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Imagine U at Local Events September 2024

September 5, 2024

The Imagine Institute’s vision of affordable, high-quality care for every child in Washington State is rooted in community. We aim to build an accessible, strong, and diverse development system that elevates and improves the lives of child care providers and professionals and a huge part of that involves going out into our region and meeting potential providers face-to-face. This September, Imagine U, the Imagine Institute’s relationship-based mentorship program, is attending a couple of events out in the community. Imagine U identifies potential

Read More

Increasing Child Care Access in Whatcom County

August 28, 2024

The Imagine Institute and Whatcom County Health and Community Services are working together to support working families by increasing access to licensed child care, right in your community. Know someone in Whatcom County who would like to join Imagine U this year and start their own family home child care business? This program takes only 10 months and provides compensation for hands-on learning! About Imagine U Imagine U is a relationship-based mentorship program designed to increase the number of licensed family child

Read More

Back-to-School Activities for Kids

August 15, 2024

It’s that time of year again when Summer break ends, and kids are heading back to school. Even if you are provider, you can get into the school spirit. We have a few activities you can share with your kids to make starting school more fun, and to get them excited to learn. School Scavenger Hunt – There are many ways to get kids excited about starting school, including a scavenger hunt. Place school supplies around the room and have kids go

Read More

Summer Learning: History of Summer Snacks

July 31, 2024

The beautiful, warm summer months are in full swing. Swimming, popsicles, camping, and more marks a great summer. This year, we also want to make learning a staple of the summer! In June, we started our Summer Learning series on the Imagine Institute’s blog. This month, we’re continuing our series of fun topics you can incorporate into your child care in an educational capacity.   For July, we’re covering the history and invention of favorite summer snacks. Take a look! The Popsicle WHO

Read More

Summer Learning: Nature in the Pacific Northwest

June 28, 2024

Summer is officially upon us, and school is out of session for the next few months. But the learning doesn’t need to stop there! Here at the Imagine Institute we wanted to put together a small series of blogs to share some ideas of topics you can cover in your child care to keep the learning going this summer. In this Summer Learning series, we’ll share fun topics of education you can incorporate into your child care this summer and beyond. This

Read More

Celebrate Pride Month with Fun Activities for Kids

June 27, 2024

June is Pride Month, and it’s a good opportunity to celebrate inclusion and equality with your kids. There are several activities to help kids understand what Pride is about and to promote the spirit of inclusion and representation. We have gathered a few ideas we think you’ll enjoy. Create a Rainbow Collage – Start by grabbing a big piece of paper and using crayons to draw a rainbow right in the center. Then find scraps of colored paper, stickers, glitter, thin wood

Read More

Imagine Spotlight Pierce County: Diego Ramos

April 8, 2024

The Imagine Institute helps support early learning providers all across Washington State, and like to keep track of the progress these providers are making. This week, we want to introduce you to Diego Ramos, who is helping kids in Pierce County, and helping to start a new trend in helping other providers in his community.   MEET DIEGO Diego lives in Tacoma and has been a licensed family home child care provider for about three years, but his training goes back even

Read More

Spring Into New Activities For Kids

April 1, 2024

The ground is thawing out, and the weather is getting warm. Spring is here, and it’s time to find some seasonal activities for your kids. Whether it’s outside or inside, we have some ideas for you that are fun and entertaining for your group. Cloud Paintings – The weather can change a lot during spring, and that means there are many different types of clouds in the sky. Take your kids outside to identify some of them. They can draw or paint

Read More
A young woman with brown hair stands on a beach

Imagine Spotlight: Alexis Wynne

March 15, 2024

This week, we are excited to highlight Alexis Wynne, who runs a family home child care business in Auburn, Washington.   MEET ALEXIS Alexis grew up in the child care business. Her mother, Carli Meek, started Little Steps Discovery Zone when Alexis was 7 years old and her sister was a baby. When she was a young teenager, Alexis started volunteering at Little Steps. She took a break after graduating high school, but she soon found her way back to child care.

