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I’m Dr. Carla Thomas and I’m the founder and director of Dandelion Wonderschool. The idea for DW was born in my heart back in 2019 when I was facing the end of maternity leave with my first child. I’d spent the last 12 weeks responding to my baby’s needs and building attachment and trust, and now I had to leave her in a room with 7 other babies and a musical chairs rotating cast of caregivers. It didn’t feel right for my family and I longed for a place she could go where she could attach deeply to her caregivers and grow in a developmentally appropriate, responsive, and nurturing environment.
I ultimately left my position at Penn State as a commercial horticulture extension educator to stay home with my daughter, and added a sweet baby boy in 2021.
As parents are returning to in-person work, the demand for childcare is skyrocketing. I knew I wasn’t the only parent who wanted a loving environment for their kids where they can relax into play and responsive, respectful, and attachment-focused caregiving. So I created Dandelion Wonderschool.