My name is Lisa Boerum. This slideshow serves as a “visual resume” of one of the businesses that I owned for many years. Awesome Beginnings Childcare was located just east of Hugo, MN and closed on June 12, 2009. I provided families with quality child care for many years. I was very proud of my business. Caring for children was my professionally chosen career and I loved it. Owning Awesome Beginnings Childcare offered me the chance to make a difference in the world by having a positive effect on the life of a child. Part of my home (1300 square feet) had been custom built for my child care and was used exclusively for child care. Awesome Beginnings Childcare had its own driveway, entrance, kitchen, bathroom, infant/toddler bedroom, office, large playrooms, and a very large fenced playground. The rooms of the child care were divided by 32″ high walls which allowed for close supervision while still allowing the playrooms to be set up into different “learning centers”. Some of the learning centers included Dramatic Play, Blocks, Writing, Math, Manipulatives, Reading Loft, Infant/Toddler Manipulatives, Puzzles & Games, Art, Listening Area, Group Time Area, Music, and more. The benefits that Awesome Beginnings Childcare offered: A curriculum and learning environment that met the children’s social, emotional, physical, intellectual, health, and safety needs and met or exceeded the requirements of Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) code of ethics A system to observe and assess what the children knew in order to plan curriculum that addressed the children’s developmental and learning needs A clean, very organized environment that was well stocked with educational activities, toys and supplies Two experienced providers – I completed the training for the Child Development Associate Credential and I attended about 65 hours of training per year (8 were required). I employed a second provider that also attended annual training. Providers certified/trained in CPR and Emergency Response, SIDS, Shaken Baby Syndrome, and Child Passenger Restraint. These certifications were renewed on a regular basis. A smoke and pet free child care environment Excellent references from satisfied clients Worry-free caregiver backgrounds – each year a background study was completed on me, my employee, all my family members (age 13 and up) and my helpers/substitutes. Very competitive child care fees

1. Welcome to

2. Awesome Beginnings Childcare:
Was owned by Lisa Boerum
Was licensed by the State of Minnesota
Was an in-home childcare set up in the lower
level of the Lisa’s home which was used
exclusively for childcare (1300 sq. ft.)
Had its own kitchen, driveway, parking
area, and entrance.
Offered a center-like environment with a large
variety of learning centers
Was located 3 ½ miles east of Hugo, MN
Offered two caregivers (owner and employee)
Had a 15-passenger van for transporting
children to school and field trips
Closed on June 12, 2009

3. The Entrance:
lockers for coats & shoes ~ cubbies for belongings & papers
The cubbies have been turned around to hide the name labels for privacy.

5. Sleeping Bags for Naptime

8. Theme Based
Curriculum ~
The books on
the bookcases
were stored in
bins by
theme.

12. The
Computer
Center
In this photo
the computer
desk is in the
Group Room. It
was moved to
the Preschool
Area at a later
time.

13. The Preschool Area
Manipulatives, Lego Letter Wall, Math &
Writing Center, Reading Loft, and
Computer Center or Listening Center
This area was for ages 3 & up (chokable items).

15. A large variety
of learning
activities were
rotated on a
regular basis.

21. The Listening Center
Audio Programs That Teach
Phonemic Awareness, Letter Sounds, and Phonics

28. The Block Center
The items in this center were rotated
every 7-14 days and included:
 Wood unit blocks
 Soft (foam) unit blocks
 Large “Lego-type” blocks
 Block play people/accessories
 Tools, vehicles & transportation signs
 Multi-cultural and occupational props
 Lego Wall and more!

33. Kitchen ~ Dining ~ Art
 Rotating 6-week menu
 Dining/art table with 12 chairs/clip-
on highchairs
 Upper cabinets with art supplies (out
of reach)
 Rolling storage cubbies with paper
and art supplies (within reach for
independent self-service)

38. The Playground

45. The Infant & Toddler
Bedroom
Theme: Hey Diddle Diddle
(The Cat and the Fiddle)

46. Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over
the moon.
The little dog laughed,
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away
with the spoon.

54. Science and Indoor Sensory Area
Water, Sand, Science Experiments, and MORE!

55. Sensory Play ~ Insect Week

58. Bubbles &
“Baby”
Water Play

59. Giving the “Babies” a Bath
A Great Way to Spend a Hot Summer Day

60. Toddler Center
Infants & Toddlers were free to explore all areas except
the “Preschool Area” (blocked by short walls and a door)
due to the choking hazards.

61. Toddler
Book Shelves
The Daycare Office
(a.k.a. The Cracker
Jack Box)

62. Continuous rotation of
centers requires a lot of
storage!

67. Thank you for
“visiting”
Awesome
Beginnings
Childcare!