PRESCHOOL

ABOUT US

OUR HISTORY

Peoples Church Preschool was established in 1951, as a part-time care center for children, Peoples Church Preschool has been a cornerstone in the Lansing community ever since. Our Preschool has been recognized by the East Lansing Community through the following awards:

  • From 1998 to 2023, we were formally known as a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited program.

  • In 2023, we were given the East Lansing’s Best of the Best Preschool Award.

  • In 2025, we were the finalist in the Lansing Choice Awards for the Best Learning Center.

Our NAEYC accredited program lapsed in 2023 for the first time since 1998, but we are working towards achieving this status again. We still believe in NAEYC’s standards of care, we just need time to rebuild our program with new leadership, and to complete the forms to become recertified.

OUR PURPOSE AND MISSION

Peoples Church Preschool is a Preschool that shares a facility with the Peoples Church of East Lansing, Michigan. Though we share the same building, we are not a religious institution and do not require our families to be aligned with any specific religion. Our purpose is to provide children with a quality preschool experience by providing individualized care to each child; bolstering their understanding of the natural world, emotions, and socialization. Through hands-on learning, guided play, off campus hikes, and thoughtful staff, we are able to prepare children for kindergarten and the world of learning that comes after. 

OUR PHILOSOPHY

RELATIONSHIP * RESPONSIVENESS * RESPECT

Our philosophy of teaching focuses on the whole child.

In keeping with this philosophy, Peoples Church Preschool provides a program that helps children develop a love of learning, self-regulation, and the ability to interact positively with others.We believe the early years of life build a framework for life-long learning.

  • We believe in the dignity and value of all children.

  • We believe that social and intellectual skills are best learned in an environment where self-esteem is nurtured and respect is absolute.

  • We believe children learn best through active exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving in a safe and stimulating environment.

ADDED BENEFITS

  • Electronic Daily Reports with photos (Tadpoles).

  • Bi-weekly Curriculum Highlights documenting the children's experiences and learning

  • Child assessments and family-teacher conferences twice per year

  • Individual child portfolios (both physical work samples and online portfolios, including photographs and anecdotes)

  • Opportunities for families to socialize and support one another through events.

  • A free week of care is awarded to families with children who are enrolled full-time (available after 3 months of enrollment).

  • Various extra-curricular program options are provided by local professional music and dance instructors.

EARTH FRIENDLY

Under new management, Peoples Church Preschool is currently reflecting on and evaluating its Earth Friendly and Nature Preschool philosophy.  We are working towards modernizing and improving our approaches to sustainability. We still work to thrift classroom materials and ask for material donations as often as possible. Classrooms are encouraged to request recycled materials from families and teach children how to upcycle materials that are no longer used for their original purpose. We often collect materials like plastic bags, cardboard boxes and toilet paper/paper towel rolls to reuse in new ways. Some classrooms also have their own compost system. We hope to expand these efforts to more classrooms in the future. 

Our preschool classrooms explore a variety of natural environments (locally and beyond) and celebrate nature-based holidays such as Earth Day, International Mud Day and International Stonework Play day. We are working on building new community partnerships that will help us make a positive impact on the environment and how our children and staff view our relationship with the natural world. We hope to instill a sense of responsibility to care for our world in children that they will carry with them throughout their lifetime.

FACULTY

Our Preschool is under new management, who are experienced and trained in Early Childhood Development. All of our full-time staff are encouraged to attend classes, workshops, and participate in professional development opportunities throughout the year. All full-time staff members are required to have a minimum of 16 hours of professional Early Childhood Development activity. Although we are no longer NAEYC certified, we still implement and believe in high standards of care. We plan to complete the recertification process within the next two years.

FACILITY

  • Spacious classrooms equipped with natural materials and sensory opportunities to encourage thoughtful play.

  • A fenced in Nature Explore Certified Outdoor Classroom within the urban setting of East Lansing.

  • In addition to our personal spaces for outdoor learning, we expand our outdoor exploration to local parks and hiking destinations.

  • Indoor gymnasium with equipment for developing large motor skills