About Us
About Our Team
Mrs. Kim's Childcare, teachers, and staff not only do they meet the state requirements,
but they also exceed them. Our team members take pride in helping shape children.
Each teacher has their own way and unique style of teaching, and to observe children
as they "Play their way through learning." Our team collaborates and plans your child's
curriculum each month with the director's approval. Team members receive continuous
training in Early Childhood Education, promoting best practices and developmentally
appropriate practices. All Trainings are Department of Human Services-approved.
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Team Members Qualifications:
. We choose teachers based on their experience, training, and passion for early
childhood education.
· Staff Screenings include an application, interview, and reference check, previous
employers, and background and fingerprints from the TBI.
. All teachers have Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification in addition to 18-plus
training each year.
Meet Our Center Director & Owner
Kimberly Peterson
Mrs. Kim has been in childcare for 27 years; Mrs. Kim has been licensed for 26 years. Mrs. Kim started her career in 1999, registered with the state, which means caring for 4 children in her home. In the Year 2000, Mrs. Kim was licensed for 7 children. She had built onto her house to make a Family childcare. In 2006, she became licensed to have 12 plus 3 school children. In the year 2023, she became licensed to care for 24 children, and more classrooms were built.
Mrs. Kim graduated from Vol-State in 2010 in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys seeing the children she has in her center grow, learn, and see where life takes them after leaving the center.
When she is not working in the center, she enjoys family time, shopping, and her
grandchildren.
Our Team
Each classroom has a Lead Teacher who is responsible for their classroom. This includes treating the children with respect, having a safe, healthy, and loving environment for children to learn, and meeting Milestones at the child’s learning ability. The Lead Teacher will have opportunities for development activities according to the child’s age, talents, and interests. We believe a child should have fun, even experts agree children learn best through “PLAY.”
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Lead Teachers have areas in Milestones that are in lesson plans that will meet Cognitive Development, Emotional Development, and Social Development. And Physical Development. All these things are learned through “Play.”
Each classroom uses the Tennessee Early Developmental Standards, Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment, and Child Abuse Curriculum when teaching.
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There are 3 Classrooms with 3 Lead Teachers and a Teacher Assistant.
Program
Curriculum
Mrs. Kim's Childcare is a center of "Play-Based" Learning. What is "Play-Based" Learning? It is an educational approach where children learn fundamental academic, social, and emotional skills through play, exploration, and discovery, making learning enjoyable and child-driven
while supported by intentional adult guidance. It is a holistic method that leverages children's natural curiosity, allowing them to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills in meaningful, hands-on ways.
Why We Play and Learn?
There's a long, worn-out battle about early childhood curriculum. Should it be play-based or academic-based? Should the early years be for playful discovery or intentional foundation building? The argument goes round and round with each camp accusing the other of missing the mark.
In all this time spent vilifying the other side, it may have been overlooked that the two groups are actually arguing over a false dichotomy. Play or learning. One or the other. Take it or leave it. In our opinion, that perspective is where the real problem lies.
You see, academics is simply the subject matter. Play is a method for teaching, and learning is the outcome. Academics, play, and learning are not mutually exclusive.
Setting play and academics at odds with each other is pitting the method against the goal. It's not an either/or choice, it's a means and an end. We know from research that young children learn best when they are allowed to be hands-on, explore, play, and construct knowledge. We also know that, developmentally, they need social play to build vital social-emotional skills. This is why, in our program, we work to preserve play in order for kids to learn.
We also believe that in order to teach effectively through play, we, as teachers, must be aware, prepared, and intentional. We have to know the subject matter in order to effectively use the method. Play is a powerful teaching tool, but that doesn't make it
a simple teaching tool. When we prepare the environment, foster inquiry, respond to interests, and support curiosity, we play-based teachers guide some powerful "academic" learning.
Academics is the subject. Play is the method. Learning is the outcome. Don't ever let someone tell you that children can only have one or the other. In this classroom, we work to give your child all three.
It's why we play.
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-Amanda Morgan, MS