About Us
Hi there, welcome to Creative Minds Daycare!
My name is Sarah, and I've run in-home childcare for 14 years, caring for children between 7 months and 8 years old. I strive to provide a reliable, loving, safe and fun environment for my daycare children and their families. Closure notices are given in advance, three times a year. Emergency/illness closures have been 8.5 days since I opened my first dayhome in 2010. However, I stress the importance of families having reliable backup care just in case.
I'm a mom to two fantastic boys, 21 and 13.
We are a pet-friendly home! Currently, we have a non-shedding Mini Aussiedoodle, who is 4 years old. She is friendly but after a freak accident she is a nervous girl. She does not have access to the daycare area during operating hours, because she is easily startled (hides when scared) and because both animals and children are unpredictable, she will be restricted to other areas of the home.
We also have plans to add some kittens or cats into the home in the future. All pets will be kept up to date with vaccinations and yearly wellness checks. The dog has a separate feeding, water and bathroom area, away from play spaces. When cats are added to the home their food, water and litter box will be in an inaccessible space, outside of the daycare area as well.
I am currently looking to add three children into the daycare. I have two spaces available for an infant to 23 month old child, and one space for a child 2 to 4 years of age.
Nap Room
The daycare is newly licensed as an ELCH daycare.
I plan to care for 3-5 children part time or full time.
I have a daily routine to give you an idea of our days. Children do well with a routine but our days will vary depending on the day, the weather and everyone's interests and moods.
Our days include outdoor time (weather permitting), story time, music time, free play, group activities, manipulatives, sensory play, messy play, loose parts play, dramatic play...
We spend our time in a safe, childproof play area on my main level. Our outdoor play area is a spacious fenced in area on our 16 acre property. We will also occasionally go on nature walks on the property, I have a double chariot, 2 wraps and an ergo carrier for non walkers.
**All outdoor time will remain on our property, I do not offer transport for outings.
Children nap in a separate dedicated nap room space.
The nap room has:
-1 crib (less than 10 years old, as per safe sleep requirements)
Crib will be replaced with one or two Dream on me Folding full sized cribs before summer of 2025, to ensure the rest area is more flexible and able to accommodate a range of ages and sleep arrangements.
-4 nap mats, all with attached pillows and fleece blankets. Used on top of individual foam padded mats.
-2 pea pod travel tents (newer models with attached mattresses to the bottom, not inside, as previous recalled models) for children that prefer a little structure and novelty, with the front flap open and facing the video baby monitor.
-Sound machine (when needed)
-Video monitor (used for all nap times)
We have daily quiet time for non napping children, roughly 60-90 minutes. Quiet time is in the playroom, with a quiet bin to start and then at the kids' table with the manipulatives shelves, if they wish once they're familiar with the routine. I have quiet bins (activities/toys that I rotate daily) and a variety of hands-on activities, manipulatives, games and toys for the kids to choose from.
I am not currently accepting school aged children, but if you wish to discuss your child staying in care for kindergarten, and can arrange for the bus to pick up/drop off here, I am open to that, if ratio allows.
*I am familiar with cloth diapering and will help all my families with toilet training when they are ready.
Reading Corners
