Winslow resident Melissa Nelson has always wanted to provide childcare for working families and has recently made that goal a reality. “I was a single mother of a child with Type 1 Diabetes and was turned away from many facilities because they just didn’t want to administer his medications. That’s when I knew that someday, I would open my own facility,” said Nelson.
Early this year, the opportunity to do just that presented itself and the Nelsons began the process. “It has been a lot of work, with licensing, inspections, staffing and everything else, but we are ready to get kids in here!”
There are no childcare facilities in Winslow that offered not only infant care, but a place for preschool and school age kids all in one location to further their lessons and interact with others their age. According to Nelson, “We have a bright, clean, new facility and we are ready to prepare kids for the next level, whether that is kindergarten or junior high school. We want to teach the disciplines needed to succeed.”
Nelson’s philosophy on childcare has a focus on arts and activity, nutrition and socialization. She also recognizes the need for affordability in an area where a large percentage of the households are single parent, low income, or contain two working parents.
“We will be DES (Department of Economic Security) certified, working alongside First Things First, and partnering with Hopi and Navajo Nation organizations to help with the costs of childcare,” Nelson explained, adding, “We don’t want to exclude anyone who may need our services, get in touch with those groups and they can point you in the right direction.”
Each child will be provided with meals and snacks, teaching time and plenty of creative play at Imagination Station. “We don’t have TVs at the center, we want to encourage interaction as much as possible. In the coming months, we will be integrating dance and music into our curriculum for all students. I think these things are important. I feel like the most unfair thing you can do for children is to treat them all the same, so I’m looking at all the different ways kids learn and grow,” said Nelson.
That philosophy is shared by the staff at Imagination Station. Nelson, with three full time employees and two part time assistants will be tasked with caring for children from newborn to sixth grade.
“We are the only facility with an infant room,” Nelson said while giving a tour of the newly remodeled facility, “and the woman who will be in here with them has years of experience and education. She is excited to work with the littlest ones.”
Imagination Station is currently enrolling at their facility located at 1313 E. Third St. in Winslow or visit them online for enrollment information or to make an appointment for a tour at www.imaginationstationwinslow.com or call 928-244-4543.
