About Laura

I am a mother of 4 grown children and two grandchildren. I studied childhood education at Calvin University and homeschooled my own children from k-12. I organized and taught bible club for elementary-aged children at Kettle Lake school for multiple years. I've volunteered in church nurseries for infants and preschool-aged children for many years. I organized and led a vacation bible school with 10+ kids, and have been a youth mentor. Growing up, I babysat for many different families and I've always had a passion for children and childhood education. I believe play is important for healthy brain development and nurtures relationships with one's self and others. According to the 6 Stages of Play theory, I feel I excel in the stages of parallel, associated, and cooperative play (which generally applies to children 2+ years). Those are optimal times to teach about sharing, winning, and losing. I have a genuine love for children. I love reading, planning outings, and imaginative play.