Posted at: 07/09/2009 10:33 PM
Updated at: 07/10/2009 7:30 AM
By: Jeff Maher, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

Preschoolers wander from daycare

A sign warns to keep the gate at the Lowell Elementary Child Development Center closed.

Parents say two preschoolers wandered away from a daycare in Albuquerque for nearly an hour on Wednesday to look for horses.

The daycare called parents on Thursday to show them how they�re making sure it won�t happen again.

Daycare officials say the incident happened during recess at the Lowell Elementary Child Development Center near Gibson and University in southeast Albuquerque.

The two kids were able to open a gate and wander off through the neighborhood on their own adventure.

The sign on the gate at Lowell Elementary Child Development Center says to keep the gate closed for the safety of children.

That didn�t stop a three- and four-year-old from opening the gate to leave the campus in the middle of the day to look for Mr. Ed.

Jorja Armijo-Brasher, who helps run the center, says the preschoolers wandered off for about 45 minutes. Police found them about three blocks away.

"We�re doing the investigation of what can be done in order to make this place more secure," Armijo-Brasher said on Thursday.

Officials say the kids were found safe and unharmed.

Daycare workers wanted to be up front and honest with parents about what happened�so they held a meeting at the school.

Parents said they were a bit startled after hearing the news, but say they�re confident teachers won�t let it happen again.

"I was a little worried about it, a little worried about it, not upset because it's just an accident I guess," parent Ivan Hernandez said.

Parent Priscilla Jaramillo agreed: "I think that could have happened anywhere. I think the main thing is teaching your kids that they can't leave and do things like that."

Daycare officials say they�re working to find a solution�to make sure any future attempts by children to leave the property won�t be successful.

"It's important because there's nothing more important than our children, and we need to make sure they are safe and secure," Armijo-Brasher said.

The daycare is not affiliated with Albuquerque Public Schools�it�s funded by the city.

Workers are thinking of making the gates higher, adding safety locks, and making sure that teachers stand near gates when kids are outside.