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Stacy woman is 2003 Child Care Provider of the YearBy Danielle Strenke Ann Neumann has an unfaltering dedication to the well-being of children, making her the ideal recipient of the 2003 Chisago County Child Care Provider of the Year award. Ann, or Shelly, as the children in her care refer to her, has been taking care of children since she was old enough to babysit. Then it was for her own children and 18 years ago for other children in her home day care in rural Stacy. Neumann was recently honored as the provider of the year for Chisago County, recognizing her achievements in the field of child care. She said it was an honor to receive the award, and sees it as a good way to advocate for the child care profession. ìYou hear so much about the negatives, this focuses on the positive instead,î she said. Currently, Neumann has 14 children under her care. Each day the children hang up their coats on their own coat hook while parents have the opportunity to check the bulletin board next to the front door inside Neumannís home for important information. Every day at Neumannís child care is different. Although she structures days and weeks around specific topics, the days are flexible, depending on the needs and wants of the children. An important focus in learning at Neumannís home is through art. A tour of the home shows a large, colorful mural in the kitchen depicting fall scenes. Each mural can take weeks to complete, Neumann said, because she likes to keep the lessons short to keep the attention of the young children in her care. ìItís child-led, so that if something doesnít work then we will do something else,î Neumann said. Along with pictures on the mural of things like trees, leaves and a sun, Neumann prints the words of each item. ìThey may not know what it says, but they start to associate those words with something,î she said. She feels art is such an important part of the learning experience, that she puts paint brushes into a childís hands by the age of eight months. ìItís pretty young, but we use non-toxic paint so that by the time they are one they are developing those important skills,î Neumann said. The most important thing is to get the children involved in what they are learning, she said. Several of the units that Neumann works on with the children will culminate with field trips. A unit on gardening and planting ends with a field trip to a local farm. When she taught the children about butterflies, Neumann had larvae sent through the mail so that the children could watch as the larvae completed the cycle into a butterfly. Neumann has had several children with special needs under her care over the years. Some have been brought to her after being unable to work well at other day cares. While some may shy away from working with children with special behavioral, developmental or physical issues, Neumann seems to thrive on helping each child achieve his or her personal best. Neumann said those with special needs can remain in her care until they are 14, instead of 12 like other children. ìBut when they turn 12, they start as helpers so they help take responsibility for the younger ones,î Neumann said. A key to the success of Neumannís child care is just that ñ the older children help out the younger children much like siblings in a loving home would. Neumann also has one college-aged helper at her child care, and four teenage helpers, one of whom has been with Neumann since she was a baby. On a busy day when there are 14 children, Neumann has at least two helpers. Neumann said she has enjoyed her 18 years thus far as a child care provider. ìItís something different every day and you are being a role model for the future,î she said. ìI can add consistency to their lives, and I also get to do some of the things I love like arts and crafts.î She started her own business after her two oldest children, now 22 and 20, were born. Neumann also has two other children, ages 12 and 10. Several parents bringing their children to Neumann wrote letters of recommendation to consider Neumannís child care as a Head Start Licensed Family Child Care Home. ìMy feelings about our provider are we won the provider lottery,î one parent wrote. One who has a child with special needs wrote, ìshe has been a crucial part in the progress our daughter has achieved.î ìShe is a teacher as well as a second mother to my children. Thereís no other person Iíd trust to care for my children the way I trust her,î another parent wrote. Neumannís home was accepted after the recommendations as a Head Start Licensed Family Child Care Home. Aside from running her child care, Neumann also facilitates special events as a parent educator for Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) in North Branch. She is currently working toward a degree in Early Childhood Education and is the vice president of education for the Child Care Provider Network of Chisago County. Neumann said caring for children is the most important thing she could be doing. ìItís my calling ñ I think I was born to do this.î Neumann was officially recognized as the 2003 Child Care Provider of the Year for Chisago County during the week of the Family Child Care Provider, Oct. 6-11. She received the award at a banquet Oct. 11 as part of the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association. Neumann was also commended by the Chisago County Board of Commissioners through official resolution, commending her for her ìdiligent commitment to the care of young children.î ©ECM Post Review |