During a time when most businesses are closed, Bryanna Madsen goes to work every day to take care of the children of essential workers.
Ms. Madsen is a teacher at Little Wonders Child Care in Northwood, one of dozens of child care operations in the Toledo area that have remained open on a limited basis during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have a kid of my own,” Ms. Madsen said. “I can’t imagine having to hurry up and find somewhere to place your children.”
In Lucas County, 48 childcare centers and 53 family childcare homes have been approved as of Thursday to operate on a limited basis during the pandemic to provide care for the children of essential workers, according to state data. Essential workers, per the state directive, includes first responders, medical staff, and nursing home staff, among others.
Combined, thousands of childcare organizations have remained open throughout Ohio to continue services during the pandemic. A full list is available on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website.
“The parents that we’re serving are really heroes with what they’re doing,” said Karen McCoy, president of Toledo Day Nursery. “It’s an honor for us.”
Gov. Mike DeWine imposed certain restrictions on childcare facilities that want to remain open — such as maintaining a 6:1 student-teacher ratio — and facilities or private home businesses must apply for a temporary pandemic license through the state.
Ms. McCoy said Toledo Day Nursery has been operating with a temporary pandemic license since it was first available nearly a month ago. Under normal circumstances, the nursery serves approximately 140 children each year. Now, it’s down to 10, with a handful of teachers.
“It’s gone very smooth,” Ms. McCoy said. “Even during the pandemic, teachers are writing lesson plans. ...We’re maintaining the quality child care that we do every day.”
Michelle Wahtola, administrator at My First Daycare and Learning Center in Toledo, said they have 27 children enrolled when they could normally have up to 71. Some teachers opted to stay home during the pandemic, she said, and some were temporarily let go. When the center can begin normal operations again, she said staff would be brought back to work.
“We’re disinfecting,” Ms. Wahtola said. “We’re taking temperatures as children come in. We’re washing hands constantly.”
The children range in age from 2 months old to 10 years old, she said, and most of their parents work in the medical field.
“It makes us feel good,” Ms. Wahtola said about serving families of essential workers. “They can go and do their jobs and know [their children] are going to be safe and secure.”
Aalaa Eldeib, director of Sylvania Children’s Center in Toledo, said their center has added an online component to keep in touch with the center’s children who aren’t currently using it, and the plan is for that online component to continue once the pandemic is over.
Throughout the day, Ms. Eldeib said teachers and staff send parents updates on their children’s activities, including art projects or science experiments, to keep them connected and help parents feel at ease during a stressful time.
The center was full before the pandemic, she said, and is now serving just a few families with room for more. To operate during the pandemic is important, she believes, because it’s providing a service to those who are providing essential services to the entire community.
“We are counting on the medical workers and essential workers to keep us all safe,” Ms. Eldeib said.
Ms. Madsen said the biggest change has been the number of children — she’s used to teaching up to 20 toddlers normally and is now down to four. Other changes include teachers not being allowed to leave for lunch, parents not being allowed into the classrooms, and a lot more cleaning, but the center’s day-to-day activities are close to normal.
She knows it’s possible that she or any of her fellow teachers could get sick, but she also feels the need to be there for families in her community. Some of the children they care for now have come from other daycare centers that closed completely, she said.
“As a community, we got to reach out and be there for one another,” Ms. Madsen.
First Published April 25, 2020, 12:00 p.m.
