Business Spotlight: A Child's Place focuses on play-based learning

Name of business: A Child's Place Preschool and Daycare

Type of business: Preschool and day care

Owner: Carolyn Hays

Founded: August 1987

Address: 3405 W. Main St., Oakley

Phone number: 625-9795

Hours: 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Number of employees: four

Products and services: A Child's Place Preschool offers a well-rounded preschool program-serving children from 2 to 5. Hays says her philosophy applies a play-based approach to learning and school readiness. They offer seasonal and literary themes, activities and materials are used to develop intellectual, social/emotional, motor, self-help and communications skills that correspond to each child's developmental level.

A Child's Place Preschool is state-licensed and inspected by the California State Licensing Board. They offer a loving environment, providing individual attention to all the children with a low child-to-teacher ratio.

Hays said the teachers are experienced, state-qualified, personal and caring. They are all CPR and first aid-certified, fingerprinted. Each teacher's background is checked through the Department of Justice before being employed. The school offers full day care, part day care and morning preschool, before- and after-school care for school age children.

How did you get into the business: "My aunt had an in-home child-care center and she need someone to sub for her while she wason vacation. I had been taking classes in child development and it all fell together," Hays said.

Best part about the business?: "The children. The giggles, the laughs in their play, the look of astonishment when they discover something new or master a skill," Hays said.

Worst part about the business?: "Seeing children leave us when they are all grown up and go off to kindergarten," she said."That's the hardest part. Our job is done."

Key to success: "Offering flexible hours and flexible day schedules," she said.

She also said that it is important to offer transportation for school-age children.

"Working with parents and trying help with their child care needs is also very important," she said.

Biggest misperception about the business: "That it's so easy, anybody can do it," Hays said. She often hears that people say that opening a day care is as easy as opening your home to children, but she says there is a lot more to offering a quality day care than just that. She said that they offer well-rounded services with programs developed to aide in a child's healthy growth in mind and body.

Future plans: "We keep introducing new ideas all the time," she said.
For example, recently Hays introduced Zoo-phonics to the preschoolers.