NATCHITOCHES – Forty-one preschoolers from Northwestern State University’s Child Development Center visited Prather Coliseum on Oct. 21 to learn about basketball and sports from members of the NSU men’s basketball team.
The group included 19 children from the Pre-K 3 class and 22 from the Pre-K 4 class. During the visit, the children participated in age-appropriate games and practiced dribbling, passing and shooting with NSU players and coaches.
Faith Birdwell, director of the Child Development Center and a Pre-K 4 teacher, said the center regularly seeks opportunities to connect its students with university programs, including athletics, kinesiology and early childhood education.
Birdwell said these experiences allow college students to interact with young children while introducing preschoolers to campus life and university traditions.
“We’re trying to instill a love for our Demons,” Birdwell said. “Coming to days like this can help them learn about Northwestern and have a love for sports and get a little exercise.”
Birdwell said she also hopes the interactions leave a lasting impression on both the preschoolers and student-athletes.
“Maybe one of the players made an impact on them and maybe the children can impact them too,” Birdwell said.