My name is Amanda and I opened The Little Pinwheels daycare and preschool in the Fall of 2007. I take great pride in making sure that all children have a safe, comfortable, learning environment. We have over 800 sq. ft. dedicated 100% to the child care. This is not a typical home daycare, we aren't playing in the living room or taking naps in spare bedrooms. It is center-like, but very homey. The 'classroom' is filled with all sorts of learning enhancing games, toys, and activities- for ages six weeks, to six years. In May of 2010, I completed my Qualistar rating. There are currently only four home providers in Longmont, with this rating. Basically I had six months to prepare, and then a Early Environment rater came in to evaluate my program, my toys, my communication with parents, etc. It was extremely hard and stressful, but all worth it in the end. I learned so much and when I was all done, I received a grant to make my program even better! So... we added MORE space. The Qualistar rating makes sure that programs are effectively using learning materials, making sure there are enough learning materials and toys for the number of kids in care, and making sure that the parents know what is going on. We have a monthly newsletter that goes out, a facebook page, as well as a webcam that is on all day. Parents are definitely in the "know" here. :) We also have a take home library and Friday folders that go home with our school work packed inside. We have been trying out different preschool curriculum lately, and honestly, I don't think one single one is that great. So, what we have been doing is taking the Mother Goose curriculum and enhancing it. We practice more handwriting, do more math games, more experiments, etc. The kids LOVE preschool time and look forward to it each day. The webcam has been huge hit. Parents love being able to check on their little ones while they are at work. The camera can move, so we focus it on the different activities that we are doing. At lunch time, I aim the camera right at the table, so parents can see what and how much their kids are eating. Plus, they get to see how silly they all act :) All in all, I put everything in to my daycare, to make sure that these kids are excellent Kindergartners! I honestly LOVE what I do, and couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life. ~Amanda |