Italian Preschool Program Thrives on Long Island
Life is sweet for the little ones involved in Long Island’s only Italian-language preschool. At this unique program, toddlers are joyfully trading pizza dough for Play-Doh, with the bilingual activities being a hit both for kids and their parents.
“Families have traveled from places like Queens, Rego Park, Howard Beach, and even as far as Cutchogue,” shared Katrina Percontino, a mother and former teacher, at the Per Tutti Language and Cultural Center in St. James.
Percontino, who aims for her children to speak Italian for at least 90% of the day, has an impressive background in teaching Romance languages and Spanish.
This popular center, which opened in the fall of 2023, welcomes kids from different backgrounds to learn not just the language but also Italian culture. They’re even nurturing a vegetable garden filled with zucchini and basil.
The children have access to a play area that resembles a pizzeria and gelateria, alongside a bocce court in the backyard where they play and, as Percontino described, “They love bocce now. It’s like bowling to them.” She also mentioned a special dough mixture for indoor kneading activities.
Recently, the kids danced to songs about La Befana—a kind-hearted witch who visits well-behaved children in early January. They’ve been getting ready for Festa del Tricolore, Italy’s Flag Day, with a mix of excitement and education. Some kids are so enthusiastic they count down to the swings in Italian, even introducing the language to their parents.
Percontino sends out a newsletter for adults and noted that even the quiet ones can’t resist speaking up around family. “Now, with my kids helping me, I’ve got some support in learning at home,” she said.
Parents are also joining in on the fun during “Mom and Me” classes, all while enjoying Percontino’s vibrant children’s program. “Honestly, adults might have just as much, if not more, fun than the kids,” she remarked.
Per Tutti offers workshops on making fresh pasta and even had a session for creating tiramisu. At 38, Percontino was surprised by the scarcity of Italian language programs and decided to leave her teaching job to establish Per Tutti.
While searching for the right field trip destination in Italy for her students, she had to venture all the way to Westchester. This experience made her think about what kind of space her children—and others—needed for cultural enrichment.
Her youngest, Alessandro and Elena, are currently enrolled, while her eldest, Michael, continues to learn Italian at home. The program started in her backyard during summer 2023 and has since expanded due to word of mouth and community interest.
Some parents decided to sign up after noticing Percontino having fun with their kids at the library while chatting in Italian. Now, Per Tutti boasts a strong following on Instagram, with about 8,000 supporters.
Percontino acknowledged, “This is definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But, you know, it’s also incredibly rewarding.” Even on challenging days, she feels the community’s support, affirming that they won’t let her give up.
With plans for the future already in mind, Percontino feels optimistic about what lies ahead for Per Tutti.
