Play is for everyone

It’s Thursday morning, and in the Hedgehog and Koala pre-K rooms, the children already know today is going to be special.

“When Unity House arrives, the hallways light up with joy,” said Sherri Koski, executive director of Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3).

For the past two years, participants from Unity House’s Ithaca Day Hab have partnered with IC3 to build meaningful connections between young children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

During a visit in January, six Day Hab participants joined with IC3’s pre-K students in painting, drawing and winter outdoor play.

“The heart of the experience is always connection — through art, play, reading, and shared time together,” Sherri said. “These interactions spark curiosity, joy, and important conversations about differences and acceptance.”

The collaboration supports learning and inclusion on both sides. Before visits began, teachers introduced dolls representing different abilities and started conversations to help children learn about physical and cognitive differences.

“I think it’s beneficial for individuals with developmental disabilities to interact with young children, and for children to have the experience of interacting with our folks,” said Ryan Wilcox, program manager at Ithaca Day Hab. “We started slow. We brought a small group over, and it went wonderfully. The kids were really engaged.”

Staff members at both organizations quickly recognized the value of the partnership.

“For us, being around young children often helps our people feel more at ease,” Ryan said. “Having shared activities creates a natural opportunity to engage in something fun for everyone.”

Sherri said the partnership reflects both organizations’ commitment to inclusion.

“We’re creating an environment where… we can have conversations to learn about one another rather than passing judgment,” Sherri said. “Understanding the person as a whole is important work.”