Image from Lil Jems Early Learning Childcare Centre c/o Facebook
Between a lack of local summer programs and reduced amounts of available childcare, one Yarmouth-area childcare centre is stepping in to fill the gap.
Lil’ Jem’s Early Learning Childcare Centre owner Jodi McKinnon-LeBlanc says within the space of three days, they were able to create a summer program, shore up staffing and round up resources.
McKinnon-LeBlanc says the program is a result of COVID-19, because typically there would be a full complement of summer programs for children offered locally.
“There’s no money to be made here, this is all just for the families, to help them, and to make sure that they can go back to work too,” she explained. “Our fees that we’re charging are $30 a day and that’s really, really high because I can’t access subsidies on such short notice.”
She says they’re considering the idea of a fundraiser to help cover some of the costs.
McKinnon-LeBlanc says demand has been huge right out the gate.
She says that they’re paying particularly close attention to the children’s emotional needs following a months-long stretch of no socialization due to COVID-19.
“They’re sensitive, because it’s new for all of us,” she noted. “So having extra staffing and not laying anybody off is so important because it shows the educators that I value them and that I need them, and it shows the students that if there’s eight children and two of them are having a hard time emotionally, the teachers can step in and say ‘hey, I see you’re having a hard time. Do you want to go find something to do that we can just do the two of us? Are you overwhelmed? Are you feeling stressed out? Talk to me about how you’re feeling,'” she said.
She says families who need the service but may not be able to afford it are welcome to reach out confidentially for more info.
