New Millersburg childcare offers families faith-based curriculum
Little Lambs Childcare and Preschool owner Janet Boyd reads Jan Brett’s “The Mitten” to children enrolled in her program in her Millersburg home.
There is a new option for Holmes County parents looking for in-home childcare, and its faith-based method of caring for little ones offers something a bit different than what is found at other facilities in the area.
Janet Boyd opened Little Lambs Childcare and Preschool in her Millersburg home recently to continue her love of caring for and teaching young children and to give local parents another option for quality childcare in the area.
“I am a faith-based facility, and as an outreach ministry in my community, I seek to meet people where they are at in their respective lives,” said Boyd, who has taught children for more than 15 years, first as a Head Start lead teacher and then moving into early childhood special education. “When I became involved as a volunteer with Love INC, I discovered not only a biblical method, entitled ‘Redemptive Compassion,’ for serving people in greater Holmes County, but also a relational method for serving people in need. As a member of our community, this opportunity to give of my time and learn as well has begun a transformational process in me as a Christian.”
Boyd said the result from that transformation has been following God’s call on her own life and stepping out in faith to meet the larger need for licensed, reliable childcare within the community. Because of that, she offers a Christian curriculum as the “heart” of her teaching at Little Lambs. She also is a licensed pastor, serving at Bigelow United Methodist Church, which she said helps her in her profession as a childcare provider as well.
“I believe in teaching children about Jesus and growing in God’s love for all,” she said. “This is a valuable part of a young child’s life. The framework of our curriculum encourages children to learn basic Christian principles including sharing, kindness toward others and giving.”
In addition to teaching children about the Christian faith, Boyd also follows the early childhood education philosophy — a time to allow young children to explore the world, she said.
“Creating a safe and experiential learning environment is essential toward assisting children in achieving developmental milestones,” Boyd said. “Providing age-appropriate educational practices through play instills in each child a curiosity for learning while building an academic framework for continued growth, a sense of empowerment and a friendship with the world around them.”
Boyd also believes operating the childcare in the comfort of her own home gives children an advantage to being cared for and learning in a smaller setting, which she said allows for much more one-on-one interaction specifically related to preschool.
Boyd wanted all aspects of her new business to remind her of the connection children and Jesus have with one another, so she decided to incorporate its name — Little Lambs Childcare — using a Bible verse. She took Luke 18:16, “Let the children come to me,” and formulated the name.
“Based on this particular verse, I took the fact that I am providing this type of service based on the example of Christ as he spoke to the disciples to not discourage little ones to come to him for any reason and named the childcare,” Boyd said.
Little Lambs Childcare and Preschool, 322 S. Alexander St. in Millersburg, enrolls children age infant through preschool age, 0-5 during the school year. Additionally Boyd said the facility is offering spring-break and summer-childcare options to accommodate working parents’ needs. For those two options, age ranges will be extended through third grade.
Little Lambs Childcare and Preschool is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Boyd said there are still a limited number of full-time and part-time openings currently.
For more information email littlelambschildcare10@gmail.com or call 740-504-2238 and leave a message if there is no answer. The business also has a Facebook page at Little Lambs Childcare and Preschool.