By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Sandy Waldschmidt is now caring for a third generation of children in Ellis.
November's Child Care Champion of the Month was nominated by two parents: Christy Schoenthaler and Bailey Gottschalk.
Waldschmidt, who has been a child care provider for 46 years, was Gottschalk's child care provider when she was little and now she is watching her daughters.
"Sandy is amazing with our kids," Gottschalk said. "She goes above and beyond making them feel special. On top of teaching them valuable lessons each day, she provides care for many families in the city of Ellis. We are LUCKY to have her!"
Bailey remembers as a child that Waldschmidt staged birthday parties for all the children in her child care. The children played games, and Waldschmidt gave each birthday boy or girl a gift.
"It made the kids so happy," she said.
She said Waldschmidt always made a big deal out of holidays and still does. She said her daughters regularly bring home many craft projects.
"She is a huge asset and a great blessing to the community," Gottschalk said.
Although the Gottschalk family is in their second generation in Waldschmidt's care, she also has a family for whom she is watching a grandchild of a child for whom she cared.
Waldschmidt said she regularly keeps in contact with the children and families who have been part of her child care family. She attends school programs and watches the children participate in athletic events.
Schoenthaler said in her nomination Waldschmidt has many great qualities.
"She’s reliable, which is a huge benefit to working parents. The kids get to do many different activities and crafts," Schoenthaler said. "They love playing in her backyard. She does learning skills with them to prepare them for school.
"My son's teacher told me that she 'loves when she gets kids from Sandy because their handwriting skills are awesome!' She is a true blessing to the Ellis community as she’s been in child care for 40-plus years!"
Waldschmidt became a child care provider because she wanted to stay home with her own oldest daughter.
She said she has most loves watching the children grow from little to school age.
"It's really hard when they leave and go to kindergarten," Waldschmidt said.
Once her own children were school-aged she briefly took a job as a paraprofessional with the thought she would return to school to become a teacher.
She said she found she prefered working with the small children in her home.
"They can crawl up on your lap," she said. "I missed the kids giving me high-fives goodbye. ... I love when they come to me when they're sad or crying or hurt and needing comfort. It's just special. It's a closer bond.
"The kids run in and say good morning, Sandy. It's special. They are so proud. They sometimes bring me a picture they colored for me. It makes you feel really good when they do that."
Waldschmidt provides a preschool program for her 3- and 4-year-olds on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but she said she still provides lots of opportunities to play, which she said is important to the children's growth and happiness.
Lessons as well as crafts are done around her kitchen table.
"I try to make it homey. It's like their second home," she said.
Waldschmidt said one of the keys to her longevity in the profession has been sticking to discipline and structure within her child care home.
"I feel they still need structure and need to know right from wrong," she said, "and you don't get everything you want. You have to learn to share."
The state rules and regulations have become much more involved in her time as a provider, but the basics are still the same — providing a safe place for children.
Waldschmidt will be 65 next month, but she said she is not quite ready to retire. She said she would like to keep caring for children until she's 70. She said she thinks if she retires, she will miss the children.
Waldschmidt's child care is full.
If you are in search of a child care provider, visit the Child Care Aware of Kansas Find Child Care page by clicking here.