Parents of preschool-age youngsters will have another education option this fall with the Little Friends Christian Preschool and Childcare. The daycare has been operating for a year and is now fully accredited as a preschool, as well.

A community-wide open house has been set for Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. for families to explore the facility and take a look at the program.

Little Friends is at 2702 Adams Ave., on Hwy. 30 in the red school building across the little bridge from the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“Where the Living Nativity took place,” said Marketing Coordinator Dana Moody.

When asked why the daycare had decided to expand to add a preschool, Moody said it was a natural fit for their program and the Seventh-day Adventist school which offers a program for kindergarten through eighth grade.

“There is a huge niche in our community for Christian (education) alternatives,” Moody said, adding the new preschool will offer children a “safe, clean, structured and cheerful learning environment with an emphasis on Christ-centered values.”

The addition of a preschool to the daycare program, said school Administrator Barb Beckner, was a fairly easy process.

“I was surprised. It was much more difficult to meet state requirements for the daycare than the preschool,” she said. “So we’ve jumped through all the hoops the state requires of us.”

Beckner is still putting together the new curriculum and will have it finalized by the open house. The preschool program is currently accepting applications for the fall 2008 enrollment.

Wednesday’s open house will also include an opportunity to tour the school rooms and program for the Seventh-day Adventist school. All faiths are welcome to attend the open house and enroll in all programs.

For more information, call 963-6390.