Kid's Connection Care

Our Teachers

Hello, my name is Ariana Payne and I want to welcome you to Kid’s Connection. I am a mom to a wonderful daughter; Aniyah and I know first-hand how important it is to find and provide quality care for the one(s) we love. I started this journey to spend more time with my daughter, build the necessary connections to the world around us and to challenge myself to do more. I’ve been in the childcare field for over 10 years and have experience working in childcare centers, before and after school programs, Sunday schools, private school settings, military installations, and direct in- home care. I also, have experience in high stress and trauma related environments, as well as having served as a volunteer for the Nevada Trauma Intervention Program and certified in Trauma Yoga. I am currently getting my RBT credential and going to school for Psychology with an emphasis on behavioral science.

Testimonials

Ariana has been a valuable addition to our family. She has consistently demonstrated exceptional qualities in her childcare services. She is always caring and attentive to our child’s needs and well-being. Her genuine concern for our child’s safety, happiness, and comfort is evident in every interaction. Her effective communication skills are commendable; keeping us informed and even sending pictures with updates with engaging, age- appropriate activities that are not only fun but educational! She tailors her care to our child’s needs and abilities while still creating a nurturing and stimulating environment to all children in her care. She has become an extended part of our family who we trust and cherish to provide excellent care to our child! Sincerely, Jade and Tim

I have had the pleasure of working with her from 2017-2022 at the Youth Center on Nellis Air Force Base. During that time I have seen Ariana be devoted to not only the program but to the children as well. She arrives on time every day and does what is needed of her without hesitation. She is great at keeping kids engaged in activities. Kids of all ages look forward to spending time with Ariana. Not only is Ariana great with kids, but she is also responsible and able to stay calm even under stressful situations. She is certified in CPR and First Aid, which is always a great reassurance that the children in her care are in great hands if any emergency arises. Ariana will follow your instructions exactly, and is very smart about dealing with unexpected visitors or phone calls. I always appreciated how great Ariana is at keeping children calm. Some of the children get anxious, overwhelmed, or upset and Ariana uses de-escalation techniques to calm them down. So rest assured that your children are in great hands. You can be confident you are in great hands. I highly recommend Ariana and I truly believe you’d be missing out by not choosing her as your regular provider. Sincerely, Aubriana Cage

As the Nellis Air Force Base Teen Director I have worked with Ariana for 6 years at the Nellis Youth Center. Ariana has always displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility, and ambition. She is a highly respected leader, artist, role model and mentor with an unparalleled passion for young people. Ariana was instrumental in making Nellis AFB one of the best Before and After School Programs in the Air Force. She is also a most valuable team player, a favorite among her peers, a thoughtful individual with a caring heart and compassion for all people going above and beyond what is expected. An unwavering commitment to achieving her goals. Ariana is well-liked by her fellow colleagues and displays a genuine ability to process information, complete assigned deadlines and to ensure a professional working environment. Ariana would be an asset to any family or organization, and I am confident she will excel in whatever she sets her mind to do, therefore, I strongly recommend her without reservation giving her my wholehearted endorsement. Sincerely, Davin Watson

I am a former Keystone President and attendee of the Nellis Air Force Base Youth Center. I was one of Ariana’s many students from 2016-2020. With that being said I strongly recommend Ariana. I have known Ariana for over four years now and continue to be in awe of her dedication to her kids. In fact, Ariana is the type of advisor that made going to the youth center worthwhile. To start, she is extremely caring, passionate and self motivated, and it is apparent from observation and our multiple conversations during open hours. For instance, every week, students would come to the youth center after school, and Ariana would have activities and arts and crafts activities ready for anyone to do. In addition, she never seizes to amaze me with her selflessness and determination to succeed. She is that she is truly a kind-hearted person, respectful, intelligent, committed, creative, resilient and charismatic. Not only does Ariana possess those qualities, but also she is truly one of the most Zealous advisors I have met in my years under BGCA. She strives to make her workplace a welcoming, organized, joyful and safe place for all teens and preteens. Whether it is organizing events as an Advisor, volunteering for the community with Keystone, or simply being a role model for young women, Ariana continues to redefine the definition of an exemplary Advisor. It is not every day that you not only have an advisor but also a mentor that strives for growth for themselves, but also to help young adults succeed by providing guidance and opportunities to enhance ourselves. She believes in our potential and challenges us. I consider Ariana to be one of those great leaders and blessings for our generation and generations to come. Sincerely, SanDarion Clayton

