Hundred Acre Play Care

Hundred Acre Play Care We are a licensed and accredited family (in home) child care program located in Windsor, Wi- just outside of Madison.

Children here are welcomed to be themselves as they explore the world around them and embrace the joys of childhood in a quality program

The very first graduates of HAPC will be walking out the door today. My friends have been with me since they were 2 and ...
06/10/2026

The very first graduates of HAPC will be walking out the door today. My friends have been with me since they were 2 and now they are "grown" kids off to new and exciting adventures in kindergarten.

It's a happy moment, but a sad one too. When little ones spend their earliest years with you, they are so young that their memory doesn't always hold onto all the hugs, love, and giggles from the days in their first school. I hope that all the things we have done together over the years give them a strong foundation for learning and life- even if they don't remember them.

Luckily, *I* will always remember all of the special things about them and the time we spent together. AND we get one more summer of fun with each other before we have to say a goodbye that's a little harder. 💕

Eight little sun hats, carefully hung up at the end of the day and waiting for next week's adventures to begin. ❤
06/05/2026

Eight little sun hats, carefully hung up at the end of the day and waiting for next week's adventures to begin. ❤

Sunshine, sprinklers, and stories for beautiful summer days.We do it all because childhood only happens once.
06/04/2026

Sunshine, sprinklers, and stories for beautiful summer days.

We do it all because childhood only happens once.

Is there anything more 'childhood' than playing outside in a warm rain??We actually do play outside every single day and...
06/01/2026

Is there anything more 'childhood' than playing outside in a warm rain??

We actually do play outside every single day and in all (safe) types of weather. We spend so much time in our backyard that each child knows it deeply and can notice the changes that the weather and seasons bring. The new bird songs and tiny flowers growing in spring, the way the sprinkler and sand feel in summer, the crunch of the leaves we rake in fall, and the cold, wet snow in winter. Nature is it's own hands-on sensory experience and we are here for ALL of it!

An invitation to play- so simple, but so loved. Just some contact paper and whatever 'nature' they could collect from th...
05/30/2026

An invitation to play- so simple, but so loved. Just some contact paper and whatever 'nature' they could collect from the backyard. 🌷🪻🌿

How do you make children clean up when playtime is done? Short answer? I don't.Cleaning up a space is a huge process for...
05/28/2026

How do you make children clean up when playtime is done?
Short answer? I don't.

Cleaning up a space is a huge process for a little person. It is NOT as simple as- put it away. They have to locate something that is out of place. Then recognize the object and determine it's "home" within the space. AND THEN return it to that "home" without losing their focus. If there are a large number of objects the process of visually sorting through alone can give children enough difficulty that they shut down or 'can't do it'.

So what do we do when materials need to be put away? I just start working on it. We sing a song about it. Children choose to join me when they see me take on a task- they WANT to help. I invite children to help me by pointing out a specific object and asking if they know where it goes or pointing to the location it needs to go to. I choose to do the most complex sorting jobs (like the different shaped blocks or gathering bits and bits of play dough and accessories) to give children the opportunity to feel successful finding tasks they CAN do. And to be real- when everyone in our group is very young or new, I do almost all of the clean up alone (and that's ok!).

Play is how we learn at HAPC and we can all just go ahead and expect it to be 'messy'. Cleaning up is just part of the process.

In the middle of a typical morning- everyone engaged in their chosen activities- I heard a child say "what's happening?"...
05/26/2026

In the middle of a typical morning- everyone engaged in their chosen activities- I heard a child say "what's happening?" to another child and I took a moment to pause.

"What's happening?" is the phrase I have carefully selected and used, for years, as a way to step inside a situation I was not previously involved in. This might be an augment, someone crying, or even those excited squeals coming from 8 children at the same time and you have no idea what any of them are actually saying .

"What's happening?" lets me step in calmly, without any judgement, and without adding my own adult connotation to the situation (have you ever watched a child fall, get back up, and then start crying when they notice their adult is worried??). It gives the child that is actually within the situation the power and autonomy to explain it to me- as an equal- and this builds feelings of trust and safety in our relationship.

Hearing the children know and understand that those words are powerful- powerful enough for THEM to CHOOSE to use them as well- and that they are capable and confident enough to step into a situation is exactly the type of skill I hope to teach.

The alphabet is important, numbers are important, but these skills that are nearly impossible to measure - recognizing, responding to, and helping a peer with a tough situation- are actually what I view to be essential.

I enjoy starting the day with this little trolley tonie on the tonie box. Listening to Mr. Rodgers, in the calm quiet, w...
05/21/2026

I enjoy starting the day with this little trolley tonie on the tonie box. Listening to Mr. Rodgers, in the calm quiet, while preparing the space for the children gives me time to pause and also prepare for what the children will need from me as we journey through the day together.

Every 2 years we go through the process to become re-accredited with our partner- Satellite Family Child Care System. Th...
05/21/2026

Every 2 years we go through the process to become re-accredited with our partner- Satellite Family Child Care System.

This renewal allows time to ensure that our program remains aligned with the standards of accreditation that ensure high quality care for children and time to reflect on our changes and growth.

At the end of the process, our specialist spent 6 hours in our program, observing nearly a full day of care, to attest that the standards are being lived in what we do here.

The process is now complete, the new certificate is hanging on the wall, and our days carry on with providing the best to all of the children in care ❤

If you would like to see the standards, please visit the Satellite page and look for them in the right hand column. https://www.reachdane.org/programs/satellite.cfm

05/08/2026

Guess what?! We get to make a brand new friend next year!

Now enrolling for limited, part time spaces in our 2026-2027 school year program.

Get in touch if you're looking for high quality care, a small group of friends, joyful days, and lots of love and learning for your little one: www.hundredacreplaycare.com

Address

De Forest, WI

Opening Hours

Monday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Thursday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Friday 7:45am - 4:30pm

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