By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Growing up in California, Carrie Silva-Thomas imagined she might one day be a marine biologist.
Today, Silva-Thomas, 50, is almost 20 years into being an in-home child care provider and loving it.
"Life took me somewhere else," she said.
In 2006, Silva-Thomas was facing a career change after a layoff. A friend was adopting two children and Carrie had four of her own children. Becoming a licensed in-home child care provider was a way to spend time with her own children and make a good living.
"I do love kids," she said. "There is always something interesting when you have a house full of kids. It's a good time. There's always surprises."
Parent Katie Dorzweiler nominated Silva-Thomas as the June Child Care Champion.
"She loved my boys like they were her own. She still reaches out and keeps in touch even though my boys have been out of child care for five years now," Dorzweiler said.
Silva-Thomas said she enjoys the flexibility that being an in-home child care provider affords her.
"If I need to tend to something with my own children or my own life, I have that ability to do so," she said.
Silva-Thomas's child care is play-based.
"These kiddos will be spending many years sitting at desks, so I feel it’s important for them to use their imaginations, be creative and learn skills through play," she said. "Everything is a learning experience for young children, and it’s nice knowing I’ve played a part in helping and preparing them for their future."
The children color, play with Legos, play outside and have story time.
"We have lots of little statues all over the playroom that they don't want to take apart," she said.
Silva-Thomas has a large book of stories based on Disney characters, and the children love to hear about the adventures of their favorite characters. They also love Dr. Seuss.
The children in Silva-Thomas' child care range in age from 1 to 7. She said the older children especially love her water slide.
She said she enjoys watching the children learn and grow.
"Knowing I was there and taught them things," she said.
Silva-Thomas said she would recommend the profession to others.
"You have to like kids," she said. "You have to understand why the state implemented certain regulations and follow the regulations," she said. "It's not that hard or challenging. ...
"It's very rewarding. You get to be with your own children and provide an income for your family."
Some of the children Silva-Thomas had in child care are now in high school and beyond.
"One of my first day care kiddos recently got married, two years ago, and now has a baby," she said. "I went to the wedding, and now she has her own baby. That makes me think, 'Wow, you've been doing this a long time.'"
"I see kids all of the time. They come up at a football game or a baseball game to say, 'Hi.' They're all my Facebook friends," she said.
Her best advice to new providers is to pick your battles with the kids, parents and the state regulators.
She said the regulations are there for a purpose.
She said her own teen children struggled with some of the regulations, like making sure cabinets were closed and locked to keep the little ones safe.
She also advised, "Don't take things personally if a parent's having a rough day or they don't like the way you do something. If they prefer you tend to their children in a different way, take that into consideration."
Silva-Thomas' child care is full with a waitlist.