Thursday, October 1, 2026
After more than a decade in Hewlett, Our Kids Place has relocated to Valley Stream, bringing the family-owned early childhood education program closer to many of the students and families it already serves.
The preschool recently moved into its new home at Grace Methodist Church and will mark the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on Sept. 2, the first day of its fall school year. The event will welcome current and former families, staff members and community members as the preschool officially celebrates its arrival in Valley Stream.
“I think it’s a beautiful adjustment,” Lorraine McMillan, director of operations, said. “We’re learning the building, we’re learning the community, but Valley Stream has been warm and welcoming.”
The move follows 11 years at the Hewlett location, which opened in May 2015. According to McMillan, the preschool had already been looking for a Valley Stream location because of its universal prekindergarten contract with Valley Stream 24 School District. Relocating places the school within walking distance for many district families and has already generated increased interest, with the District 24 waitlist growing since the move.
Our Kids Place traces its roots to a Queens location that has operated since 1991. The preschool was purchased in 2006 by owner Merlyn Peters, who continues to lead the business. Today, the organization remains family-owned and operated. McMillan oversees daily operations at the Valley Stream location, while her sister, Leslie Peters, serves as educational director, managing curriculum for both campuses.
The preschool serves children from 18 months through prekindergarten and also offers an after-school program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Operating Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the school follows the school district calendar.
Rather than functioning solely as a daycare, Our Kids Place emphasizes a structured preschool curriculum. The program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, with classrooms built around scheduled learning activities, including circle time, centers, arts and crafts, music and movement, outdoor play and age-appropriate rest periods.
Last year, the preschool expanded its offerings to include an integrated special education program, allowing children receiving services such as speech and occupational therapy to learn alongside their peers in general education classrooms.
“Whether they’re here for extended hours or they’re here for the traditional school days, they’re always involved in doing something,” McMillan said. “Our goal is to meet the needs of every single child, meet them where they are. We try to give individualized attention.”
The transition to Valley Stream has been supported by returning staff and families, with most employees and students moving from the Hewlett location. The preschool has also attracted new families without additional marketing, as residents have recognized the name and stopped by after seeing signage at the new site.
Looking ahead, the preschool hopes to continue expanding its integrated special education program and grow its after-school enrollment while maintaining the level of individualized attention families have come to expect. The upcoming ribbon cutting represents not only the opening of a new location but also the beginning of a new chapter in the preschool’s long history of serving local families.
For more information, visit ourkidsplacecares.com.
