Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Luokkanen.
Hi Heidi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey started 23 years ago when my young family moved out of state and we were looking childcare. We struggled to find a place that we felt comfortable leaving our children; A place that we felt they were safe, well cared for and were getting time during their day to not only be children but also learn. As a parent I didn’t think that my expectations were that high or out of line! This seemed to me what every parent out there would be looking for and expecting out of their childcare provider. After many failed attempts, I decided one day that if I could not find what I was looking for that I would set out to provide exactly what I was in fact looking for! I quit my job and started my own home child care business!
The home business started in Lexington, KY with 6 kids. Things were good until we had to move back home to Michigan. I decided to go back to work when we moved back and walk away from caring for children. I thought that being back in my home state meant that we would be able to find that quality care we were looking for. Little did I know at the time that it was a national problem! Finding high quality childcare at an affordable price is a national problem! It has been for over a decade. How do parents do it? So as much as I wanted to deny it, this was my destiny. I decided to start another home childcare of 6 in my home in Hudsonville, MI. My childcare grew and eventually we moved to Jenison, MI and my home childcare grew to a total of 14 children in my home after 2020. I had a 2 year waiting list in 2023 and I knew that the problem wasn’t getting any better. I decided in 2022 to really start looking at properties to expand into a small childcare center. I didn’t want just any center, I knew that parents really wanted a center that could give them that small intimate feeling of a home that didn’t charge an arm and a leg. So the search began and the challenge began. In March of 2023 we opened Cradle to Crayons Early Learning. We are a childcare center licensed for 70 children. We strive to be a school that is passionate about inspiring children to learn through the Curiosity Approach, aimed at learning through play and imagination. This center is not only about the children but also my desire to inspire other early childhood educators and teach them “best practice” for the children. It’s about being a part of the community and about advocating and being a part of the change for the early childhood education across the nation.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road is never smooth in business. I think that in the business world you have to have some failures and hard roads in order to learn and grow. I wanted to expand in late 2019 and was actually looking at properties for my expansion into center care. I hit many roadblocks, financing, location, timing… the list can go on. But then we had COVID hit in early 2020. This was probably a huge blessing in disguise for me. I was able to actually navigate COVID from my home childcare and in a comfortable place instead of from a new expansion and learned so much about how to pivot my business model to make things work for parents, children, and for my business. I could have taken that as a failure and given up but instead I looked at it as more of a challenge and not the right timing. I didn’t give up and pressed on. This is what I believe essentially gave me the drive to keep going. There will always be challenges and risks along the way. I choose to focus on the positive and keep my goals at the forefront. Always pushing forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cradle to Crayons Early Learning?
We are a specialized childcare center. We are working to be the first center in the state of Michigan to be accredited in the Curiosity Approach. We always put the needs of the children first. We are passionate about inspiring children through curiosity, awe, and wonder everyday. We want to partner with parents and fill a child’s early years with a nurturing environment of self discovery. Through the Curiosity Approach, children learn using authentic materials, recycled materials, and loose parts. We create amazing and unique play spaces for children, where they have opportunities to become inquisitive and capable learners. Our center is designed to be a calm, tranquil environment. This allows children time and space to learn. The introduction and use of authentic materials and loose parts teach children how to think and and not what to think. This is very different from a lot of the current materials you would see in a traditional classroom setting. Not only am I inspiring the children but this environment is inspiring my teachers and setting them apart from other early childhood teaching staff in the state. They are passionate and motivated educators, which makes for a harmonious atmosphere for everyone.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me is waking up every day knowing I’m making a difference in the lives of children. My purpose is rooted in creating positive, lasting impact- and my goal is to touch the lives of 1 million children. If I can help shape their future, inspire their growth, and make them feel seen, supported, and valued, then I know I’m living my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cradletocrayonsearlylearning.com
- Facebook: Cradle to Crayons Early Learning
