Melissa Brockman began working in the children’s ministry department of The Church at Brook Hills in 2005 and has been in child care ever since. Brockman now owns Kiddie Academy of Birmingham.
“First and foremost, at Kiddie Academy we are caregivers,” Brockman said.
Kiddie Academy believes care and learning should go hand in hand, and the two should always be balanced with a big dose of fun.
Brockman and her team know how important early childhood development is in order to prepare children for school.
“We believe Kiddie Academy is different from traditional child care because our goal is to educate and prepare your child for life,” Brockman said.
Kiddie Academy offers care for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years and is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. They serve breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch and a late afternoon snack. There are cameras in all of the classrooms as well as the playground, so parents can see what their child is doing at any point throughout the day.
“We understand how nice a little extra time is to have for working moms,” Brockman said. “The longer hours allow parents a little extra time to fight 280 traffic, make a grocery trip or run last-minute errands before they have to pick up their child.”
The academy’s Life Essentials Curriculum is based on four pillars of education: developmentally appropriate curriculum, technology, health and fitness and character education.
“Our curriculum is designed to give your child a happier, healthier, more well-rounded foundation for their future,” Brockman said.
The teachers get to know children on every level including how they learn, play and communicate. They personalize learning by giving individualized attention to fit each child’s interests and abilities.
The academy uses early childhood education research to establish best practices and integrate fun into the learning process.
Brockman’s passion for her business is driven by her love for children.
“I have had my own children in child care, I have worked in the classroom and also as an assistant director, so I have seen every side,” Brockman said.
“I want parents to know that we are totally transparent in all we do. When they leave their child in our hands, they are going to be loved, nurtured and very well taken care of.”
Brockman received some of the best business advice from her father, who was also a business owner.
“When I was growing up, he told me to always let your staff see you involved in the day-to-day running of your business,” Brockman said. “Never ask your staff to do something that you wouldn’t be willing to do yourself.”
Brockman applies this advice to her business by always being present in the classrooms and kitchen, cleaning, helping change diapers and by simply loving on babies each day.
The best advice Brockman has to offer to parents looking for quality child care is to ask if they are licensed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, observe if the children and teachers are happy and trust your gut.
“You are your child’s best advocate,” Brockman said.
► WHERE: 5412 U.S. 280
► CALL: 644-8585
► WEBSITE: kiddieacademy.com/birmingham
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