Honeypie Nature Playschool

Our Teachers

Honeypie Nature Playschool (formerly known as Honeypie Family Child Care) is owned and operated by Janell Moran and licensed by the state of Wisconsin and is a member and City of Madison Accredited through Satellite, and rated 5 Stars on the YoungStar Rating System. I am very proud of our Certification in Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom and Eco-Healthy Certification (certified in May 2019)

Greetings!!! My name is Janell Moran (Clark); I was raised in McFarland, WI; and am now raising my own four children, with my husband, Steve, in McFarland, WI (we moved in April 2017 from Madison). I enjoy spending time with my family; relaxing at our cabin; watching our children learn and explore; reading; spending time outdoors being nature’s friend/gardening (a new ‘adventure’ of mine). I also enjoy passionately volunteering my spare time to improve the quality of child care by sitting in on child care organizations, meetings, and taking many trainings, to continually learn and get more ideas to improve my standards of early education and care.

I am very passionate about our young children, and guiding our community in helping to create a brighter future for our young children, I am equally passionate about the field of Early Childhood Education and strive for quality care/education for young children (early years are learning years). I am a member of the National Association for Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), Dane County Association for Education of Young Children (DCAEYC), Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA), 4C’s (Community Coordinated Child Care); and I am an former active member of the Wisconsin Family Child Care Association (WFCCA) serving on the Board as WFCCA Secretary.

I am inspected regularly to ensure that I meet licensing standards as well as City of Madison Accreditation Standards. I am City of Madison Accredited through Satellite. (For more information on Satellite, please visit www.satellitefcc.com ).

I am responsible for the curriculum development, and meeting children’s individual needs, as well as the day-to-day operations of the center. I plan themes/units, environment changes, and materials, around the interests of children that I care for, with the children’s assistance; and using the Child Initiated/Emergent Curriculum. I welcome any suggestions from families for any ideas/activities they would like to see their children learn/experience.

I am a 2002 graduate of McFarland High School, and a 2004 graduate of Madison Area Technical College with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have 19+ years of experience in the early childhood field. My Registry level is currently at a level 12. I am CPR/AED and 1st Aid Certified, with additional training in Shaken Baby Syndrome, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I maintain 24+ hours of continuing education each year, with attendance at local, state, and national child care conferences. I am committed to providing each child and family with care and respect.

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Philosophy

MY PHILOSOPHY

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I believe children learn what they live. Providing a rich, nurturing environment which focuses on each child individually, and focusing on the group as a whole, centering the environment and curriculum around the children; comes around full circle teaching young children about nurturing and caring for one another. I believe in the notion of free play in a preschool/early educational classroom. I believe children learn through play; enabling children to learn freely in fun and interesting ways, a child becomes both a learner and a teacher. I provide a mixed age group in my program, which encourages children to “explore, learn, and nurture” with one another. Children truly do learn from their play and interactions with one another.

I strongly believe in learning in our outdoor environment. Research has proven that nature brings peace in times of stress/depression. Exposing our children to as much outdoor time as possible, becoming immersed in the outdoor environment, naturally decreases a child’s risk in becoming overstimulated, stressed, depressed, and reduces a child’s risk of becoming ill. “Through a process of watching children, I have seen the way that they respond to a variety of environments and the response that staff have had. Phrases used such as “he changes when he has space”, “It’s that time…we need to take them out”, “The baby will sleep well if you take her out.” -Clare Warden. I have lived this experience- as a child in my younger years, as a mother of my own four children, and as a provider caring for young children ages 6 weeks-12 years. Nature truly has a way to Nurture.

I believe in partnership with family and the community, this is so important to me as a Mother and as a Provider. Family and the community work together to raise our young children-our future! “It Takes A Village To Raise A Child”, this quote truly sums up my belief on educating and caring for young children. I am proud to have my program be such a vital part of the community; through field trips to local businesses, walks around our neighborhoods and to the parks, and trips to our local library. I am also honored to have a long lasting tradition of families enrolled at Honeypie Nature Playschool (past and present) become so supportive of our program, coming for visits to share their time and talents, celebrating our young children with open houses/celebrations, and so much more.