Read More
Two women, a mother and her adult daughter, sit in a car together

Imagine Spotlight: Carli Meek

March 11, 2024

This week, we are excited to highlight Carli Meek, the program manager for Imagine U and a longtime child care provider in Auburn, Washington.   MEET CARLI When Carli had her second daughter in 2004, she had just finished dental assistant school. But her plans quickly changed. Her sister also had a newborn, and the two enjoyed staying home with their babies so much, they decided to start a family home child care business. “I was able to stay home with my

Read More

Imagine U at Local Events September 2024

September 5, 2024

The Imagine Institute’s vision of affordable, high-quality care for every child in Washington State is rooted in community. We aim to build an accessible, strong, and diverse development system that elevates and improves the lives of child care providers and professionals and a huge part of that involves going out into our region and meeting potential providers face-to-face. This September, Imagine U, the Imagine Institute’s relationship-based mentorship program, is attending a couple of events out in the community. Imagine U identifies potential

Read More

Increasing Child Care Access in Whatcom County

August 28, 2024

The Imagine Institute and Whatcom County Health and Community Services are working together to support working families by increasing access to licensed child care, right in your community. Know someone in Whatcom County who would like to join Imagine U this year and start their own family home child care business? This program takes only 10 months and provides compensation for hands-on learning! About Imagine U Imagine U is a relationship-based mentorship program designed to increase the number of licensed family child

Read More

Back-to-School Activities for Kids

August 15, 2024

It’s that time of year again when Summer break ends, and kids are heading back to school. Even if you are provider, you can get into the school spirit. We have a few activities you can share with your kids to make starting school more fun, and to get them excited to learn. School Scavenger Hunt – There are many ways to get kids excited about starting school, including a scavenger hunt. Place school supplies around the room and have kids go

Read More

Summer Learning: History of Summer Snacks

July 31, 2024

The beautiful, warm summer months are in full swing. Swimming, popsicles, camping, and more marks a great summer. This year, we also want to make learning a staple of the summer! In June, we started our Summer Learning series on the Imagine Institute’s blog. This month, we’re continuing our series of fun topics you can incorporate into your child care in an educational capacity.   For July, we’re covering the history and invention of favorite summer snacks. Take a look! The Popsicle WHO

Read More

Summer Learning: Nature in the Pacific Northwest

June 28, 2024

Summer is officially upon us, and school is out of session for the next few months. But the learning doesn’t need to stop there! Here at the Imagine Institute we wanted to put together a small series of blogs to share some ideas of topics you can cover in your child care to keep the learning going this summer. In this Summer Learning series, we’ll share fun topics of education you can incorporate into your child care this summer and beyond. This

Read More

Celebrate Pride Month with Fun Activities for Kids

June 27, 2024

June is Pride Month, and it’s a good opportunity to celebrate inclusion and equality with your kids. There are several activities to help kids understand what Pride is about and to promote the spirit of inclusion and representation. We have gathered a few ideas we think you’ll enjoy. Create a Rainbow Collage – Start by grabbing a big piece of paper and using crayons to draw a rainbow right in the center. Then find scraps of colored paper, stickers, glitter, thin wood

Read More

Imagine Spotlight Pierce County: Diego Ramos

April 8, 2024

The Imagine Institute helps support early learning providers all across Washington State, and like to keep track of the progress these providers are making. This week, we want to introduce you to Diego Ramos, who is helping kids in Pierce County, and helping to start a new trend in helping other providers in his community.   MEET DIEGO Diego lives in Tacoma and has been a licensed family home child care provider for about three years, but his training goes back even

Read More

Spring Into New Activities For Kids

April 1, 2024

The ground is thawing out, and the weather is getting warm. Spring is here, and it’s time to find some seasonal activities for your kids. Whether it’s outside or inside, we have some ideas for you that are fun and entertaining for your group. Cloud Paintings – The weather can change a lot during spring, and that means there are many different types of clouds in the sky. Take your kids outside to identify some of them. They can draw or paint

Read More
A young woman with brown hair stands on a beach

Imagine Spotlight: Alexis Wynne

March 15, 2024

This week, we are excited to highlight Alexis Wynne, who runs a family home child care business in Auburn, Washington.   MEET ALEXIS Alexis grew up in the child care business. Her mother, Carli Meek, started Little Steps Discovery Zone when Alexis was 7 years old and her sister was a baby. When she was a young teenager, Alexis started volunteering at Little Steps. She took a break after graduating high school, but she soon found her way back to child care.

Read More
Two women, a mother and her adult daughter, sit in a car together

Imagine Spotlight: Carli Meek

March 11, 2024

This week, we are excited to highlight Carli Meek, the program manager for Imagine U and a longtime child care provider in Auburn, Washington.   MEET CARLI When Carli had her second daughter in 2004, she had just finished dental assistant school. But her plans quickly changed. Her sister also had a newborn, and the two enjoyed staying home with their babies so much, they decided to start a family home child care business. “I was able to stay home with my

Read More

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