Learn, Love, Grow

By Ruth Melville

On May 5, Kailyn Nadeau and Paige Corey celebrated their fifth year as directors of the Norfolk Early Education Center (NELC), their state-licensed child-care facility for children from as young as six weeks up to 12 years old.

For over 10 years, Nadeau and Corey had worked at a day-care center in Winsted. They liked working there—both had attended the Winsted center when they were young—but they were in administrative positions and were longing to get back to spending more time with the children.

When they heard that a space had become available in Norfolk—the former Norfolk Child Care Center on Laurel Way—they took a bold leap of faith and leased the property. They scoured Craigslist and Freecycle for used kids’ furniture and called on friends and family for help with painting and remodeling. Within five months, they were ready to open their doors to children.

In the five years since, NELC, like the children in its care, has thrived. There are now 40 children enrolled, and the center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. At first, Nadeau and Corey did all the child care themselves—which made for a very long day—but they now employ two full-time and three part-time staff members. “It’s busy from the time we open to when we close,” they say.

The building has three main rooms—two bright and colorful classrooms and a large gym—and can accommodate varying types of activity for different ages during the course of the day. Nadeau is in charge of the infants’ and toddlers’ room, and Corey of the preschoolers’, who start at age three. NELC also offers a morning nursery school for three- and four-year-olds, three days a week, and a before- and after-school program for school-age children that takes place in the gym, which provides lots of space for the younger kids to play in cold weather.

They also run an additional program called the Norfolk Navigators Day Camp, a full-time summer program for children who have completed kindergarten through age 12. Activities include field trips, swimming in Tobey Pond and, this year, a theme week called Survivor during which children and staff will spend a day in the woods building a shelter.

The preschool curriculum at NELC is all based on learning through play. Each week has a different theme that is geared to the season, such as trees for Arbor Day or gardening for early spring. Last year the children grew green beans and strawberries, but unfortunately a rabbit ate all the pumpkin plants.

Nadeau and Corey try to get the kids outside as much as possible. They find their location on Laurel Way to be ideal because it’s a great spot for going on a walk or exploring the town. They take the children out looking for squirrels, birds, flags, stop signs, whatever catches their eyes. The kids gather up materials to bring back to the center. Both classrooms have sensory tables where the children can touch and play with natural objects like pine cones, twigs and seeds.

The teachers also read books with the kids, teach them early literacy and math skills and healthy habits, engage them in science activities and do arts and crafts every day. The children bring a packed lunch to the center, and all eat together. After nap time, there are more planned activities.

Courtney Maum’s daughter, Gabriela, has been going to NELC since she was two months old. Maum says, “I cannot say enough good about the NELC team. Everyone that has ever been employed there has cared for her like family. There’s a big emphasis on the creative arts and reading, which is huge for me.”

Thinking back over the last five years, Nadeau says that “the transition from administration to the classroom was a challenge at first, but it was also the most rewarding part. We’re at a point now where we’re settled in our routine.” To celebrate their anniversary, she says, “we kept it low key. Paige and I looked at old pictures from when we first renovated and from our first few years in business. Brought back some good memories and gave us quite a few laughs as we looked back on our journey!”

Nadeau and Corey are particularly pleased that NELC has become part of the community. Both of them have chosen to live within walking distance of the center, and most of the kids come from Norfolk, Colebrook and Canaan. Some families have been with them for all five years. Eliza Little, whose daughter, Charlotte, has been attending NELC for a little over three years, calls it “a cradle of the community: a place where all the new little Norfolkians spend time and forge early friendships that will last a lifetime.”

“We’re really luck to be here,” Nadeau says. “It’s really worked, and it’s something we love. Norfolk is home to both of us.”

Photo by Bruce Frisch: Paige Corey looks on as children play at a sensory table in the preschool room, with water and cups and funnels.