Kare-Bears Child Care

Our Teachers

Karen Watkins - Owner

Licensed for 30 years total

Started out with a Home I license = maximum 8 children Upgraded in 2006 to Home II license = maximum 12 children with 2 providers I commit myself to continued early childhood education I get involved with professional organizations such as Step up to Quality and NAEYC, Midwest Childcare Assoc., and NFCCA.

I am a parent to 3 children, two grown (33 and 31 years) and one 12 year old! I started child care when my oldest two were 3 and 5 years old! I have always loved to see children learn and grow! I loved to play with dolls as a child growing up and didn’t stop until I was a teenager! I held many babysitting and nanny jobs before I decided on home child care! This is truly my passion!

​Miquela:

Miquela (also called “Kalie”) has been on my state application with Kare-bears for the past 12 years. She also happens to be my daughter! She loves children and has 5 of her own! At times she is on the regular schedule and other times she has been a loyal back up sub here! She gets down on the children’s levels and is a great communicator as well! You will quickly learn how patient and stimulating she is in working with all ages of children.

Tonya:

Tonya has come aboard Kare-bears, it has been almost a year now, and has been a wonderful addition! Tonya has a kind and patient nature and is a great storyteller! She loves to read to the kids! Tonya is also organized and the kids and everyone can count on her to keep the place organized and clean. Tonya used to have her own child care so she understands the ins and outs of the child care business! We are all lucky to have her here!

Jennie:

Hi! My name is Jennie. I have worked with children one way or another my whole life, including being a nursing assistant at Childrens Hospital. I have 4 kids of my own who are now young adults, l also have 15 nieces and nephews! My current baby is my 3 year old German Shepherd, Luna! I love plants (indoors and out), cooking, photography, charity and animal rescue. I truly believe working with and being around kids keeps you young at heart!!

Kristina:

Hello I’m Kristina and I have been in childcare for about 13 years I took a break when I had my first two kids. I didn’t want to get burnt out or anything so I took a break. But I couldn’t do that for very long because kids is where my heart is at. I’m so excited to be at Kare-bears with your kiddos. I can’t wait to see all there personalities that they have.

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Testimonials

 Dear Future Parents of Kare Bear Daycare,  I wanted to take the time to tell all of you how wonderful Karen and staff have been to our children. Colin is almost 3 and has attended here since he was 2 months old. He hasn’t been the most fundamentally easy child, but Karen and her crew have supported us and helped us the whole way with him. Juliet, 6 months old, has been so well cared for, that I don’t have to worry about anything with her.  Karen uses an app called Brightwheel that informs you of all diaper changes, food and even sends us photos of our little ones. Some of our best photos have come from this app. We feel informed, supported and that our kids are being loved. There isn’t a better feeling than knowing that your kids are safe while you are working to make their lives better. I strongly recommend Kare Bears, and hope you will love it as much as we do. 

Jennifer Christensen

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We were very lucky to find a spot at Kare Bears - we were in a crunch, and she just happened to have an open spot for our daughter. We are so glad that Karen had availability because our daughter Zoey is thriving under her program! They work with the children and do “preschool” activities to help them acquire skills. Karen and her teachers are so kind and love the children like they are their own. They are quick to report any issues and they handle all of the children with care and dignity. They update the wonderschool app frequently so you can always check in and see how your little one is doing. Karen has high standards from her teachers and only accepts the best, so you know when your little one is with her and her staff, they are in great hands.

Jensyn Bell

We have been sending our children to Kare-bears for four years now. As a first time mom it was so hard and scary to think about entrusting someone with my baby, and I’m so beyond thankful that we found Karen. Our oldest daughter had such a strong bond with one of the caretakers as a baby, that when we happened to run into them at the zoo, she completely lit up after being in a terrible mood. That was when it really hit me that Karen and her staff truly care for and love our children, and aren’t just in it for a job. It is really a genuine passion for children. Karen is very careful about who she hires to care for the kids which is important to me. I’ve always been able to discuss concerns and get to a solution quickly. We feel so lucky to have a daycare we can trust in our very own neighborhood, and Kare-bears will always have a special place in our hearts! 

The Hoppman’s

Philosophy

Our onboarding philosophy is centered on safety as our primary focus. In addition, here at Kare-bears, we prioritize aiding children to become self-sufficient, self-aware of their “big” feelings, and capable of handling them appropriately. We also aim to maximize their social skills, preparing them for kindergarten as they continue to learn and grow.

Welcome to my daycare! I am delighted to serve you and your child, offering care from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday – Friday, with the option of 24-hour care. I believe that investing in your child’s early education is crucial for their emotional well-being. As a child care professional with 30 years of experience, I am committed to providing the building blocks for a successful future through interactive, hands-on, play-based learning.

Children are born without the knowledge of proper behavior, and it is our role to teach and guide them towards understanding appropriate feelings and behaviors gently and through a non-punitive approach whenever possible. Safety is our utmost concern at Kare-Bears Childcare & Preschool, offering a fully fenced play yard and a clean, eco-friendly environment. Our CPR/First Aid certified staff ensures a safe and nurturing space for your child to thrive.

About our program

Not only does Kare-Bears have just One dedicated provider, but rather it has several! Majority of the time, there will be two providers caring for the children. This helps to ensure the utmost safety of children in care, as well as bringing more specialities to the table. In addition, while searching and landing excellent providers here, I myself, Karen Watkins, am always doing so with an open mind so as to include various strongpoints to be brought to the child care. If one provider is excellent at organizational skills, I’ll seek out another that is naturally talented in game playing with the children or story time! Important to note; That all while being able to offer that homey “family” feeling that an in home child care provides.