Inspirational and Empowering Child Care Business Owners To Build Successful Child Care Businesses

Archive for the ‘Featured Child Care Business’ Category

This week’s Featured Child Care Business Owner: Cheryl Mendiola Owner of Tuggy’s Tots Pre-K Adventure

 

Being a successful child care business can take years to happen. 

 Being patient and being YOU is what is the key.

Standing out in a crowd, being different. Determination is the real key to being successful.

~Cheryl Mendiola

Tell me about Tuggy’s Tots

Tuggys Tots

My name is Cheryl Mendiola and I own and operate Tuggy’s Tots Pre K Adventures. My daughter, Brittney is my assistant on every adventure! We sail the high seas in search of a great learning experience! I was named after a tugboat and my grandfather called me Tuggy. I chose that for my business name because it would remind me of him.

Tuggy’s Tots Pre K Adventures is located in Tulare, California which is in the Central Valley. I  have been on this great adventure since 1986 and still going! We firmly believe that children should have a say in what they learn about and should have fun doing so. We like self-directed learning and focus on music,drama,and reading. We also enjoy cooking and we are very big on recycling.  We have appeared on A place of our own (provider of the week) and 0 to 5 in 30 minutes in a segment involving indoor play when weather doesn’t permit outside play. We approach each day knowing that it is okay to just dance and jump and sing all day….we have had fun and have learned in the process. Our learning environment is simple. We decided this was best so that the crew isn’t distracted and they could focus on what we are doing at the time rather than on what we are going to be doing. Each child grows and learns in their own unique way. We have fun!

What inspired you to start a childcare business?

When I was in the sixth grade I was an A student so I was chosen to help in the kindergarten classrooms on Friday afternoons. Immediately I fell in love with the laughter and the satisfaction in knowing I helped a child learn something (and the smell of school paint and paste) I knew I wanted to work with children and knew that I would be successful. High school came around and there I was teaching preschoolers how to sing. I applied at a center where the director hired me to work at her home day care. Her name ……Jana Mathias and she is the one that really inspired me. She knew that I had what it takes to be a successful child care business owner. Instead of being a typical “boss” she let me do what came naturally for me and to color outside of the lines. I was a success! I began my own business and to her I will be forever grateful. I thank her for having confidence in me and for inspiring me to do what was a natural talent. She passed away last year and she will never be forgotten for being a wonderful role model and my reason for being on this great adventure!

 

 

What do you think is the key to a successful child care business?

Being a successful child care business can take years to happen. Being patient and being YOU is what is the key. Standing out in a crowd, being different. Determination is the real key to being successful.

 

 

My advice for new child care business owners

Don’t Give up! Don’t take things personally and have patience. You have to get your name out there and make it a good name. Provide the best care you are capable of…go above and beyond and always do your best! Good communication between you and your families is important and will help your program be a success. Have fun…enjoy yourself…..hug your little ones and smile…you are making a huge difference in a child’s life.

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Family Child Care, Featured Child Care Business, Uncategorized

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Featured Child Care Business: Shameka Ellerbee Owner of Komfy Playhouse

Komfy Kidz Playhouse

 

Tell me about your childcare business?

I am the proud owner & sole provider of Komfy Kidz Playhouse, a licensed family daycare home located in Atlanta, Georgia that began back in February 2007 when I was only 23yrs old. I hold a current CDA and my program recently became a Nationally Accredited Family Child Care program through NAFCC in May 2011. 
 
My program offers Full-Time Care M-F w/extended hours, Summer Camp from June-Aug, and 24/7 Drop-In Care for children 3mos-9yrs. I offer a non-traditional curriculum of lesson plans that are made up of different ideas and activities that I come across when networking with other childcare providers on different social networks, blogs, and websites.
 
 Our activities and lessons are always hands on and full of engaging fun. In my home, children may visit the following learning centers: Dramatic Play, Blocks & Building, Math & manipulative, Science & Discovery, Reading Corner, Art & Writing Station, School Age Big Kids Lounge, and Outdoor Large Motor Play.   
 
What inspired you to start a childcare business?
 
Funny thing is, I have ALWAYS wanted to be a childcare provider as far back as elementary age! As early as 5th grade, I would walk around my neighborhood with neon colored, hand written flyers, stating I would babysit kids for only $5.
I gained lots of parents at that rate! As a teen, I continued to babysit and care for children up until I had my first child. I went into the workforce to be able to provide for my son and my first daughter who I had three years later. After working at a fast food restaurant for 4yrs, I began work at my children’s daycare center in 2005 where I worked as the lead preschool teacher for a year. I loved working there and being able to have my own classroom. This is where the inspiration really began to start my own childcare business.
 
I decided to venture into the world of Family Daycare and start my own inside our home where I could continue to do what I love, be home with my own kids, and run my program how I wanted it to be ran. I have always been creative and artsy so it was also a way to be able to express my creativity through the set up and arrangement of the daycare part of my home.  
 
What are your goals and dreams for your business?
 
I would love to transition my program into a group daycare home so that I may care for more children and start a Private Home Preschool some day. I would offer care to toddlers and preschool age children only and they would be divided into two separate learning groups: Toddlers(18mos-2yrs) and Preschoolers (3-5yrs). I would like to teach this age group and be able to prepare them for kindergarten. I would love to have Preschool Graduations and Preschool Prom. This is where I can really let my creative and fun juices come to life.  I would to obtain a degree in Early Childhood Education and I would like to ALWAYS be a family daycare home. 

What do you think is the key to a successful childcare business?

 The key to success in this business from my experience is to NETWORK!!! Be open to change, advice, and suggestions. Be willing to share your knowledge with other child care providers. Know that everyday is a learning day. Whether you are just starting out or is a veteran in this business, there is always something to learn and something to share.
 
I have learned from those who have only been open a couple of months to those who have been in the business for over 10 years. I have always been willing to share what I know. I don’t like keeping what I have learned in this business to myself. As child care providers we have to live by what we teach our children: “Sharing is Caring”. 
 
Advice for new Day care providers?
 
Get to know other childcare providers. We can learn a lot from each other. 
But my main advice is to create a THOROUGH parent handbook for potential families. Go over EVERYTHING. And STICK to the rules you have made because they were obviously made for a reason. 

 
Licensed, Family Daycare Home since 2007 
Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers
Only a phone call away: (678)499-1987 or (404)721-FUN7

Category:

Family Child Care, Featured Child Care Business, Uncategorized

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