Tender Heart Childcare

10/08/2026

🚒🔥 BEST DAY EVER!!! 🔥🚒

Today was one of those days that reminds me just how much I LOVE what I do! ❤️

Our field trip to the fire station was absolutely INCREDIBLE! We are so fortunate that Fritz’s dad, Chad, opened up the station just for us! What an amazing experience for the kids, and what a perfect way to bring all our Fire Safety Week learning together! Truly a teacher’s dream come true! 🥰

Chad did such a fantastic job teaching the kids important fire safety lessons in a way they could understand. Here are a few of the big takeaways from today:

🚒 Close Before You Doze! Keep bedroom doors closed at night to help protect against smoke and fire.

🔥 If you open your bedroom door and see fire, close the door, stay in your room, and go to the window. Firefighters will check windows and can use ladders to help get you out.

🚒 Stay Low and Go! If you have a safe way out, crawl low beneath the smoke and get outside.

🔥 Make Some Noise! If firefighters are looking for you, yell so they can find you!

👨‍🚒 Don’t Be Afraid of Firefighters! They may look and sound different in all their protective gear, but they are there to HELP you!

One of my favorite parts was watching Chad put on ALL his firefighter gear right in front of the kids, including his oxygen tank and breathing equipment! The children got to see the transformation and hear what a firefighter sounds like while wearing all that equipment. Such an important experience to help take away some of the fear children might have during a real emergency.

As an early childhood educator, I can’t even begin to explain how valuable experiences like this are. We’ve spent the week reading books, having conversations, practicing fire safety, and exploring our fire station dramatic play center. Today, the kids got to see all that learning come to LIFE! ❤️

A HUGE thank you to Chad for taking the time to make this such a special experience for my little crew! I am beyond grateful for your kindness, patience, and willingness to share your knowledge with us.

These are the experiences that create lasting memories and meaningful learning. And I have a feeling the kids will be talking about this one for a LONG time!

🚒❤️ BEST. FIELD TRIP. EVER! ❤️🚒

10/06/2026

🚒🔥 It’s Fire Safety Week at Tender Heart! 🔥🚒

We are having SO much fun learning all about firefighters, fire safety and the important job our community helpers do!

Our learning centers are filled with fire safety activities covering math, literacy, fine motor skills, art and lots of hands-on learning. Our dramatic play area has been the BIGGEST hit—our beloved stand has been transformed into a fire truck complete with lights, switches, a CB radio, firefighter gear, caution tape, face shields, fire extinguishers, walkie-talkies, safety glasses, cones and flashlights! 🚒👩‍🚒

For art, we used only red, yellow and orange watercolors to create flames while experimenting with blending and color mixing. 🎨🔥 And, of course, our books and circle-time conversations are helping us learn what to do in an emergency and how firefighters help keep us safe.

So much learning happens when children can play, explore, create and pretend! ❤️

And the best part is still to come…our trip to the fire station this week! 🚒🔥

09/23/2026

❤️ Look what my husband made for me and the kids! ❤️

I had been looking at dramatic play stands to use with our preschool curriculum, but the one I loved was definitely not in my budget. So, of course, I asked Scott if he could make me one. 😬😂

His response: “I’m a carpenter, not a cabinet maker!” 😂 But because it was for the kids, he said yes—and it turned out PERFECT! ❤️

We put it to use right away with our Apple Orchard, and the kids absolutely LOVE it! 🍎🍏 I’m already dreaming up all the different ways we can transform it throughout the year.

Dramatic play may look like “just playing,” but there is so much learning happening—language and vocabulary, social-emotional skills, cooperation, problem-solving, early math and literacy, creativity, and imagination. The kids are learning how to communicate, take turns, make choices, and work together while having FUN.

One homemade stand…so many possibilities for learning! ❤️

Thank you, Scott, for helping me bring another one of my crazy preschool ideas to life! 😂❤️

09/14/2026

🎨 Today’s Art & Learning Highlight! 🎨

Today we explored self-expression through self-portrait art! The children used watercolors to create their own colorful backgrounds, and I added a black-and-white photo of each child to create a beautiful contrast between color and light/dark.

