Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephany Guzman.
Hi Stephany, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have been working with children since 2008. My mother has her own child care facility and I spent my vacations and after school helping her with planning daily activities for the children, setting up tours for potential clients, and being present during these tours. I also assisted her with all of the administrative part of the business, Mind you I was only 14 at the time. I never imagined having my own childcare facility. After high school, I worked for a finance company and I just envisioned myself working for someone else. It wasn’t until COVID happened that I was laid off and children were now needing a place to do online school and there wasn’t enough providers who would take school-age children. I knew the childcare business like the back of my hand, I had previously worked with school-age children at the YMCA. Why not open my own child care? Why not be my own boss? It has been a very rewarding decision, and sort of like a blessing in disguise. Now that children are back at school, I have put my main focus on teaching infants and toddlers, and oh boy do I love these little ones and their silliness. There is not one day where I don’t smile with them. They are the future of our world!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Trying to open a business mid pandemic was definitely a bump on the road. It took a few months before I could even get my hands on wooden fixtures for the children, everything was out of stock. It took a while to get my application for the child care reviewed and scheduling an inspection since everyone was taking precautions.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Prickly Pears Family Child Care?
This is not your ordinary child care where you drop off and your child plays for hours without a purpose. The children are meant to have fun playing and it’s fun to learn while using their senses. I allow for their gross and fine motor skills to develop, my toddlers were pandemic babies, they couldn’t go to parks or playdates, they were at home with their Parents and Guardians. Now they are in a classroom with other children learning how to socialize, how to manage their emotions getting them ready for when they make their leap over to kindergarten.
Contact Info:
- Email: pricklypearsfcc@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pricklypearsfcc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pricklypearsfcc
Image Credits
Prickly Pears Family Child Care
