Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaunte Brown.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shaunte. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my family childcare business in 1998 in a small two-bedroom apartment. I converted my dining room area into a small preschool. I went through the proper steps to become licensed by the state of California and then utilized my skills from teaching preschool and developed a plan to teach, love and educate children from the comforts of my own home. During this time, I worked on building my enrollment, saved my money and then upgraded my space to a space with a full yard. By doing that, I was able to increase my license capacity to service eight children to 14 children.
During this time, I truly realized that I had a gift, A gift to teach, love and educate, but I realized I lacked professionalism. Once that became apparent, I took time went back to school to learn some business models and started to invest in personal development. With that, I’ve now began the process of working on my brand. Childcare is so much more than taking care of children. Its an art. The art of being able to help foster, nurture, love and stimulate the minds of our future leaders! Today I look back of the celebration of being a childcare provider, a childcare mentor, the owner of a mobile childcare company and being in a production of childcare merchandise for childcare providers!
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been smooth, as most company’s go through trial and error. What struggles stick out to me is management. Time management, good financial management, employee management, most things need to be managed and when you aren’t sure how to do them, you can find yourself struggling. I would love to offer my advice to all, don’t struggle alone or in fear reach out to a professional. Someone who has a proven track record of success. Do your research to make sure they are legal and legit and can provide references to those they have provided services for. And don’t be cheap. Having a budget is ideal. Although you pay for what you get, and to take your company to the next level, it will take some investment, weather its time spent or money spent it will pay off in the long run.
We’d love to hear more about Happy Time Learning Academy.
I provide childcare services for families in San Diego. We teach our children kindergarten readiness. Along with being ready academically, children need to be ready to enter kindergarten sociably as well. Our specialty is to provide love and education while kids have the comfort of being in a home life setting. I like to call it a home away from home while learning.
I’m most proud of being able to see children I’ve taken care of graduate from High school and enter college. When you know you were at the foundation of that learning process, nothing else tops that! I don’t have anything that sets me apart from other quality childcare providers. We are a team and there is no I in team. No one provider can do this work alone, we rely on each other for support, and to learn from one another.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Oh yes. I read All John C Maxwell’s books. I listen to Patrice Washington podcast, Blogs by the Child Care Business Owner Institute (Shiketa Morgan) and I own a daycare resources by (Andrea Dickerson).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.happytimedaycare.net
- Phone: 6192663058
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happy_time_learning_academy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Happy-Time-Learning-Academy-192515954132/
Image Credit:
Shaunte Brown
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