KinderCare opens playful new environment in Sherwood
The center offers daycare and early childhood education
By Diana Page Jordan
SHERWOOD, Ore. — The grand opening of KinderCare on June 26th welcomed dozens of children to its new Sherwood Parkway South location.
Lindsey Durham, the center director for the Langer Farms KinderCare, said, “KinderCare is based in Oregon, and so we're really excited to have a center right here in our own backyard. We also know that there's a need here. We want to provide that quality care for Sherwood families.”
Since KinderCare opened its doors March 23rd, 26 families have registered. The center, which enrolls babies from six-weeks old to children up to five years old, can serve up to 146 children.
“We're a brand-new center, so we're really excited that we can provide a modern, safe learning environment for kids,” said Zibby Pillote, senior manager of marketing at KinderCare. “It’s not just daycare. It's early childhood education. And we're really focused on helping kids prepare for elementary school and for life and being confident and on track for where they need to be successful.”
KinderCare has been operating since 1969, with centers in 41 states and the District of Columbia.
Local mother Amanda Gilbertson, who works as an IT consultant for corporate business, said her family has been connected with KinderCare for seven years now.
“My first child Emmett was accepted into the infant room right at three-months-old," Gilbertson said. "Now my second child Josephine is here.”
“As soon as I heard that KinderCare in Sherwood was opening their doors, and Lindsey was going to be the director with some of the other teachers that we're familiar with, I said, sign me up.”
Child psychologist Stacey Berry and her wife, Erika Berry, who is a pediatric nurse, have two daughters enrolled in KinderCare. Stacey Berry said, “We had our girls in a preschool before, and when we saw that this KinderCare was opening up, we jumped at the opportunity, because it's right down the road.”
They drop their daughters off on their way to work. Erika Berry said, “It’s really important to us that we have a center who can give us updates throughout the day and we know that they're going to call if there's anything more urgent going on. It's a fantastic place.”
The mothers said their daughters skipped down the hall to go into KinderCare and skipped out.
Katherine, their two-and-a-half-year-old, is already tracing her name. And they said that Josephine, their four-and-a-half-year-old, runs up to them, showing off a rocket ship she’s drawn.
Pre-K teacher Sawyer Narro who works with four and five-year-olds, and Ellie Nakamura, who teaches one-year-olds, both said they appreciate that the Langer Farms KinderCare is starting small.
The community is growing as well.
“We have the Langer Farms Entertainment Center, which is kid-based, and our kindergarten education is kid-based. They just welcomed Stella's ice cream — very exciting," said Durham. "Next to it, there's going to be a pediatric unit, and the Goldfish Swim School is a phenomenal partnership for children’s education. It is a very kid-friendly environment in this plaza."
KinderCare also offers financial assistance through Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC). ERDC is a state-funded subsidy, helping eligible low-income families cover childcare costs while working, in school or on medical leave.
“It's all great things,” Gilbertson said. “I would say give it a shot and check out the center. I am a working mom as well, and it's been super flexible. They've allowed me to focus on my career and have peace of mind, knowing that my children are safe, while I'm over here working.”
KinderCare
Where: 21512 S.W. Langer Farms Pkwy.
When: Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Call: 971-979-0015
