Blog

I have had some interesting conversations with people over the last few months about licensed vs. unlicensed child care. I have worked in licensed child care programs my entire career which spans 25 years. I really want to share with you what being licensed truly means.

First of all let’s define what I am referring to when I say multi-age program. This is a program where all ages of kids are together for a good part of the day. We play together, sleep in the same areas together, eat together, and in general spend a lot of our time in the same space.

The kids love to do things for each other. They also love to do things for other people.  Each month we talk with the kids and come up with people in our community to do Random Acts of Kindness for. In the past we have chosen the Portage Fire Department, EMS (Paramedics), the folks at Kitson’s Esso, and the staff at Portage Alliance Church.

Playing outside is an important part of our program (although it is tough to do when we are stuck in the deep freeze of 40 below temperatures!)  If we want kids to learn to love nature and take care of it we need to get them out there and to be comfortable in it.

We have gone puzzle crazy around here! Before Christmas I bought several new 12 piece puzzles with pictures of heavy duty machines on them. They were a hit!! Several of our ambitious 2 year olds stepped up to the challenge and concurred them in no time. I loved to see how proud they were of themselves when they completed them. When we returned after the Christmas break they were back at them.

We have been open almost a year now and what a busy year it has been!! We have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful families and having the privilege of being able to care for so many great kids!