Kid Kountry Child Development Center

10/12/2026

If children made the rules, what would the perfect day look like?

Imagine letting your preschooler plan the entire day. Breakfast, activities, lunch, nap time. Everything is their decision.

We have a feeling breakfast might involve pancakes, chocolate, and absolutely no negotiations about eating something healthy.

Activities? Probably playing the same game 47 times, with a very important snack break in between.

Lunch might be the one food they asked for yesterday but suddenly refuse to eat today.

And nap time? Well, good luck convincing them that was part of the plan.

But honestly, kids can come up with some pretty creative ideas when you ask them what their perfect day would look like.

If your child were in charge for a day, what would make it onto their schedule? We especially want to hear the funny answers!

10/10/2026

Do you know an expecting mother or someone with young children? The Community Baby Shower is a FREE event providing resources, raffle prizes, snacks, and more -- plus connecting people to support that can help their family build a bright future.

Join us Oct. 24 between 1:30 and 4:30 pm in the Billings Public Library Community Room.

Thank you to the Family Tree Nurturing Center, Billings Urban Indian Health and Wellness Center, and RiverStone Health for making this a great event!

10/04/2026

What a great day in Great Falls! ❤️

I had the pleasure of taking part of our Kid Kountry team to see Mr. Ty, the Childcare Whisperer, and what an amazing experience it was!

Of course, Mr. Ty was incredible, but one of my favorite parts of the trip was simply getting to spend time with these ladies outside of our everyday routine. I loved hearing their thoughts, sharing laughs, learning together, and seeing the genuine passion they have for working with children.

Seeing our team excited to learn, grow, and bring new ideas back to the children we serve makes me incredibly proud.

Thank you, ladies, for spending the day with me and for the heart you bring to Kid Kountry every single day. ❤️ For those who couldn’t make it next time for sure.

And Mr. Ty, you were, of course, AMAZING! You reminded us why we do what we do and left us inspired, energized, and ready to bring that excitement back to our classrooms.

Such a great day with some pretty great people! ❤️

09/28/2026

❤️ WEAR RED FOR CHASE ON MONDAY ❤️

Our hearts at Kid Kountry are with Chase Lantz and his entire family.

Chase attended Kid Kountry when he was younger, which makes this heartbreaking situation especially close to our hearts. Tomorrow, Monday, our Kid Kountry staff and children are encouraged to join our community in wearing RED in honor of Chase.

We are also looking through our old Kid Kountry photos for pictures of Chase. If any former Kid Kountry families or staff members have pictures of Chase from his time with us, we would be so grateful if you would send them our way. We would love to gather these special memories and get them to his mother and family.

Please continue to surround Chase’s parents, siblings, family, and everyone who loves him with prayers, strength, and love. 🙏❤️

Tomorrow, we wear RED for Chase. ❤️

09/25/2026

Things teachers notice that parents might not always see.

Sometimes the biggest moments in a child’s day are the ones that seem really small.
We notice the child who usually hangs back quietly finally joining a group.
The child who notices a friend needs help and steps in without being asked.
The child who gets something wrong, gets frustrated, and then decides to try again.
The child who used to whisper when answering a question and is now starting to speak up.
We notice when a child starts making friends more easily, becomes comfortable asking for help, or begins doing something independently that they needed help with a few weeks ago.

These changes might not always be obvious from one day to the next. But when teachers spend so much time with children, we get to see those little steps add up.

And that's one of the really special parts of working with young children. Progress isn't always a big milestone or something you can check off a list.

Sometimes it's simply “I noticed they did that today.”

Those little moments matter, and we want parents to know that we're noticing them too.

09/22/2026

“Should I help, or should I let them figure it out?”

As parents and caregivers, our first instinct is often to help when we see a child getting frustrated.

They’re struggling with a puzzle. They can’t get the container open. Their shoe won’t go on. Their tower keeps falling down.

It can be tempting to just step in and do it for them.

But sometimes, giving children a little time to struggle is actually part of helping them learn.

When a child tries to solve a problem on their own, they are practicing how to think through challenges, try different approaches, and keep going when something doesn’t work the first time. They also get the chance to experience that really important feeling of "I did it myself".

That doesn’t mean we should leave them frustrated or refuse to help. The goal is to support without immediately taking over.

You might ask, “What could you try next?” or “Do you want a little help?” Sometimes they just need a small hint to keep going.

And if they’re truly stuck, stepping in is completely okay. The point isn’t to make things harder for children. It’s to give them the opportunity to discover that they can handle a challenge before we solve it for them.

A little frustration, a little patience, and a little encouragement can go a long way in building problem solving and persistence.

09/18/2026

Why did you ask me that 17 times?

If you have a young child, you’ve probably asked yourself this at least once. The same question, the same story, the same song, or the same request over and over again.

But repetition is actually an important part of how children learn.

When children repeat a question, they are giving themselves another chance to understand and process the information. Repeating words and phrases also gives them practice with language and helps them feel more confident about what they know.

The same goes for stories and songs. A child may want to hear the same book every night or sing the same song all day because it feels familiar. They know what comes next, and that predictability helps them learn and remember.

And then there are the repeated requests.

“Can I have a snack?”

“Can we go outside?”

“Will you play with me?”

Sometimes they ask again because they forgot. Sometimes they are hoping the answer will change. And sometimes they just want reassurance or your attention.

It can definitely test your patience, especially when you’ve already answered the same question five times. But repetition is a normal part of childhood learning and development.

So the next time you hear the same question, story, song, or request again, remember that your child may be practicing, processing, remembering, or simply looking for a little connection.

09/15/2026

The little things we don't realize we'll miss one day!

The constant questions.
The funny words they invent.
The need to show you every single drawing they make.
The tiny hand reaching for yours.
The "look at me!" every 30 seconds.
The stories that somehow take 10 minutes to tell.
The way they want you to watch the same thing they've already done five times.

Some of these moments can feel a little exhausting when you're in the middle of them. But they're also such a big part of childhood, and one day they'll be gone.

So, just for today, maybe we can slow down and enjoy them a little more.
What's one thing your child does all the time that you think you'll miss someday?

09/09/2026

Children model adult behavior more than they follow instructions.
They learn by watching how adults speak, react, listen, and solve problems.
When children see kindness, patience, and respect in everyday moments, they begin to mirror those behaviors. The same is true for how we handle stress, frustration, and mistakes.

This is why everyday actions matter so much. A calm response, a gentle tone, or taking responsibility shows children how to navigate the world.

Being a role model does not mean being perfect. It means being aware that children are always learning from what they see.

09/09/2026

Parents by sharing experiences in this brief, confidential survey, families can help ensure local, state, and federal policy-makers understand the experiences of Montana families. Data will be used to help communicate a collective voice of families across the state, and help uplift policy solutions ahead of the 2027 legislative session. There are no right or wrong answers, we simply want to hear what life is like for families with young children.

Zero to Five Parent Survey.