Little Star Buddies

Today’s lineup! 🌈

Bring on the mud! 🌞

🍞🌾So, we haven’t had store bought bread over here in a while! I started baking sourdough bread just before Winter started, and I haven’t stopped. The kids have zero complaints.🌾🍞

🎉 A couple of cuties turned two this week! 🎉

🌻 2026 Closings! 🌻

⭐️ It’s my 20th year! ⭐️

On this day, 20 years ago, I received my child care license and began my Little Star Buddies adventure. My goodness, how things have changed over the years. It started out in a tiny apartment with slanted ceilings, and a bunch of noisy, light up plastic toys. Pictures and posters and toys everywhere. TV/movie characters on everything you see. Strict schedules and wasteful daily projects. Do this and what’s next. Scrub this and bleach that. Constant. Overstimulating. I was following the lead of EEC and other daycares. I was 23 and thought this was how it was supposed to be. I was also a new mom and still learning. (I’m now an old mom and still learning.)

I kept up this way for a while, now a mom of two. Growing out of our space, we bought a house to sprawl a little. I didn’t want to take the loudness with us. I didn’t want to raise my own kids amongst the noisy flashing toys and chemical cleaners. I knew there had to be other parents that felt the same. I wanted to create an environment for little ones that was set up for learning and exploration, but incorporated natural elements and felt cozy and nurturing. Free of harmful chemicals and overstimulation. Kid powered and not rushed.

I can proudly say that I’ve accomplished this. Now a mom of three, I’ve got this thing down (but of course, there’s always room for improvement!) I got certified as an Eco-Healthy Child Care Facility, joined the Natural Teacher’s Network, became a certified Nature-based Educator, got certified as a National Geographic Educator, had our outdoor playspace qualify as a certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, and petitioned EEC to allow us to have natural outdoor spaces for our kids. I’m continuously doing trainings in Child Development (also First Aid and CPR/AED) and am increasingly interested in the way children are affected by nature (or lack thereof.) I’ve created two beautiful gardens in our space, added more than a dozen native plants, and took a course to become a pollinator steward. My passions are kids and nature, and putting the two together just makes sense. It’s also becoming more necessary as technology is clenching younger minds, and society keeps getting faster, busier, greedier, and more disconnected from each other.

We need to take a huge step back and remember what’s important. Yes, the cost of living is high and working seemingly endless hours to keep up is a drag.
Simplify. Minimize. Un-schedule. Rest. Connect.

Kids need to be free to be kids. Kids need you, not phones, tablets, or a hundred scheduled activities. I’ve noticed a huge shift in little ones over these last 20 years. They aren’t used to being bored (which helps develop their imagination and creativity.) They aren’t used to being told ‘no’ (which develops coping skills.) They aren’t used to being allowed to take risks (which develops self-confidence and finding their own limits.) They aren’t used to seeing parents with a full cup; calm, attentive, unrushed (which develops self-regulation and a sense of safety.) I don’t know how to change all this, but I’m constantly trying. I’ll never stop trying to be a model for the kids when they’re in my space. Curiosity, kindness, and silliness are my favorite qualities.

I’ll use the cliche and say our kids are our future, but I mean it with a full heart when I say they need better. They need less stuff, and more effort. They’re all worth it! I enjoy the company of little ones significantly more than adults, most of the time.

Now, onward to my next 20 years! 🌀

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far! We’re going strong until November 16th. Please drop us a jar of peanut butter (or infant formula) if you can. We’ll be bringing everything over to Beverly Bootstraps on November 17th!