brenda's story with s.m.a.r.t. steps

“I would call my childcare a S.M.A.R.T. Program,” says Brenda Novack, Family Child Care Provider and owner of Little Wonders Child Care. Two years ago, Brenda took A Chance To Grow’s S.M.A.R.T. Steps course, designed to provide Family Child Care Providers with children aged 0-5 years with fun, play-like activities that promote natural, healthy brain development.

Brenda now incorporates the program’s developmental movement activities into the daily routine of the children in her care. The results are remarkable!

S.M.A.R.T. Steps has helped the children at Little Wonders build foundational learning skills such as gross and fine motor skills, vision skills, auditory skills, and balance: all of which are essential for reading, writing, focus, retention, and more. By strengthening these skills, children prepare for preschool and kindergarten learning! In addition to learning-readiness benefits, S.M.A.R.T. Steps helps Brenda manage challenging behaviors.

We join Brenda in thanking the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) for spreading awareness of continuing education opportunities like S.M.A.R.T. Steps. SMIF is a proud partner of A Chance To Grow, serving 20 counties, 175 communities, and one Native nation in the southeastern Minnesota region. Says Brenda, “Having SMIF offer these trainings to us, it shows that our profession is being valued, which is huge.” A Chance To Grow is honored to support Family Child Care Providers like Brenda, who are located in rural Minnesota communities.

Read the entire story here: smifoundation.org/blog/2024/12/feeling-valued/
Photos by Red Bird Hills with permission from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation