Two day care centers succeed in New Plymouth
Monday, October 2, 2006 10:21 AM PDT
Jennifer Colton | Argus Observer
New Plymouth
For a city of less than 2,000, New Plymouth has a growing need for day care facilities and preschools.
Two of those businesses, Kiddie Korner and The Rainbow Room, are right on main street - on the same block - and both are thriving.
“The more day cares or preschools you have, it gives parents more choices for what they want for their children,” Kaylyn Brown, owner of Kiddie Korner Day Care, said.
Michelle Thompson, Rainbow Room owner, said there has always been a number of quality day cares in the New Plymouth community.
“We're really fortunate,” she said.
Thompson purchased the Rainbow Room preschool and day care almost 13 years ago, but said she has been involved with child care “off-and-on” for 20 years. Thompson moved to New Plymouth because of the Rainbow Room opportunity. She moved from Emmett, but she is originally from Challis, Idaho.
“I raised my daughter here, I love the community and the town,” she said.
Brown, a former employee of the Rainbow Room, purchased the current Kiddie Korner building, down the block from the Rainbow Room, and opened the day care center in February. Brown may be the newest day care center owner in New Plymouth, but she has taught preschool for 11 years.
“I operated in my home for six years, in the basement of the Baptist Church for a couple of years, two years at the Rainbow Room and now I'm starting my 11th year,” she said.
Overall, Brown said she has taught around 300 children, including five of her own eight children. She said at one time she had the only preschool in New Plymouth.
“I just noticed there were a lot of children that wanted preschool, a lot of parents working,” Brown said. “I knew there would be enough (interest) for me to start my own preschool, and that has been the case.”
In New Plymouth, there are four state licensed child care facilities; in the state of Idaho, all day cares that service more than six children are required to be licensed.
Brown teaches up to 30 children at a time and she now has 30 children at the center between the preschool and day care. Idaho regulations require a maximum of 12 children to every adult in a child care facility, so Brown has two employees who rotate shifts.
“I teach 12 in preschool, and I have an employee here who watches the babies while I do preschool,” she said. For day care, Brown accepts children newborn to age 12 and works from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. She said she is almost always at the center except when she is picking up or dropping off children at school. Thompson also transports children between the school and her day care and has assistants for the after-school rush.
“It's amazing that it does work so well, but it does,” Thompson said. “I don't have babies - this is just preschool age, two and a half and up. They have to be potty trained.”
Thompson said she opened a day care because she wanted to work with children.
“I have always had a house full of children wherever I've lived,” she said. “I love little kids. I really enjoy their company and their insight on life.”
Brown said her favorite part of running the day care is that her children, aged 1 to 19, can be with her while she is working.
“We raised them all in New Plymouth,” she said. “I've lived in New Plymouth for 19 years. It's where my husband grew up - this is where we wanted to raise our children. I just have a soft place for kids.”
The biggest challenges are owning the business and the hours, Brown said.
“Right now we're working at getting our backyard in. We have the fence, and this fall we're getting grass and then a play area,” she said. “One thing at a time.”
Thompson also said the long hours are the hardest part of the business.
“Most people go to work eight hours,” she said.
hild care providers, their minimum is 11 to 12 hours a day.”
Both owners said there is no need for competition between the two centers, and both preschool programs are full.
“My business is doing well, we all are doing well,” Thompson said. “It's a great town, great place to raise kids, the school system is great.
Brown said the other New Plymouth day care centers, especially Thompson, have been supportive of her.
“I have had a lot of support from the Rainbow Room and Michelle (Thompson) has given me a lot of support,” she said. “There has been no competition. We both do our jobs and do it the best that we can.”