Early Childhood is the stepping-stone that enters children into the rest of their life. It is important that this stepping stone is a strong and sturdy one. I believe that I am a part of that stepping stone, starting them off on their journey. Through my love and support, to providing them with choices and helping to guide them along their way, I am honored to become a part of their lives and to have my program be one of the first stepping stones.

I believe that I must also be a role model, educator, and ambassador to high quality care for young children; because as much of an impact I make in my program, there is always more than I can do to help shape our future. Please see my “About Me” page for more information on what I do to advocate for our young children.

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About our program

“Exploring, Learning, and Nurturing”: What Makes Honeypie Nature Playschool so Special?

• Licensed, Accredited program with 5 Star Rating and a Nature Explore Certified Classroom and Eco-Healthy Certified Classroom creates a HIGH QUALITY CARE Program for great care for your child and family!

-FAMILY child care: Honeypie Nature Playschool is more than just a child care program. When you enroll with Honeypie Nature Playschool, you become a part of the Honeypie Family. Day to day communication with provider/families through face-to-face contact and via Shutterfly email, facebook, GrowthChart (online dailylog), and a quarterly newsletter. You get photos, videos, and a daily blog of what your Honeypie is up to-each and every day. Long-Lasting connections with families and a close parent/provider partnership in raising your little one <3

-Child Centered/PLAY based Curriculum: Honeypie Nature Playschool follows the Emergent/PLAY based Curriculum, using child observations and children’s interests to create daily activities and themes/units of study. The children take the lead, as they explore, learn, and nurture day to day; the activities and themes/units of study are then planned. Tomorrow is not planned, until today’s work is done!

-Emphasis on Outdoor Exploration with much of daily curriculum taking place outdoors, instilling a love for the outdoors in young children.

-SUMMER FUN! Weekly field trips to McFarland Public Library, area parks, The Little Gym, Spartan Bowl, McFarland House Cafe, and MORE!

-Study of Sign Language! Studies have shown that infants/toddlers introduced to sign language develop language skills sooner and demonstrate a better understanding in language/literacy.

-Child care program is in the lower level of the home- 100% dedication to a hands on environment for your little one. Defined spaces that introduce; art exploration, language/literacy, science/math skills, dramatic play, music/movement, construction/large motor, and more!

-Low Turnover: Families who enroll most often make Honeypie Nature Playschool their child’s ‘home away from home’- from the day of enrollment, until the day their child is ready for ‘big kid school’, often coming back to visit for drop in days and Summer Fun :D

​-Professionalism: As a licensed, accredited provider, and a member of YoungStar; I am committed 100%+ to providing you and your family with high quality care and to being an advocate for your child and all children, as well as the field of Early Childhood Education.

-Commitment to Learning and Advocacy for young children—with memberships to WFCCA (Wisconsin Family Child Care Association), WECA (Wisconsin Early Childhood Association), NAFCC (National Association for Family Child Care), NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), DCAEYC (Dane County Association for Education of Young Children), and Satellite Family Child Care. Serving as an active board member for WFCCA and an advocate for other organizations-I stay on top of the most current issues surrounding early childhood and Early Education.

Admissions

Join the Honeypie Nature Playschool community in four easy steps:

1. Explore our website

We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program may be right for your family.

2. Tour our program

Come see what makes Honeypie Nature Playschool unique. If we are currently hosting tours, you can request or schedule a tour at the top of this page. If we are not currently hosting tours, you’ll see a “Request Info” button at the top of this page; if you submit your information using this button, we will notify you when we start host tours again in the future.

3. Submit an Enrollment Application

If you would like to enroll, please submit an application at www.wonderschool.com/honeypie-nature-playschool-5982/apply – note that we require tours for all prospective families. Please do not submit an application if you have not visited the program.

4. Enroll

After reviewing your application, we’ll send an enrollment invitation. Upon accepting your invitation you’ll pay your enrollment fee, fill out enrollment documents and review our Parent Handbook.