Childcare centers increase hours with kids over break

MAT-SU — Childcare workers say they have more time with children — but not necessarily more children — during the winter holiday break from school.

Natalie Ray with Ray’s Childcare and Learning Center across from Pioneer Pizza has been in business since 1987, and currently operates with a 68-child capacity. Though the center’s numbers can drop to 50 or 53 during the holidays, Ray said she and her employees keep busy with the school-age children who need all-day care instead of part-time care, as their parents continue to work when school isn’t in session.

“I have some teachers’ kids and others have relatives that come up, so it kind of evens out,” Ray said.

For parents who usually pay a part-time monthly rate, she said, an additional fee is tacked onto their December bill for the child to stay at the center during the day over the holiday vacation. Ray’s Childcare is open Monday through Friday year-round, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Parents pay by the month whether their child is at the center every day or not, Ray said, mostly for the sake of the staff.

“To keep (staff) consistent, they need to know what hours they’re working and what their income is,” she said.

At Bright Minds Learning Center on the north end of Wasilla, some parents also pay a higher December bill, which allows part-time employees to pick up more hours during the holidays as children spend more time at the center.

“We don’t get a whole lot of new kiddos that come for break alone,” said director Kerrie Spain.

Spain said Bright Minds is a licensed daycare for 90 children, and operates at about 55 percent capacity. Like most childcare facilities, the center is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for children age 6 weeks to 12 years.

Spain said her staff — about 15 people — is always prepared for children to spend more time with them during the holidays, though school cancellations throughout the year sometimes require a quick adjustment.

“The only times (staffing) gets tricky is if they get a snow day, but we’re still prepared for that,” she said.

On such days, as with the holidays, children are treated to various activities.

At Profiles of Excellence Daycare and Preschool in Palmer — which has been open at its current location on South Cobb Street since 1991 — kids made gingerbread houses and sugar cookies with director Jenny Kennedy the week before Christmas. They also have the opportunity to read, participate in dance-offs, and play outside when it’s not too cold.

Kennedy said she and her employees see about 65 of the 85 kids the building can hold during this time of year, half of which are school age children. The parents of about half of the 65 are lawyers, members of law enforcement and borough employees, she said.

“We kinda exchange teachers’ kids for other kids (during the holidays),” Kennedy said.

Some of the staff members occasionally bring their children to the daycare, too, she said. Profiles of Excellence and Bright Minds are both closed on Dec. 24, 25 and 31, as well as New Year’s Day.

Mat-Su Borough schools re-open Monday, Jan. 4.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.