Congratulations to Tarra Stangl and The Growing Patch in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have been named Provider of the Month for March 2016!
Providers like Stangl go above and beyond to excel in their field — and while being a child care provider started out as a means for some extra income, infant and toddler care soon became a passion for her. Stangl actively seeks out opportunities to improve her family child care home and grow her child development and parent engagement skills in order to be the best provider she can be.
Family engagement is key at The Growing Patch, and starts from the moment children are dropped off for the day. Stangl intentionally staggers pick-up times so that she has an opportunity to check-in with parents one-on-one. Parents receive a monthly newsletter and calendar, attend a mandatory parent meeting at the beginning of each year, have several opportunities to participate in special events on-site, and are included in community outreach.
Stangl and The Growing Patch put a heavy emphasis on nurturing healthy growth and development of the children in their care. This includes participating in Ages and Stages twice a year, setting goals with parents on developmentally appropriate skills for children, and planning activities based around those goals.
We are so grateful to Tarra Stangl—she is setting the standard for child care providers by encouraging the healthy development of the children in their care. Congratulations to The Growing Patch, an outstanding child care provider in Cedar Rapids, Iowa!
Nominate an Outstanding Provider
Do you know an outstanding provider or early childhood educator who is deserving of the Provider of the Month award? Visit www.providerappreciationday.org for details on how to nominate them, and help Child Care Aware® of America and partner organizations honor those providers that go above and beyond every day!