All About The Provider.....

So, you want to know a little more about me, huh? Well, I think it's great that you're taking some time to do so. You'll spend many years to come getting to know your child's teachers, and it's appropriate to find out as much as you can about their very first one, whether that be me or someone else.
For starters, my complete name is Melanie Munford (the kiddos call me Ms. Melanie or Ms. Mel), and I am twenty-something years of age. I have one adorable daughter (if I do say so myself), named Hannah, who just turned three. (Boy does time fly!) She's my little ray of sunshine, and being with her every day brings me much joy and happiness. I also have a very caring and supportive husband named Christopher. We've been married for four years going on fifty (meaning it seems like forever). Our family has a strong Christian background that plays a major role in both my personal and professional life.
In my spare time, I like to study God's word, the bible, to help me get to know the Creator and His son better. My faith and family are very important to me, and have a profound impact on the way that I conduct my childcare business. Besides that, I enjoy having friends over, shopping (what girl doesn't?), reading, gardening, dancing & singing, movies & music, working on this website, decorating, and too many other things to mention here.

Of course the question I encounter most has to be why I decided to become a childcare provider. I have many of the same reasonings that other providers have: to supplement my family's income, to stay at home and nurture my own child, to have a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with owning your own business. I'd have to say that being home to raise my daughter was the primary motivating factor. The other major factor hasn't been mentioned yet. That reason is that I wanted to raise the standard of childcare that we have come to expect from providers in the childcare arena.
When I was looking for care for my child, quality care wasn't easy to come by. In fact, it was almost non-existent in my immediate area. I'm sure moms and dads out there can relate to the fact that when leaving your child with a caregiver, you want that child to receive the same or better care that is given them at home (especially if returning to the workforce after having been home with your child for a period of time). Paying attention to details doesn't come easy to everyone. But it is especially important when caring for young children. I wanted a provider that was going to treat my child as her own. Who would hug and cuddle and play with my child. Who would teach my child right from wrong. Who would treat my child in a manner worthy of my praise and respect.
Because I found this kind of care lacking, I began looking into the criteria for becoming a family childcare provider. I did not want my child in a center-based environment at the time, so caring for children in my home was a logical choice. Once I educated myself about the role that a FCC provider plays, I decided that this was something that I could do and was willing to do. Imaginations Learning Academy was born. Since making the decision to become a quality caregiver, I have taken several courses to increase my knowledge of age-appropriate practice. My goal is to earn my CDA credential and to open a center of my own with my sister as the director (she currently teaches in a private preschool in Boston, MA).
I consider it an honor and a blessing to work with young children each day. And I thank the parents of the children I care for (and have cared for), for sharing your precious little people with me. They truly are "gifts from God".