Sassy's Daycare
What I offer
Hi, I'm Cassie
My previous daycare kiddos called me Miss Cassie, my nieces and nephews know me as, Aunt Sassy, so I go by either or. On occasion, my 4-year-old will also call me Aunt Sassy, usually followed by a small mischievous giggle.
Do you ever wish that you could have the best of both worlds for your child when it comes to childcare? A daycare-like setting, structure, hours, and reliability, with nanny-like benefits, but without the higher hourly pricepoint. This is exactly what I aim to do. My goal is to combine the benefits, reliability, set hours, convenience, and structure of in-home daycare with the perks of having a nanny, as well as adding in my education and background on child development and social and emotional learning.
My vision is to provide a structured place to play for children in my care and to have a set "home" base for them that they are all familiar with. They will know my home as "Miss Cassie's" house, where we will create a loving, welcoming, and warm childcare environment.
Now let's add in more of the perks. We will also be able to take field trips to the zoo, picnics at the park, library visits for storytime, splash pad adventures, nature walks, museums, holiday events, and so much more. On occassion I would also be willing to help out with transportation to appointments or other activities.
Other benefits with this approach is I won't be leaving during school holiday breaks, my availability wont change over summer, and I'll have consitant hours year long.
When I did in-home childcare, I loved that I was able to create a "daycare family" within my own family. One of my many memories from in-home daycare was kids running through the door every morning and yelling, "Hi Miss Cassie", with a quick hug as they rushed past me to see which friends were already there.
However, one thing I craved to be able to do more during in-home care, like when I was a nanny and au pair, was the ability to get out and do things that were further than walking distance.
This is why I am aiming to combine both worlds into one.
Pricing: Estimated to start at $50.00 per day per child
I am looking for full-time, 5 days a week. However, if there are families that need daycare on opposite days, I would consider splitting a full-time position.
Spots available: 3-4 maximum- no infants
Please know and understand that my prices will be higher than a typical in-home daycare, but in order to offer more experiences and outings for children in my care, I can only take in a set amount of children. In order to offer the services I know I will offer, it also has to make sense financially. So I understand that my pricepoint may not be for everyone. I also take car seat safety very seriously, therefore limiting the number of children I can safely transport.
Hours: 7:15-5:30
Subject to change if all families enrolled need the same set hours (ex: 6-4)
Transportation for Preschool
Raylan, my 4-year-old, will attend Preschool in the Fall. I will transport any child in full-time daycare with me to his preschool as well. (I have omitted his school name for privacy purposes)
Back-up Daycare:
One struggle I've heard from many parents lately is childcare closures because of being short-staffed or providers needing time off, which I understand is not their fault but still difficult on parents. My mom helped me with my in-home daycare in Fairfield and is willing to help with advance notice. If I need time off for an appointment, she would be able to watch children at my house so I don't have to close daycare that day. This is subject to all families meeting her and approving her services when needed.
About me
I'm Cassie, the face behind the long blog post because I can't ever be short and sweet when I'm passionate about something. Also, this photo is from a wedding, this will never be me on daycare drop-off and pick-ups, ha!
I've been doing some form of childcare since I was a pre-teen, my love for children is something that I was born with. My passion and drive to understand children and their development is something that I have slowly grown into over the years and have also realized just how important and critical proper care within the first 5 years is for setting a foundation for those children growing into their adolescent years and even adulthood. I also know that children are adaptive and you don't have to be a perfect person or parent 100% of the time!
