By SHARON MOORE

Staff Writer

Ask a 4-year-old what a president is. The answer may be surprising.

They may say a president is a leader who travels around and talks to people. He stands behind a podium and gives speeches. He tells people what to do.

"They think he's the same thing as a preacher," Laura Chestnut, an instructor of family and child studies and the director of the Early Childhood Education Center, said.

The Early Childhood Education Center, located on Homer Street, is a preschool for 3 and 4-year-olds and has been for 48 years. It is one of three such establishments in north Louisiana accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Chestnut said it is very hard to be accredited by the NAEYC.

"They come in and watch everything, how you greet parents, how you talk to the children, your method of teaching -- everything," Chestnut said.

During Feb. 9 through 12 the children at the center learned about presidents.

Marissa McShane is four years old and knows about presidents.

"I have a picture of all the dead ones at home," she said to Chestnut.

The children began the week learning what a president is, then covered George W. Bush, George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt.

"We didn't go over Abraham Lincoln," Chestnut said. "Even though it was his birthday, we decided instead to learn about Teddy Roosevelt because of teddy bears."

Thursday the children brought their teddy bears for Show-and-Tell as they learned about Teddy Roosevelt.

"All concepts are taught through play and games," Chestnut said. "There is not pencil and paper work."

Chestnut said games are used to learn counting and to spell simple words, and art projects are open-ended and creative.

Jessica Foreman, a senior family and child studies major, observes the interaction of parents and teachers at the center for one of her classes, FCS 221, Parent and Community Involvement.

Foreman said the lessons at the center are all interactive to enhance the children's large and fine motor skills.

"The kids feel like they're playing all day," Foreman said. "But they're learning."

FCS students like Foreman can observe the center by means of a mirrored booth. The students can see and hear what happens on the floor, but the children cannot see or hear those who are watching them.

The children know it is there but often forget, Chestnut said.

"Sometimes they asked me where I'm going, and I tell them I'm going into the booth," she said. "Then they come and talk to me and give me little messages through the slatted vent on the front."