While earning her degree in early childhood education from Cleveland State University, Dawn M. Kroneker performed hundreds of observations of child care centers and school districts. During this time, she discovered she really enjoyed working with pre-school age children, so upon graduation, Dawn accepted a position with a large, corporate child care center. She began investigating the possibility of opening her own center, and in October 2000 founded Leaps & Bounds Child Care in Avon Lake, Ohio. We met recently with Dawn and Director Chris Spaetzel, and listened as Dawn outlined the services Leaps & Bounds Child Care has available;
Leaps & Bounds Child Care provides care for children from six weeks through twelve years of age. We have several different age specific rooms, including an infant room for those under twelve months old, a mobile infant room, two toddler rooms, a pre-school room, and a pre-kindergarten room. We also provide before and after school care for children through the sixth grade.
We strive to provide the children with activities designed to keep them active while stimulating their minds. Throughout the year we have in-house field trips where doctors, nurses, dentists, representatives of the police and fire departments, and other community members will come to the center to speak to the children. During our summer camp, we have taken the children to swimming pools, bowling, the library, Cleveland Zoo, and Cleveland Indian's games. We take nature walks, and have "Wet & Wild Days" where the younger children go outside and play in the sprinklers.
Our building is always locked for the children's safety. Parents have access keys programmed so they can let themselves into the building, but any visitors have to ring the doorbell, have their photo ID taken, and be escorted inside. Our staff members have all passed a thorough background check, and have been trained in CPR, first aid, communicable disease, and child abuse and neglect recognition, as well as their child development training.
We are a family owned and operated center. My husband is involved with the center, and my mother does all of our shopping and the preparation of lunches and snacks. My husband, myself, and our three children live in Avon Lake, and Chris and her husband raised their children in the community, as well.
One Friday night per month we host a "Parent's Night Out" where parents can bring their children to the center from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm so they can enjoy a dinner, movie, or a night out together knowing their children are safe and secure in a familiar environment.
The next time you're searching for a nurturing environment for your child, call Leaps & Bounds Child Care, and don't forget to tell them Avon Lake Business & Living sent you!
