Arts Education in 3D!

Think about how math surrounds you every day from cooking, getting dressed, banking, to traveling. Integrating the arts allows educators to take math off the printed page and make it 3D. The incorporation of arts education into a Childcare Center or Afterschool Program’s daily lesson plans will keep students engaged and reveal hidden talents! Although there are many highly noted professionals within the industry today’s highlight is Wolf Trap and Preschool of the Arts Inc.

Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts integrates arts-based learning strategies that enhance the early childhood curriculum and providing engaging, effective professional development for early childhood educators. Professional development workshop Math in Motion allows teachers to explore and support math fundamentals and concepts in the early childhood curriculum through dance and movement. Take a look at the video below:

Preschool of the Arts, Inc.

Preschool of the Arts Inc. is childcare facility located in Connecticut and everything this facility does and offers is dedicated to the growth and development of the student and their support systems creativity. With this awesome program the students gain the independent thinking skills to carry them throughout their life’s journey, discover new things about the world around them through music, art projects, creative movement and dance programs.

Highlights

• §  Literacy Night with guest speakers who discuss methods that the parents can use to increase their children's interest and skills in reading.
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• §  Family Music Night is a joint effort between the students and adults to make music and participate in many awesome movement activities.
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• §  Art Night is designed for the families to create their very own work of art with their child. 

Daycare Financing

If your looking to finance a childcare but your credit just won’t get it First Children’s Finance is a company that can make your dreams come true! First Children’s Finance provides training, business-development assistance, workshops & seminars for in marketing, business plans, software applications, business reference library, access to attorneys and CPAs, and free confidential and individualized one-on-one consulting.

This company provides capital and business-development assistance to childcare businesses to expand or start child care either within a home or building to improve the quality of the facility, purchase a new building, add on, remodel or upgrade. If you need to purchase supplies, equipment, fulfill licensing requirements, manage cash flow or simply strengthen or grow your childcare business they will provide for that as well. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $125,000.  Take a look at the list of requirements below.

Requirements

• Located in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Texas
• Own or lease the child care facility
• Be licensed by the appropriate state agency, or show that you will become licensed as a result of the loan
• Be prepared to provide collateral and make an equity investment in the business
• Currently serve, or be prepared to serve, children whose families qualify to receive childcare assistance

Other Companies

The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) assists underserved entrepreneurs in starting, stabilizing, and expanding businesses. Opportunity Finance Network® (OFN) can connect your business to a national network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). They have a track record of originating more than $23.2 billion in financing in urban, rural, and Native communities.

Alternative financing has its disadvantages; many lending companies are unregulated by federal or state governments, and generally conduct business in any way they want to. Although the lenders have flexibility policies, you may find yourself in a sticky situation challenging with the way they conduct business.