I have known Ariana since 2013 when she became a Child and Youth Program Assistant for the Nellis Air Force Base Child Development Center #3 and then held the same position at the Nellis Air Force Base Youth Center. In my monthly observations of and frequent interactions with Ariana, I have known her to be an intelligent, caring, dependable, and respectful person. Ariana creates and implements lesson plan activities that help to meet the needs and interests of the children in her care. Ariana made a smooth transition from working at the Child Development Center with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, to working at the Youth Center with children ages 5 to 18 years, which is not an easy task. Ariana studied the policies and procedures and became an effective caregiver. She took the time organize her work area to meet the requirements set forth by Air Force, and was always working closely with the children on a daily basis. Ariana gets along well with others, and is able to effectively communicate with children, families, and the program management staff in various ways (written, verbal, etc.). Ariana is flexible and can work comfortably with all age groups. She has shown that she is able to support children’s needs, which helps to support a sense of trust. Ariana is a fast learner and she asked lots of questions, which shows her desire to not only learn, but to also make sure she is completing tasks the right way. Ariana is creative and goes out of her way to ensure the children in her care are comfortable and know that they have an adult that they can depend on. Allowing Ariana to work for your program would not only help improve her skills, but also allow her to have opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Ariana is definitely a leader among her peers. She is an overall great person and has been a positive influence in our program. Ariana has shown herself to be professional and would do well working in any capacity dealing with children/teaching. I have no doubt that Ariana will go on to do great things in the future. MALCOLM WAITERS, GS-12, DAF Flight Chief, Child and Youth Programs

Philosophy

All children learn differently and there is not only one way of learning. My program is mixture of Montessori and play-based learning. At Kid’s Connection we believe in following children’s natural instinct to explore within boundaries, hands on learning, develop life skills, structure and routine as well as; learning social skills through play, self chosen activities, problem solving and self resolution. By following a mixture of curriculums DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice) and ELM (Early Learning Matters); the 5 main areas of child development Gross motor (physical/whole body movement), fine motor (coordination of small muscle movements/hands), speech and language, cognitive and intellectual (think and reasoning), social and emotional learning are all included. Kid’s Connection is a safe space for kids to explore individuality, appropriate emotional expressions, allow sensory sensitive play and provides rotation of toys without overstimulation and ever-changing environment. I I routinely practice health and safety to children, and also sanitize areas and toys nightly. I offer individualized care, age-appropriate homework to help children make a balanced connection between home and school. I offer fun and challenging activities to help kids grow, not lose interest and keep them engaged. I fully believe that knowledge is power! Therefore, I offer monthly Tips/ Topics and more for families; at no charge. If you have any questions or concerns or need assistance; please don’t hesitate to ask!

Location

Located away from the strip and busy streets. I live on an enclosed street safe for playing and neighbors that have young kids. About 10 minutes away from Nellis, AFB and I have base access and can transport children, if needed.

About our program

My program offers quality and reliable childcare with over 10 years of experience in various areas. I believe in an all inclusive place of learning and that every child deserves the same quality of care and therefore; ALL kids are welcome and will have the opportunity to explore freedom within limits, physical, social, and intellectual learning and is a continuation of both home and grade school learning. I offer homework help, curriculum based learning objectives, family involvement opportunities, monthly resources and tips, quarterly events, and outings or field trips.

Admissions

At Kid’s Connection our admission process is completed in 3 easy steps: scheduling a meet and greet, completing a 2 week trial, and enrolling!