Owner of Sassy's Daycare (registered) established in 2018 (Fairfield, Iowa)
Traveling Au pair/nanny 2014-2016 (Germany)
Nanny for 2 families in the Cedar Falls area (2010-2014)
Graduated UNI with a major in psychology (2014)
Masters in School Counseling from BVU (2021)
I am also an internship away from receiving my master's in mental health counseling with an emphasis on child development. (Postponed due to finding a placement due to Covid and then having HG during pregnancy with Faylee)
My parenting & Childcare Style
I have a background in psychology, counseling, child development, and mental health and I continue to educate myself as a parent on better ways to be just that, a parent and a caregiver to all children. However, I didn't realize how important my chosen career field would become to me until I had my own children. Once I had children, I realized how triggering specific situations involving children can be for adults, myself included. (Examples: tantrums, backtalk, meltdowns, messes, loud noises). I can imagine you read that and immediately had a red flag, but hear me out. Any adult who says they have no triggers brought on by specific situations involving children is in denial or isn't ready to face the reason why. The hardest part of parenting, besides being deathly afraid of losing my child, was pinpointing and working through my own triggers.
This is why I do in-home childcare, not just for your children, but for my own. Once I realized the triggers I had and that the only person who could fix those was me, I realized that many adults aren't able or willing to put in that work on themselves and I don't want any adult around my children who is unable to regulate themselves when they are triggered by a child's big feelings.
Children should be treated with respect, they should be told that their feelings, fears, and emotions are valid, mistakes happen, and messes can be cleaned up. Most importantly, they should have an adult who is in control of their own emotions, so that they can help that child through their big emotions, which are so new and foreign to them.
Childcare is hard, it can be stressful on a level most people don't understand, and it's far more than 'babysitting'. It is not a career field that someone should be in unless they are prepared for it.
I have put a lot of time and effort into educating myself on childcare, and I understand not every technique or strategy is going to work for every parent or family, this is just what I have learned works best for me and the kids I care for. I don't have it all figured out, I learn something new every day when it comes to children and their development. I make mistakes every day with my own children, but when I make those mistakes I try and correct them. I also make an effort to own my mistakes and apologize to my children when I make a mistake, and sometimes that can be hard to do as an adult.
We go big for birthdays!
Every child gets a number pancake, decorations, homemade cupcakes and a daycare party on their birthdays!
Le Petite Chefs!
I believe that the food we put into little kids bodies affects their behavior and development. We aim to make homemade goodies but if we can't we stay away from food dyes and try to grow or buy local produce. I also believe that children need to learn and understand that cupcakes, cookies, etc. are fun snacks and ok to have on occasion!
Nature is Nurture
When we are able to be outside, we will be. Kids thrive with fresh air, endless ideas and ways to learn around them. We get messy around here!
Let them Play
Kids learn through play, so lets let them play! I will provide set ups, ideas, and learning centers, but ultimately I want their imaginations to run wild. If a child says they are "bored" my method is to let them be bored until they find a way to entertain themselves. Screen time is a tool for me to use, when I need it, not when children want it.
Products Matter
Through research I have learned how harmful ingredients are within our daily cleaning products, detergent, soaps, etc. I try and stay away from harmful cleaning products and anything with perfumes or fragrance.
Give them options
Research and my own trial and error, have shown that when you give children "snack plates" instead of making a big deal out of veggies, desserts, etc. they make better choices! It can take multiple times introducing food to a child before they will try it, and that's ok because guess what, it reduces the stigma and 'fight' surrounding that food. Vegetables, protein, fruit, desserts, are all served together over here.
Be Different
Every child is unique in their own way, from the way they look, the way they communicate, how they play, how they cope, and so many other ways. I love getting to know each child on a level where I know what methods and techniques will work for them, and which ones won't.
Meet my family
Ryan is my spouse and he works in sales, when he gets home from work you'll often find him rolling around and playing with Raylan and any children that are in my care that day.
Raylan: He is 4 years old and loves to use his imagination, he can become any dinosaur or superhero with the blink of an eye. He is a loving, caring, emotion expressing, little guy and we wouldn't have him any other way.
Faylee: Our sweet Faylee Rose was born March 9th, she is the smiliest, most calm and collected baby. She will talk your ear off, her preferred method of communication is fart noises. She is making changes every single day.
Tony: He is the newest addition to our family. He was a rescue dog, but we still haven't figured out why he was in foster care because he is the best boy ever.
