Our Story

Just Playing Child Care (JPCC) started as an impossible dream. In October 2014 in the living room of the mobile home Ms. Shasta was renting with one shelf and $100 in toys, to August 2016 moving to a mobile home with a dedicated play room, to May 2017 after a brief 3-and-a-half-month hiatus after the loss of her house and child care in the May 2017 Chetek tornado there has been significant changes. Determined to rebuild after the tornado, Ms. Shasta purchased the home and family child care location in August of 2017, and with the construction of an entire room, we had the space to be a licensed family child care. That brings us to Just Playing Child Care - Licensed Group Child Care! In Febuary of 2025 Ms. Shasta signed the lease for 19 W Bracklin and spent months upon months cleaning, repairing, painting, spending lots of of money, assembling furniture, unboxing so many things all to open the next chapter of this program.

Why are we "Just Playing"? 

Just Playing is a play on just Joshing you and is a nod to my brother, who is no longer with us, but it also perfectly describes what my program promotes. That is, play. In my years working with children, I have seen that they learn the best through play and hands-on activities. 

At JPCC when we look at a child, we see them as they are and focus on having the best day focused on their unique needs. We value building independence and persistence, focus on a child's need to do things their way, big emotions, messes, mistakes, and most of all, childhood. That is reflected in every toy, every activity, every meal, and every interaction that we have with the children.

Ms. Shasta created an environment that belongs to the children, where they can learn the skills they need, and set them on a path to success. In everything that we do with children, development is at the forefront. While putting education and experience to work, we will guide behavior, teach through children's play, and maintain classroom environments that are development-focused.

Teachers and support staff will act in ways that teach manners, social skills, acceptance, independence, and democratic life skills. Often I hear the phrase, "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit." In our interactions with children, that phrase does not exist because fair is not getting the same; it is getting what you need. We all have different needs.

Lastly, we believe and practice the idea that life is supposed to be FUN. We will play, we will get dirty, we will laugh, we will have fun, and we will learn. The basis of Just Playing Child Care is that children learn the best through play. While playing, the children will gain the skills and concepts they need to succeed. As Mr. Rodgers says, "Play is the work of childhood."

I was 17 when I realized I wanted to teach, that is also when I became an aunt! I got a little lost along the way to that calling, but when I became a mom, it was clearer than ever that I wanted to teach. I have now worked in child care for 10-plus years! I have worked with every age group, which means I have planned lessons, managed behaviors, and dealt with the everyday ins and outs of the daily life of every age group. Part of what makes me the teacher I am is that as a single mom, I obtained my Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education while working full-time as a lead 2-year-old teacher. After many sacrifices and pouring my heart into my education and my work, I knew that I wanted to build my child care where I could focus on what childhood is really about. My desire for a quality program led me to start JPCC. After I earned my Associate's Degree, I started JPCC.