The sound of children laughing in the Athari’s back yard is a common one in their La Mesa neighborhood. Sometimes as many as 15 toddlers and pre-schoolers will play in their family room or in the back yard. The laughter and songs of children are the sweet sounds of success of BunnyBears, a preschool that Egle Athari opened four years ago.
The sound of children laughing in the Athari’s back yard is a common one in their La Mesa neighborhood. Sometimes as many as 15 toddlers and pre-schoolers will play in their family room or in the back yard. The laughter and songs of children are the sweet sounds of success of BunnyBears, a preschool that Egle Athari opened four years ago.
Indeed, the success of BunnyBears has been phenomenal. BunnyBears opened as a small family childcare center four years ago. A long-haired beauty from Lithuania, Athari was impressed with the need of a quality childcare in the neighborhood. The very next year, she had already contracted her license for a large family childcare center.
Only 25 percent of childcare needs of families in California are met, according to Athari’s husband, Anise. “Particularly the need for high-quality child care,” he said.
BunnyBears has met that need and is now in the process of expanding, seeking support from the community for its conditional use permit application. The Atharis are planning to move BunnyBears into a bigger home, which they have already purchased, transforming it into a small childcare center. Neighbors can show their support by contacting the La Mesa city development and planning department.
“I could talk about BunnyBears for hours, since I truly love what I do,” said Athari, who said she has a bachelor’s degree in social work and an early childhood education certificate.
When Athari speaks with her lovely accent, the children listen intently. They crowd around her showing their artwork or treasures they found in the boxes and baskets of tiny toys and shiny trinkets she has placed around her home for them. The hodge-podge of small treasures helps stimulate the children’s creativity, one of BunnyBears’ main philosophies for childcare.
“There’s lots of creativity and love here. The kids are always doing interesting art projects with things like beads, stencils or dried flowers,” said Michelle Oliver, whose son graduated from BunnyBears last year.
“The children love Egle. She is like Mary Poppins,” Oliver said.
Margaret Mercer agreed. She had investigated six pre-schools before she finally found BunnyBears. “I knew this was the one as soon as I walked in the door. Egle is so gifted at what she does,” said Mercer, whose daughter Maddelyn has been at the preschool for three years.
Dawna Knotts, whose 5-year-old daughter had attended BunnyBears for the last two years, said that her daughter has learned social skills ranging from the ability to wait, sharing toys and getting prepared for school. “Egle is like the Pied Piper with the children. They want to please her,” Knotts said.
On August 17, the Atharis invited the children and parents of the 2011-2012 class to the second annual graduation party in their back yard. As Egle called out each of their names, the little ones smiled big, wearing their graduation caps. They hugged their classmates one by one, and then climbed the steps to the ladder. At the top of the ladder, each graduate waved at family and friends before sliding down the ladder. They received their graduation certificates, yearly art books and albums filled with photos that the Atharis had taken of the children throughout the year.
During the year, the children had enjoyed many other family-type gatherings, including a holiday celebration in the winter and a spring picnic.
“There’s no pressure on the children, only excitement and good energy,” Athari said. “I truly believe that we’ve created BunnyBears community where…. our children….. [will] be a part of ‘the village’ …..to help children grow and succeed in their future learning adventures.”
