Welcome to Katie's Kids!

A wonderful place to go!

Who are they? Katie's Kids is a learning center here in town with two easy to find locations. However, it's not that simple when it comes to finding the right daycare/preschool facilities. When you walk into Katie's Kids learning center you get a welcoming and caring sense of warmth.  Katie's Kids is a day care center which cares for children from 6 months old until school age. As any family knows, finding a great place for their children is hard to find. Families are a structure based on values, beliefs, and ethics. Each of these fundamental aspects of a family need to be cherished and treated with respect. Katie has created a learning center that nurtures love and knowledge. She has built Katie’s kids to help families and their children learn and grow. 

Owner & Executive Director: Miss Katie Stelle-Mardis

MISSION STATEMENT:

To elevate child development to a new level by leading the social, emotional growth, and education of young children while providing a safe, welcoming, home-like environment with a caring, educated and professional staff that promotes partnerships with parents, children and other early childhood professionals.

PRESS RELEASE:

The April 2015 edition of "Pastelle" magazine, there is an article by Becky Wiese about Katie's Kids owner Katie Stelle-Mardis. The article explains how and why this ISU Graduate with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice came to opening her own day care center.  Her father, J.D. Stelle of Stelle Construction and Stelle Homes, was instrumental in helping Katie find the land on which she built her first center.  "Katie credits her dad for recognizing her strenghts, characteristics, and passion as the basis for what Katie's Kids Learning Center has become," writes Wiese.  Originally, Katie's Kids had a different executive director who mentored Katie until she was ready to be the executive director.  The first location, opened in 2006, was such a success, that a second location was opened in 2009.  Be sure to read this interesting article about Katie!

COST/TUITION:

• Contact Katie's Kids for the easy application.

HOURS:

• Hours 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM Monday - Friday

• With SNL offered to Parents.

LOCATIONS:

• Address: 2003 Jacobssen Dr Normal, IL 61761 Telephone: (309) 268-9400 - Contact Name: Jody (email: [email protected])

• Address: 1602 Glenbridge Rd Bloomington, IL 61704 Telephone: (309) 663-5800 - Contact Name: Katie (email [email protected])

CURRICULUM: What can Katie’s Kids offer your child? Learning is at the heart of Katie’s Kids. They shape their play based curriculum, around the needs and interests of the child and their classmates. What is play based learning? It is a brand new concept that is being used more and more often in early childhood development. It’s a way of teaching children about the world around them through experience, touch, and play. It’s an amazing way for kids to learn by using themes that entertain their interest. With a topic that appeals to them they are more able to thrive and learn. The facility also offers field trips during the summer with the school age children. Last summer the children went to a park and then to Rosati's for lunch and on a separate occasion they also went to the Miller Park Zoo.  These educational field trips are based locally and really help the children experience the world.

SERVICES: Katie’s Kids offers many wonderful programs that seek to help the young child’s experience. They have a wide variety from culminating projects, which allow parents to attend, to having an on-site chef. They are able to use their connections to the community to help with donations and programs such as being able to have Orange Leaf attend for profit benefiting all parties. Their chef offers many wonderful options on food choice. He will work around any dietary restrictions like lactose intolerance, or peanut allergies, and still provide a fun and interesting meal. The chef with consult with families to learn what the child enjoys. Lately the community of Bloomington-Normal has become more and more diverse with different ethnic groups and cultural beliefs and it is important for a facility to talk to the families and respect their choices. Vegetarian options are available daily. It’s important to be able to provide services that accommodate for such beliefs and choices. Other outside programs such as meals to go. There are many Meals To Go is a way that a family that is normally busy beyond ability to cook a nice meal could acquire one. With an easy sign up and cheap price the facility is able to provide these meals to families in need. Katie’s Kids is a nice place that helps to keep friendships with the staff and families that pass under their roof.

PROGRAMS: Katie’s Kids has often sought out the best standards and practices. They rely on wonderful programs such as DCFS and QRS. Katie has always wanted to make sure that the support staff and teachers are taught well and receive regular training on all of the new standards. Even recently the staff was able to receive new and better instruction on safe sleep with infants and toddlers. Safe sleep is a program where early childhood staff make sure to promote the safest environment for infants to sleep. It has proven to reduce the risk of SIDS. This training is important to make sure they provide the quality of care Katie herself would desire of her own child. Why choose this facility? What you get from Katie’s Kids is far from just a daycare. Even upon entry you can feel the warmth they offer. The staff notices the needs of families and works hard with those families to see those needs meet. They are able to help the young child learn and laugh and play.

TESTIMONIALS:

E.E. "I have been working for Katie's Kids for almost two years.  I really like the warm and friendly environment.  The kids are great."