New childcare to open in Wellsboro

Jun 07, 2023

tiogapublishing.com

General News Reporter

Wellsboro Children's House, a new daycare/preschool for ages six weeks to kindergarten located at 65 Pearl Street, will open its doors later this spring after holding an open house on Saturday, April 15.

It has taken owners Dolly Boder and Erin Jelliff 18 months to hold meetings with neighbors satisfying noise and traffic concerns, renovate the building and bring everything to code.

"Erin's brother Brad Snowbird completely gutted, rebuilt and designed the property," said Boder. "He re-did the whole thing."

The result is a sparkling new facility designed specifically as a day care, not a residential house. Wellsboro Children's House will take a Montessori-based approach to child care and education.

The Montessori menthol is an educational theory that subscribes to following kids’ natural interests instead of formal, structured activities. Emphasis is on hands-on learning and real-world skills.

A day care or school must have Montessori-certified staff to declare itself a Montessori facility. Both Jelliff and Boder have Montessori certifications, as does a third employee.

The upstairs will serve infants and children up to three years. The space features toys and activity centers, but purposefully does not have cribs or playpens.

"We don't think infants and toddlers should be confined," said Boder. "We have mats for the little ones to sleep on."

The first floor is designed for children ages three years to kindergarten. Boder and Jelliff are projecting a capacity of 19 children.

Everything is scaled to fit the needs of small children, with a training toilet, child-sized sinks and appliances and a variety of seating choices for the older children.

"Not everyone can sit in a chair and focus, especially some of our kids with special needs," said Boder. "Here we have mats, cushions, floor seating and a table and chairs."

They fully-fenced yard is runs a full block to Walnut Street. Jelliff and Boder consider the quiet in-town street an ideal location.

"This is off the beaten path in a residential area," said Boder.

"It's a safe space; we know who is supposed to be here and who isn't," said Jelliff. "I don't think daycares should be on a busy street corner."

The outdoor space is dirt, and it will stay that way.

"Kids are going to run all over it anyway, so why plant grass?" said Boder. "We’ll have a mud kitchen, climbers and here is our big mountain of dirt for the kids to play on. We’re going to see what the kids want to use the space for. We know it’ll change."

The small enclosed front yard is a grassy space and will be dedicated to gardening both food and flowers.

Boder and Jelliff have backgrounds in education; Boder has degrees in biology and environmental science and Jelliff has a B.A. in elementary education. They met while working at The Learning Tree of Wellsboro, formerly known as the Wellsboro Montessori Children's Center.

"We worked together for 10 or 12 years," said Boder.

"Mary Grab has helped us out enormously," said Jelliff. "We really consider her a mentor."

Grab is the former director of The Learning Tree and the former Montessori school.

Wellsboro Children's House is currently at capacity for infants and are accepting ages 3-K. Boder and Jelliff expect to have a waiting list. Once accepted into the program, parents are guaranteed a spot as their child ages.

"We will also be hiring," said Boder. "We want people who will work here long-term, and we’ll pay for their certification."

Hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the facility will operate year-round. Snacks are provided — "part of our curriculum is food preparation," said Jelliff — but students must bring a lunch.

For more information, call 272- 462-5001, email [email protected] or visit the Facebook page.

General News Reporter

A mix of clouds and sun this morning then becoming cloudy with periods of light rain this afternoon. High near 75F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Some clouds. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.

Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 81F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

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