About Us
Hello and thank you for stopping by to find out more about our family daycare. My name is Kathy Peter and I would love to give you a better idea of who we are and what we do. Our goal is to offer a wonderful environment of love and learning for all the little ones in our care.
I am the proud mother of two and aunt to seven. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Washington College. I have taken additional college courses in Early Childhood Education at ten colleges including Montgomery College, Chesapeake College, Harford County, Howard County and others. I also take frequent webinars and seminars after work in order to keep up-to-date with best practices involving executive function, speech development, autism, and the link between culture and equity in early childhood education.
I spent more than 11 years working in Washington, DC helping to facilitate the work of lobbyists with agriculture and health care legislation. Once I had my first child, I decided to stay home with her for awhile and became President of the Burtonsville chapter of MOMS Club Int'l (http://www.momsclub.org/),an organization dedicated to moms offering moms support. It was there that I learned of the parks, plays, field trip activities and educational opportunities in Montgomery County. That background makes me especially sensitive to those working parents who feel the pain of leaving their little one during the day. I felt that so acutely after the birth of my second child, that I decided to become a licensed child care provider and opened an in-home family daycare. This allowed me time to be with my children and to let local parents know that there is someone is out there who will treat their child with the love and qualified care that they would get if they could be with them all day.
Compliant with Maryland state licensing regulations, I have completed SIDS training and I am certified in first aid and infant/child/adult CPR and defibrillation. I have also completed the Montgomery County Office of Child Care classes on health and non-health related child development. In addition, I have completed 90 hours of child development training, abuse and neglect courses and administrative best practices training. I take great pride in the care of the children that enroll in our daycare, just as I do with my own children.
Our Philosophy
The Wee Friends philosophy is a simple one - love the children in your care just as you would your own. We have always been involved with our children in their school, extracurricular activities, social organizations and in the community. We feel there is no better place to begin to instill good values in children than in a home.
Our home is open to your children as they grow and learn and we look forward to that opportunity. All children enrolled into our daycare are treated with love and respect and provided with the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of activities. Our most fundamental objective is to provide for your child a safe and healthy atmosphere, in which each child will feel he/she is valued.
Our home is open to your children as they grow and learn and we look forward to that opportunity. All children enrolled into our daycare are treated with love and respect and provided with the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of activities. Our most fundamental objective is to provide for your child a safe and healthy atmosphere, in which each child will feel he/she is valued.
Our Policy
Each child will be provided with a sufficient quantity and variety of materials and play equipment. We have LOTS of toys in our daycare that we are eager to share. We encourage that all favorite toys from home remain at home so that something so special may not be lost during play. If one must be brought from home, it may be kept in a child's cubby until naptime.
Supervised outdoor play will be provided for all children in care, except during inclement weather or unless otherwise ordered by a physician.
Quiet time will be observed after lunchtime daily. All children under six are expected to observe quiet time daily and shall respect those who choose to sleep during that time. Each child will be provided with his/her own crib, pack-n-play or nap mat depending on age.
Parents should notify the provider of a child’s illness or suspected illness and to make alternate arrangements for care if the child shows any of the symptoms listed on the ILLNESS POLICY / HEALTH DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS subheading of the Wee Friends Policy Manual.
The provider will notify the parent if the child shows any symptoms while in care and parents are asked to pick up the child when requested by the provider.
In the event of a life-threatening medical emergency, the provider will call 911 and then the parents. If the parents cannot be reached, the provider will then call the persons listed on the Emergency Contact form.
Parents are required to supply the following items, which are necessary for the proper care of your child:
· Backpack/Diaper bag with one or more sets of season appropriate clothing
· Appropriate outside wear (boots, gloves, hat, etc.)
· Diapers or pull-ups
· Baby wipes
· Necessary medications (when applicable)
· Lunch or any food items consumed by children under 12 months or children with special dietary needs
By signing the contract, parents agree to abide by the written policies of the provider. The provider may amend the policies by giving the parents a copy of the new or changed contract at least 30 days before they go into effect.
For security and privacy reasons, we will not display images of the children in our care on WeeFriends.org.
Choosing a Provider
Many parents are faced with the difficulty of placing their children in the care of someone they do not know personally and hoping for the best. Our goal at Wee Friends is to change the way people think about childcare. We are the alternative - the loving in-home environment that your child would have if you could have the best of both worlds.
Some parents feel that their child would gain the most from a commercial daycare. Some feel that the in-home daycare is best suited for their child. Whatever you choose, please take your time and consider what you feel is the best fit for you and your little one.
The great thing about in-home daycare is the personal feel and comfortable atmosphere for the kids. It's like a playdate at someone's home, with more subtle, yet structured learning in the mix. Our daycare kids love the play areas in our home and they love to share the toys, games and especially the felt-board stories. We love to read at Wee Friends!
When searching for a daycare center or a home daycare, one of the best gauges is word-of-mouth. The more you know about a provider or a larger daycare facility, the better. Friends, family and neighbors can be a great help. Ask at your child's school if they have a list of preferred providers that you could contact. In Montgomery County, MD, the best public resource is the Locate Child Care (240-777-3130).
No matter what facility you decide is best for your daycare needs, research, decide and always stay involved with your provider. They appreciate the input.