Meet The Participants

North American PlayCare, located at 21 Farr Road in Richmond, returns to our family of apprenticeship!

The PlayCare Center is a child care facility designed to meet the developmental needs of children ages 6 weeks through 10 years. The emphasis of the program is on encouraging creative and expressive play as well as skill based learning. Children will be provided with a broad range of opportunities, which will enable them to build a solid foundation for the future.

Through age appropriate projects, hands-on activities and imaginative play, children will start to build skills they will need to be successful in school and throughout life. Children will learn how to reason, develop social skills and techniques. Through experimentation and play, curiosity and inquisitiveness will be encouraged. Children will also be provided with guidance as they learn to cope with the thoughts, feelings and reactions surrounding normal events and experiences of childhood.

This Program serves 59 children from of age and is open from 7-5:30 Monday through Friday. The PlayCare Center is privately owned and managed through North American PlayCare, Inc.; Executive Director is Sherry Yandow. The PlayCare Center has 2 locations, one in Middlesex and one in Richmond.

Apprentice Ashley Catchapaw joins the registered Apprenticeship Program in January 2005 and plans to begin her college courses in May. Ashley writes, “The apprenticeship program appeals to me because it will prepare me for my future and help me with getting my CDA [credential]. I enjoy meeting new people and the program is essential in building better communication skills. I hope to gain valuable experience to use towards my future goals in the child care field. I also hope to learn all I need to know to be the best early childhood teacher I can be.”

Ashley’s mentor, Kristin Bair-Cummings, graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. She continues her professional development through local training opportunities and has completed the graduate level course on Leadership offered to mentors in the Apprenticeship Program. Kristin began working at the PlayCare Center in September of 2000, following a summer of tutoring for the Richmond Elementary School. Kristin worked with former apprentice Jen Jones until her departure from the PlayCare Center.

Kristin writes, ”I feel that I have a lot of skills to offer to Jen. I feel that people learn better when peers model different activities and skills. It is helpful to have a supervising teacher in the building so that you can access them when you have questions. I hope to gain new leadership skills.”

Apprentice Jen Jones left the Registered Apprenticeship Program in September 2004 with plans to relocate to Colorado. She hopes to transfer her hours and complete her apprenticeship in that state.