Child lab assistant Peiyu Liao joins the high school

With her calm personality and friendly attitude, Mrs. Peiyu Liao enjoys helping young children learn and grow at the high school’s Child Developmental Center, also known as Child Lab. 

Originally from China, Liao studied education and child development at Babson College before working at Child Lab. Liao was interested in the center because of its unique program, which gives high school students the chance to help young children while planning and creating their own activities.    

Liao had not attended high school in the United States or worked with high school students before working at ChildLab. 

Liao said, “I enjoy working with the students and seeing how they plan and implement their plan”.

Liao says that working with people of different ages is “a great” opportunity to learn alongside her colleagues.

During Liao's typical workday, from 10 AM  to 3:30 PM, she  observes the children and watches how they develop. Liao says: “I love seeing how quickly [the children] learn and improve their skills.”

One part of Liao's job that people might not expect is how much planning goes into teaching preschoolers. Liao enjoys creating schedules and activities that help children develop important skills.

 “We are not just babysitting or just playing with kids,” Liao said. “Everything is thoughtfully designed.” 

For Liao, every activity has a purpose, whether it is helping children recognize letters and numbers or improve their communication skills. 

Some of Liao's favorite moments, however, happen when children do something unexpected. Recently, a teacher asked a three-year-old girl, who was new to the daycare, “What's the magic word?” expecting Liao to say “please.” Instead, the girl answered, “Abracadabra.” Liao found the response funny and memorable, showing how working with young children can bring unexpected moments of joy.

Outside of work, Liao loves traveling with family. Liao recently visited Toronto during a long weekend, and Spain remains Liao’s favorite destination because of its history, culture, and weather. Liao especially enjoyed visiting Seville and seeing its historic buildings. Liao also enjoys watching television shows inLiao free time.

Her personal motto is “Live, laugh, love.” Liao believes people should enjoy life, try new experiences, and spend time with the people they care about. This positive outlook also connects to her work, where Liao enjoys both spending time with children and taking responsibility for planning their learning activities.

Looking ahead, Liao is excited to see how the children develop throughout the school year, especially since many are new to ChildLab. Liao also looks forward to working with the teachers and seeing how they grow together as a team.

Most importantly, Liao wants students to know that ChildLab welcomes everyone. Students who are curious about the program can visit to see what happens there and learn more about early childhood education.

For Liao, ChildLab is more than a place where children play. It is a place where careful planning, curiosity, and everyday discoveries help children grow. Whether Liao is designing activities or laughing at a child's unexpected answer, Liao finds joy in helping children learn something new every day.