A New Chapter in Childcare: Wabasha Welcomes Ella's Precious Children Daycare

Parents in Wabasha have faced a common challenge of finding available childcare in the community. Waitlists for in-home daycare providers are essential, with most in-home daycares being full seasons in advance. While dedicated in-home providers served families loyally, the absence of a daycare center left a noticeable gap in services for families. Sheneka Grant, although not originally from Wabasha, brought her a dream to the community of opening her own daycare center. Located in the Mittel Schule building, her dream has now become a reality. Ella’s Precious Child Daycare represents more than just a new business, it's the culmination of Grant’s journey and the answer to many families' wishes of a daycare center in town. The story behind this new establishment weaves together personal determi-nation, community support, and an understanding of what children need to thrive.Grant's path to opening the daycare center began with her own family's needs. After relocating from Illinois to be closer to her father in Lake City, she found herself navigating the challenges of raising two-year-old twins and several other children who attend W-K, all while searching for reliable childcare in her new hometown of Wabasha. Her previous experience running a daycare in Illinois had given her valuable insights into what makes a daycare successful, and her eighteen years as a Certified Nursing Assistant working with both young children and elderly adults had honed her caregiving skills."Attending to the basic needs of children comes naturally to me and my friendly nature makes it easy to win the love of children," Grant shares, her eyes lighting up as she discusses her calling. "Being a child care provider requires dedication, patience, and a genuine love for children and I have just that." The journey from concept to reality gained momentum when Grant connected with Ms. Laurie Secrist, an Early Childhood specialist from Three Rivers. Recognizing Grant's potential and passion, Secrist saw in her the perfect candidate to fill Wabasha's need for a child care center. With additional support from Jane Adams at Three Rivers, who helped secure vital grant funding, the pieces began falling into place.What was once an empty space in the Mittel Schule building has undergone a remarkable transformation. Today, it stands as a thought-fully designed environment for little ones to learn and play. The main room buzzes with bright colors, activity centers, toys, and books catering to different age groups and developmental stages. A well-equipped kitchen ensures proper meal preparation, while the welcoming entry area features individual cubbies for each child's personal space for belongings.
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