Stay N Play Child Care -Willmar MN

10/30/2024

07/24/2024

Join our team of Early Childhood Professionals! We are hiring for multiple shifts and classroom positions 😀
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05/13/2024

**A DAY WithOUT Child Care in MN **
Some Providers in MN closed today to push for changes at the Capitol.

While we did not close today, Please THINK about the Impact on your work/life balance if there were NO childcare professionals available. Changes that need to happen to stabilize the profession include the following as well as other changes:

-An equitable childcare system built on racial and gender justice
--Thriving wages for childcare providers
Affordable and accessible child care for all families.

Taken from Community Change actions page on todays event:
For generations, early childhood educators, parents, families, and caregivers have been fighting for equitable access to affordable child care, better pay, and working conditions for providers. So on May 13, we’re taking action: some childcare providers, with the support of the families they serve, are shutting their doors, some are calling out sick or closing down early, and all of us are standing in solidarity to draw attention to the national crisis that our childcare system is in.
On a “Day Without Child Care,” we pledge to spotlight the true cost of care and demand the funding we need for a 21st-century childcare system.

https://workdaymagazine.org/iron-range-daycare-worker-on-organizing-for-better-care-for-children/

https://earlylearningnation.com/2024/05/on-the-other-side-of-the-child-care-cliff-over-1000-providers-stage-one-day-strike-for-a-day-without-child-care/

Terri Simms has run her child care business, known as Playtime Nursery School, in Dayton, Ohio for over 27 years. She was forced to shut down for three

05/09/2024

High Quality, Accessible & Safe Early Childhood Experiences are SO IMPORTANT for a young child's Development.

Much of what children learn, they learn when they are very young.
The brain develops most rapidly before birth and during the first two years of life. Good health, good nutrition and nurturing are especially important during this time. Eighty per cent of human brain’s structure takes shape between the ages of 0-3 and the 90 percent of the human brain’s structure takes shape until the age of 5.

Early Childhood Professionals like our make a HUGE impact on setting your child up to succeed in school and beyond.

Desiree Becker is the director of Little Stangs Learning Center in Buffalo Lake. Ever since she was in high school and spent one of her free hours working in the library with kids, Desiree knew she wanted to work with them. It wasn't until college that she really narrowed down her passion for early childhood as it was eye opening to her how much kiddos learn in their first 5 years of life!

"I think the most meaningful thing people can do is just to acknowledge the work that early childhood providers do. It's not always butterflies and rainbows, but it makes a difference every day. I think acknowledging that difference that it makes goes a long way for those who are working in the field."

Remember: Tomorrow is ! Celebrate the day by trying one of the tips we shared to recognize a local child care provider you know, or come up with your own idea.

05/08/2024

Providers across the state are not often looked at as Professionals. Did you know that ALL of our staff have some sort of Early education Backgrounds AND yearly continuing Ed? Many of our teachers have Teaching Degrees, Bachelors in Education or Child Development Diplomas. We pride ourselves in making Early Education & best practices a priority for preparing the children in our care for entering school.
We are so PROUD of our Teaching staff here at Stay N Play! Thank you to all of our staff for their dedication and hard work :)

Nancy Stredde owns First Step Family Daycare in Willmar. She was drawn to child care because she enjoys working with children. Nancy's suggestion of a meaningful way to show appreciation for child care providers is to recognize the professionalism of this work, which plays a vital role in early childhood development.

"Treat us like a "real" business. Stop calling us babysitters."

03/15/2024

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Thank you All 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Today is National Preschool Teachers Appreciation Day highlighting the role early education teachers play in introducing our youngest learners to school. Thank you to all our Minnesota preschool teachers for your patience and energy in engaging our youngest learners.

01/18/2024

Help us get the word out. We will be serving meals on Saturday afternoons to those in need of a hot meal in a warm environment. In addition to a warm spot to stay for a bit, we will have some blankets/sleeping bags, hats, gloves and clothing to take with you. We are especially looking to help those with housing difficulties but NO ONE will be turned away.

01/18/2024

Shoutout to Miss Abby!

Thank you to Kennedy School for having CSO Abby read to some 2nd grade students today! Great job, Abby!

(The faces were blurred at staff request, but the kids definitely had big smiles with CSO Abby there!)