This was more than just an art project—it gave the children an opportunity to recognize and celebrate themselves and their individuality while making creative choices with color and design. We also talked about how everyone’s artwork can look different, and that’s what makes it special! ❤️

Learning highlights:
🎨 Creative expression & visual arts
🪞 Self-awareness & identity
🌈 Color recognition & exploration
⚫️⚪️ Contrast
✋ Fine-motor development
💭 Confidence & individuality

I absolutely love how these turned out! Each one is as unique and special as the little person who created it. 💕

09/08/2026

🎉 Our First Day of Preschool Was a SMASHING Success! 🎉

What a wonderful start to our new preschool year! Today was filled with happy faces, new friendships, curiosity, exploration, and so much learning through play. ❤️

The children jumped right into our classroom experiences and began building skills across all areas of development:

📚 Language & Literacy – conversations, storytelling, books, name recognition, and building vocabulary
🔢 Math & Cognitive Development – counting, sorting, patterns, problem-solving, and exploring numbers
🎨 Creative Arts – expressing ideas through art, music, movement, and creativity
🧩 Social-Emotional Development – making friends, identifying feelings, practicing cooperation, and building confidence
🌎 Science & Discovery – observing, questioning, experimenting, and making new discoveries
✋ Fine Motor Development – strengthening little hands through playdough, manipulatives, writing, and hands-on activities
🏃‍♀️ Physical Development – active outdoor play, movement, coordination, and developing gross-motor skills
🏠 Dramatic Play & Life Skills – imagination, communication, independence, and learning through real-life experiences

Most importantly, we spent the day connecting, learning our routines, building relationships, and creating a classroom community where every child feels welcomed and valued.

A fantastic first day—and the beginning of so many wonderful discoveries, friendships, and memories to come! 🌈🍎✨

09/06/2026

✨ Everything is ready for Tuesday! ✨

Tuesday marks the FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL YEAR 22 here at Tender Heart Childcare & Pre-K! 🥹❤️ And I may be just a little excited!

The classroom is ready, the learning centers are prepared, and every area has been thoughtfully planned with opportunities for my little learners to play, explore, create, problem-solve, and grow.

📚 Literacy & Language – opportunities to build vocabulary, recognize letters and sounds, develop communication skills, and fall in love with books and stories.

🔢 Math & Cognitive Development – hands-on activities that encourage counting, sorting, matching, patterns, number sense, and problem-solving.

🎨 Fine Motor & Creative Development – playdough, manipulatives, art experiences, and activities designed to strengthen those little hands and fingers while encouraging creativity.

🏠 Dramatic Play – a space for imagination, social-emotional development, communication, cooperation, and learning through pretend play.

💡 Light Table – exploring colors, shapes, patterns, transparency, visual discrimination, and open-ended discovery.

🖐️ Sensory Table – hands-on exploration that supports sensory development, language, fine motor skills, curiosity, and scientific thinking.

⭕ Circle Time – building classroom community while practicing listening, communication, songs, movement, stories, calendar concepts, and learning how to participate as a group.

And, of course, there will be LOTS of play, laughter, friendships, outdoor adventures, messy moments, discoveries, and learning disguised as fun! ❤️

After 22 years, I still get that little back-to-school excitement feeling when I look around a freshly prepared classroom. There is something so special about knowing that this space is about to be filled with little voices, busy hands, big imaginations, and countless learning moments.

Here we go… Preschool Year 22! 🎉📚✏️
I’m ready. The classroom is ready.
Let the learning and fun begin! ❤️

08/26/2026

Sometimes the little things make lunchtime extra special! ❤️🥪 I made ham sandwiches with heart-shaped cheese today because the kids love it… and because I love them! 🥰 It’s just a little extra touch to remind my sweet kiddos how special they are to me. ❤️

08/24/2026

08/20/2026

Cheeseburger pie = happy kids!
This a favorite meal, so I double the recipe. Yup! That is 2 pounds of ground beef in a 13x9 pan!! They devoured it 😂

08/17/2026

There’s something about getting ready for “back to school” that brings ALL the feelings. ❤️

I spent this weekend getting our classroom ready for a new school year—planning lessons, organizing, refreshing our space, and getting excited for all the learning and fun ahead.

But this year, there’s a little extra emotion mixed in. June and Savannah are still here with me, but their Kindergarten chapter is coming up at the end of the month. I’m trying to soak up these last few weeks with them because I know how much I’m going to miss having them here every day. 🥹❤️ Watching them grow, learn, become more independent, and get ready for that next big step has been such a special part of my job.

At the same time, I’m excited for what’s ahead! A fresh fall routine, new lesson plans, new adventures, and welcoming two new friends into our Tender Heart family. 🍎📚🍂

It’s a little bittersweet…saying goodbye to one chapter while getting ready to open another. That’s the beautiful thing about this job—my heart gets to grow a little bigger with every child who comes through my door.

For now, I’m going to enjoy these last few weeks with my Kinders while getting ready for all the wonderful things this new school year will bring. ❤️

Here’s to new beginnings, new friendships, lots of learning, and another year of memories at Tender Heart! 🍂🧡