ROSINTON, Ala. — It does not look like a lot right now. There’s a playhouse, a sidewalk, a low zigzagging balance beam, a place to climb and some stepping stones.

But to the 18 youngsters at Rosinton Elementary’s “Pre-K” program, the still under construction play yard represents a chance to stretch their legs, and to do some outdoor learning.

”We have the tricycle tracks, the butterfly village and the turtle pond,” said Wendy Rolin the school’s Pre-K teacher.

Eighteen youngsters will be in her class when school begins next month. That play house is key. The youngsters even have the uniforms and playthings to convert that playhouse to a fire station, post office, a grocery store or a store, Rollin says.

While fencing is coming, and there’s a swing set on the way, the big obstacle to using the playground is mulch. A load to make the play area safer and useful is on the way just before school starts. That will enable the pre-K students to make use of their playground.

“Right now, we’re using the playground the other kids use,” explained Rolin.

That has worked for now, but the Pre-K students are on the playground longer than older students, and Rolin and the classroom aide, Kristin Bentley often plan lessons for outside.

“We are working with a grant,” said Rolin.

While the grant calls for the Pre-K students to have a separate play yard, the grant has been flexible. The grant, Rolin says,. comes from the Office of School Readiness.

The Alabama OSR was founded in 2000, and according to their Web site, “ It was created to establish collaborations at the state and local levels that will provide Alabama's four-year-old children with effective early childhood experiences and prepare them for school. The goal of the office is to achieve universal pre-kindergarten in Alabama by enhancing existing and establishing new pre-kindergarten programs.”

“They really help you get to where you want to be,” said Rolin.

Plus, big sixth-grade students and tiny Pre-K students on the same equipment at the same time can lead to inadvertent trouble. That's why it’s important the Pre-K students have their own play space.

“We come in when the big kids come out,” said Rolin. “Sometimes, they get mad because the Pre-K student s are out there (on the playground) longer.”

The new playground will offer the Pre-K program some practical advantages.

“We will be close to the building and close to the restroom,” Rolin said. “We will be separated from the bigger kids, and it will help with scheduling.”

The new playground will also allow the young students to pedal trikes around on the walkways and Rolin hopes that eventually directional signs will be put up so the children will know if they are traveling North, South, East or West. The school now has four trikes.

The Pre-K students, selected via a lottery, will attend school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and after school care is also available.

Rolin is grateful to all the parents and school administrators who have helped to make the pre-K program a reality.

“Messers. Kirk Thomas, Brent Etheridge, John Robinson and Heath Clemmons have really helped us out with this project,” said Rolin.