The Hen’s Nest Family Childcare

The Hen’s Nest Family Childcare The Hen’s Nest Childcare is a licensed in home daycare serving ages 1-4 years in Ovid and Laingsburg

Happy (almost) 5th birthday Gideon! 🧁
01/21/2026

Happy (almost) 5th birthday Gideon! 🧁

You may have noticed that I don’t post as much as I used to, or that I don’t do as many activities or projects, and I wa...
01/20/2026

You may have noticed that I don’t post as much as I used to, or that I don’t do as many activities or projects, and I wanted to tell you why 🤔

I’ve been doing daycare for 12 years, and I have a degree in Early Childhood Education. I know the science and data behind developmental practices, and I also know the expectations that are heavily pushed by parents and by people who have never actually taken care of multiple children at once. And I’m here to say that I’ve decided to leave some of today’s childcare expectations behind.

Here’s why ➡️ At some point, parents started expecting childcare providers to teach their two-year-olds at an elementary school level, and in the process we started creating children who don’t know how to play alone, communicate with others, or even put on their shoes or pull down their own pants to use the bathroom.

I used to be someone who planned activities and lessons to cater to this type of expectation, and to be honest all it did was burn me out and make me a grumpy daycare provider 😮‍💨 I’ve slowly been transitioning to something new with the realization that planning every moment of our kids’ lives is quietly ruining them (and me).

I still read books, plan a few activities, and offer an open-ended art project now and then. But to be honest, for the most part my daycare kids have free rein over what they do with their day 🤯 And do you know what I’ve found? They create their own learning experiences. They naturally come together as a group to play. They’ve become more creative with how and what they build. They choose to look at books on their own. They’ve learned to put on their shoes and coats, fill their own cups, and take care of their dishes after lunch. I could go on, but I’ll say this: they don’t need us as much as we think they do 👀

This doesn’t mean I sit around and do nothing. I’m actually still quite busy—but in a way that feels more effective. What do they actually need from me? Someone who will listen to stories about what they did at home. Someone who will hug them when they fall off their bike or miss their mom. Someone who will hold them accountable when they hurt a friend or leave a mess on the floor. Someone to teach them the things we don’t seem to have time to teach anymore 🙌🏻

Our world hurries from one thing to the next, and I’ve realized something: this is the only time in their lives when they get to choose what they want to do and how long they do it. I’m not going to hold them back from that. So I’m subscribing to a new way of doing childcare. Maybe that means I don’t have parents lined up on a waitlist because I don’t teach toddlers how to read or do algebra—but I’m okay with that.

If you’ve read this far and you’re ready to slow down too, then this is the place for you and your family. I think you’ll find that your child will come away happier, more secure, and more independent on the other side of their time here 💛

-Haley from The Hens Nest 🫶🏻

The week before Christmas, now on to Christmas break 🎄 Merry Christmas to all!
12/24/2025

The week before Christmas, now on to Christmas break 🎄 Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas party day 🎄
12/16/2025

Christmas party day 🎄

Happy (almost) 3rd birthday Eden! 🎂
12/12/2025

Happy (almost) 3rd birthday Eden! 🎂

Happy 4th birthday Navy! 🎂
12/10/2025

Happy 4th birthday Navy! 🎂

All things Orange 🧡🎃🍁
10/30/2025

All things Orange 🧡🎃🍁

Little bits of fall everywhere 🎃
10/13/2025

Little bits of fall everywhere 🎃

Fall makes for the best play opportunities 🍁🌻
09/29/2025

Fall makes for the best play opportunities 🍁🌻

We are looking for a new friend to join the nest!In our home… -we learn about the world around us 🌎-we get dirty and hav...
09/26/2025

We are looking for a new friend to join the nest!

In our home…
-we learn about the world around us 🌎
-we get dirty and have fun 🌳
-we grow in confidence and independence 🌻
-we are all apart of the family 🏠

Now enrolling part time or full time
Monday-Thursday
7:00 am-5:00 pm
Ages 1-4

Liscensed In-home Childcare located in the Ovid/Laingsburg area.

Fall Picture Day 2025 🍁Eden 🎃
09/23/2025

Fall Picture Day 2025 🍁

Eden 🎃

Fall Picture Day 🍁Gideon 🎃
09/23/2025

Fall Picture Day 🍁

Gideon 🎃

Address

Bennington Road
Laingsburg, MI
48848

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 5pm
Tuesday 7am - 5pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

+19892516491

Website

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