protocols and our event went off without a hitch!

Our theme for Grandparents Day this year was “All Aboard the POTA Express.” Using the metaphor of a train (a muchbeloved preschool obsession for many of our students), we likened grandparents as the “conductors” of their family’s train, connecting each generation to the one before. It is our grandparents who keep us chugging along, so we invited these special conductors to spend time with their favorite little “caboose” (grandchild!) for a day of intergenerational fun.

A parking lot on our campus was transformed into a full-blown train station — train tracks, engineer’s workshop, gift junction, fueling station and all! A real mini train gave grandparents and grandchildren fun rides around the lot and a popular “Smile Train” photo booth captured one-of-a-kind memories. From activities to treats, every aspect of the program highlighted joy, family and connection. And even the colorful masks could not hide the glowing smiles!

At POTA, we know that being a grandparent is one of the greatest gifts in life and we were honored to recognize the special role they play in their grandchildren’s lives. Throughout the day, we were inspired to witness the Nachat — overwhelming pride and joy — on all our grandparents’ faces, beaming as the children demonstrated their tremendous accomplishments and growth.

Most wonderful of all, was the way the children burst with pride, as each one felt like a million dollars — special and loved by their beloved grandparents. Truly, only grandparents can bring so much joy!

The theme of the day was making memories for a lifetime, and it is indeed these simple, but joy-filled, interactions that solidify the grandchild-grandparent bond for years to come. Thank you to all the grandparents, and friends who acted as grandparents for the day, who joined us for a special day of connection. I would also like to express a big thank you to our devoted teachers and staff for all their hard work in pulling off such an incredible Grandparents Day!

Want to bring a smile to your child’s face?

Sign him or her up for Summer of the Arts! Our summer experience is like dozens of specialty camps rolled into one. Families can sign up for all six weeks or either of our two three-week sessions, which run from June 7 to July 16.

Enrollment is almost full, with very limited availability in certain classes. Due to high demand, we encourage prospective families to enroll today. Please visit our website at NaplesPreschooloftheArts. com or call us at 239-263-2620.