It’s been said that play is a child’s work. Thanks to a Home Depot grant, United Way has divided $13,143 among eight child development centers to make their playgrounds safer and more useful. Playing outdoors helps youngsters experience the wider world, and activities such as riding tricycles develop strength, balance and perceptual skills.
 

Child development centers benefiting from the grants are part of a United Way effort to improve centers and help them prepare preschoolers to succeed when entering kindergarten. The centers are:

• ABC Daycare, Inc.

• Allstars Learning Center

• Carter Metropolitan Child Development Center

• Clayton Yes @ St. Matthews Greenbrier School

• Concord Christian Learning Center

• Lil Walkers Big Talkers

• Toddlers Den

• Zone for Kids

Four of the centers plan to construct tricycle paths. One plans to install a wooden fence to prevent children from sticking their fingers through the current chain-link fence that has a dog on the other side. The money also will be used to buy shady canopies, a sandbox, soft playground surfaces, tricycles and wagons.