The Summer Play program for pre-schoolers is seeing a record number of students and even more success, say officials with the United Way of West Georgia, which sponsors the program.

The United Way’s “Success by 6” program is the lead sponsor for Play, now in its fourth year. Forty children are enrolled this year: 20 at Maidee Smith Memorial Day Care Center and 20 more at LaGrange Child Development Center. Troup County schools and the Certified Literate Community Program also sponsor the annual summer effort to help prepare children for enrollment in school.

Two certified teachers from the school system are at each center to lead activities and one speech pathologist is shared between the centers, said Teresa Moore, Success by 6 coordinator.

“Each family participating is given an activity box filled with books, markers, scissors, paper, magnetic letters and other materials to use at home to promote school readiness,” she said. “We are so excited about the number of students participating in Summer Play.”

This year, the program has had extra help from Troup BELL: Parents as Teachers, in the promotion of Summer Play. Moore said Maxine Maddox, Maidee Smith’s director, is very pleased with the organized activities taking place at her center, especially the way the teachers ring a bell to get the students’ attention.

“She has already purchased bells for her staff,” Moore said.

Maddox said she has 20 years’ experience in child care and has been involved with the local Summer Play program since it began here.

“When I see something that’s working, I can appreciate it,” she said, noting that she’s seen a difference in the children who participate each year. “I always look forward to the (Summer Play) month for the students and staff and me too. It’s educational for all of us.”

Gwen Redwine, LaGrange Child Development Center director, also is pleased with the increase in enrollment and the efforts of the teachers to make learning fun.

“For some children who aren’t enrolled in day care, this gives them an idea of what it will be like when they go to school,” she said. “My teachers love it too. They take on to the new music and the things they’re not normally exposed to.”