Little Dipper Daycare opens its doors

By Brandie Majeau

On April 22, 2024, Little Dipper Daycare opened in Radway, offering care for

children aged 12 months to 12 years from 6:45 am to 5:45 pm, and after-school care.

The daycare also provides transportation services to Thorhild and Waskatenau. Kali

Stow, Little Dipper Daycare Owner/Director, began working in Thorhild in August of

2021 and started her Level 1 Early Childhood Educator. Transitioning through further

studies in the following year through Portage College and accepting a position at

Andrew School to run their preschool program, she completed her certificate. Then, she

moved on to complete her ELCC Diploma in December 2023. After Andrew School

closed in the summer of 2023, Stow moved to fulfill her long-term goal of opening her

daycare. Turning her vision into reality began in September 2023 as she navigated the

various aspects of running a private facility and tackled the bureaucratic challenges to

transition the Little Dipper Daycare into a successful care facility.

Stow carefully considered the pros and cons of running a private care facility, but

ultimately wanted the freedom to make and implement changes, without a board, as

needed for the benefit of attending children. With support from Thorhild FCSS and AHS,

Little Dipper Daycare can provide access to occupational therapists, physical therapists,

and speech pathologists. Stow and her Assistant Director, Kelly Craig, emphasized the

importance of offering these services to meet each child’s needs individually, often

offering early intervention to prepare them for their next step before attending school.

After Kali Stow and Kelly Craig spoke about their experiences in childcare, they

described many instances where the staff were unhappy, which affected the entire

facility’s mood. Stow explained that part of the vision was to create a facility where

happy kids are a result of having happy staff. Children spend long hours in their care,

and providing a positive environment where everyone’s well-being is valued will

encourage a low turnover rate with staff. This creates a distinct difference between

being a daycare and not just a babysitting service.

Little Dipper Daycare promotes individual independence, and the staff is there to

support the needs of the children. They have created an environment that encourages

experiences and free learning. There is an opportunity for fun and gentle

encouragement to challenge themselves and experience continual growth. The daycare

provides a warm and calm atmosphere amid the joyful chaos that brings the children

together as a familial unit. This expands their experiences through peer modeling and

helps them become little leaders with purpose through play. “They are allowed to

explore,” explained Craig, emphasizing that the children are seen as tiny humans

deserving respect and the freedom to make individual choices, as opposed to the

“seen-but-not-heard” mentality.

Stow described the wide range of programming available for the children,

including unique opportunities such as raising butterflies and hatching chicks. Her vision

for a space where children can learn through play, based on their individual interests

and free will, is evident in the children’s happiness as they talk about their day. The

opening of Little Dipper Daycare has received tremendous support from the community,

and she is grateful for all the donations and various forms of support, such as

individuals offering to fill the kiddy pools with fresh water each morning during the heat

wave. There are still some renovations planned, including an outdoor perimeter fence

for safety and privacy, as well as the need for more outdoor toys and organizational

units. However, these things will come in time. Little Dipper Daycare has been focused

on basing its reputation on word of mouth rather than advertising and letting that stand

on its own. “Our kids are amazing. Our staff is amazing.” expressed Stow, and she is

looking forward to the future and what it holds for Little Dipper Daycare.