| Centrally Located by I 55 & Rt 30 Just North of the Louis Joliet Mall between Plainfield and Crest Hill |
| Welcome! My name is Mrs. Darlene. I have been teaching children for over 15 years in both private and public schools. My licensed home childcare has been open since Oct. 2005. I am a certified and state licensed Preschool and Elementary School Teacher, Kindermusik Instructor, Discovery Toys Educational Representative and Mother. I love helping children discover the world around them through exploration and play, learning skills that they will use in school and throughout their life. |
| Mrs. Darlene Huston email me at owner@abchildcarehome.com or call 815-744-6813 |
| Put the Wind beneath Your Child's Wings! |
| Let me tell you about my Licensed Home Child Care and Preschool. We learn while we have a lot of fun playing, exploring, making art and getting messy! For Preschool, we sing songs and finger plays, create sensory masterpieces, observe and interact with the world around us, practice Preschool skills, create music, run, jump and enjoy learning about ourselves and our neighborhood. All children, regardless of age, may join in Preschool activities if they wish. Infants and Toddlers are included in the curriculum at their level. We have a small, mixed age group of children, often with 2 or 3 adults, myself (Mrs. Darlene) and assistants Mrs. Betty, my son (Mr. Sam) and husband (Mr. Jerry). Nature Exploration includes gardening, raising Praying Mantis's, and Caterpillars/Butterflies, picking fruit, and respectfully investigating the wonders to be found outdoors. The Outdoor area is fenced for freedom of movement in safety. Our Play Yard has room to run, tumble, climb and roll. Outside the fence, but visited by us, are: vegetable gardens, fruit trees, a public park, and small ponds. Every day, weather permitting, we go outside- in the yard and our neighborhood. Morning Large Group Time is part of our preschool experience and includes: Name identification and spelling, picking jobs, calendar, story time, finger plays, songs, etc. Circle time activities are often incorporated during free exploration activities. Arts and Crafts are a mixture of sensory experiences focused on process and skill builders introducing and expanding knowledge of Preschool skills. Young children are not often interested in the final product, unless we are cooking, but they are very interested in the process of creating. My Philosophy is to create an educational environment that is caring and encourages development of the potential in each child. We enrich children, remembering that they are naturally curious. At our Home Child Care, we blend qualities from varied theories on how children learn. We remember that each child has their own 'best' way to learn and grow, cognitively, physically and spiritually. Children learn, grow and develop best in a developmentally appropriate environment that is secure, friendly, challenging and encourages appropriate behaviors in a positive manner. Teaching children in our child care home, includes hands-on, engaging and interactive methods that encourage discovery of solutions and interest in continued investigation. Children's social, emotional, mental and physical needs must be met. Individuality is encouraged. Every child is helped to explore, discover and learn through arts and crafts, music, science experiments, life skills, exploratory and goal oriented play, drama and the encouragement of questions. Rhymes, poetry, reading, writing, movement, math and science skills are incorporated. Independence and self-confidence grow with each success, each new skill learned or improved. Good choices and social behavior are encouraged through verbal praise and natural consequences. |
| About the curriculum We use Creative Curriculum, an IL State Approved Curriculum. It is structured for children Infant through School Age, for use in family child care homes, as well as schools. Themes are combined with standard curriculum practices to meet the children's needs and the Illinois Early Learning Standards. To learn more about The Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care, Click Here. |
| Infants through 4 year olds Extended Hours Starting at 6:00 AM |
| American Butterflies Home Child Care & Preschool |



| Our childcare is not 'just' daycare or babysitting. We care for your child as our own, with unconditional love, kindness and structure. We also provide wonderful learning opportunities, encouraging your child to be prepared for school and life while playing, creating and interacting. |
| Check out my Kindermusik classes offered by Kindermusik With American Butterflies, led by Mrs. Darlene, licensed Kindermusik instructor. |
| Enhance your childcare experience with Kindermusik With American Butterflies |
| Want more information about Kindermusik? Go to their website www.Kindermusik.com |
| In need of a break? Time to regroup your energies? Call for part time or hourly care. Some Evenings and Saturdays. Registration required in advance. All DCFS and American Butterflies Home Childcare rules apply. |

| Services Offered Morning Preschool Only - 8:00-11:30 includes snack Full Day Childcare - 1-5 days per week starting at 6am As Needed/Hourly Care - Rates based on use *NO TV *Hands On Experiences *Creative Curriculum tied to IL State ECE Standards. Openings limited. Visit, Registration, Deposit and paperwork required prior to start date. See Parent Handbook and Registration Forms for more info. |
| Check out what Discovery Toys can offer you and your family! Games and toys for all ages Birth through 101! Great travel games, Family games, cooperative games! www.DTKidsLearn.com |