KAPA‘A — Phyllis Kunimura, director of K.I.D.S. preschool in Kapa‘a, was busy last week when members of the state Legislature visited. Sen. Jill Tokuda, Education Committee chair, Senate President Shan Tsutsui, Sen. Ron Kouchi and Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-14th District, with
KAPA‘A — Phyllis Kunimura, director of K.I.D.S. preschool in Kapa‘a, was busy last week when members of the state Legislature visited.
Sen. Jill Tokuda, Education Committee chair, Senate President Shan Tsutsui, Sen. Ron Kouchi and Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-14th District, with Harrison Kawate, Cara Chow and Erin Connor plus Nancy Budd, a Board of Education member, visited the preschool on Thursday.
They learned about Kunimura’s innovative curriculum and saw a presentation about the importance of brain development at a young age. According to Kunimura, 90 percent of a child’s brain development takes place from birth up to five years.
They also learned about the importance of early child development, preschool and were treated to a tour of her Cognitive Module — The Learning Center, where children can move through their learning games, individually at their own pace while seeing, saying, hearing and doing each game with an adult.
More learning takes place for child if he can see it, say it, hear it and do it, according to Kunimura.
Each legislator was given a copy of her book, “Beyond the Sandbox, Preschool Matters — Closing the Gap Between Research and Practice.” They were also given current information regarding an anti-bullying, empathy-building process that is built into K.I.D.S. program. Kunimura is sharing the program with principals, counselors and teachers at five elementary schools on Kaua‘i.
