When Bristol Township native LaShay Anderson began researching daycare centers for her 3-year-old daughter to attend, the process was harder than she anticipated. She struggled to find a quality location in the area, especially one that would prepare her child for the future.
After six years working in human resources, learning the ins and outs of compliance, labor laws and management, the Bristol Borough resident began tossing around the idea of opening her own business. Specifically? A quality child care center that would focus on STEM.
“Being a parent and having children, you know that right now, STEM is huge. Everything is about science, technology, engineering and math, and that is just the way the world is going. Everything is, can you build this? Can you create this? Can you code? It’s not like it was when I was in school,” she said.
Currently, Anderson’s vision is becoming a reality as she puts the finishing touches on KandeeLand Academy, located at 248 Commerce Circle, Bristol (next to Rite Aid), and slated to open its doors in early February.
KandeeLand will accept children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, and offer educational activities at various stations. During the day, age groups will rotate through different activities. For example, while the 2-year-olds are working on a science project, the 4-year-olds could be learning about their shapes and colors. Lesson plans will be created by Anderson and her staff, which encompasses a director, who has a master’s degree in youth development, and two certified teachers.
“Everything will be very modern-based, and it will be teaching the kids how to learn and build things through play and technology,” Anderson said. “We’ll teach all the kids coming up, make sure that they’re tech-savvy.”
The open floor plan will include a play area, technology wall with stools, tablets and headphones, a quiet library space, art wall, a water play table and an infant section. Basically, there will always be something engaging for the students to do.
“Our entire curriculum is going to be based on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math). I think it’s going to be great. So far, my entire vision is coming to fruition,” Anderson said. “I wanted a complete open floor plan so that when I walk in, I can see what’s going on everywhere and not have to walk into 50 million classrooms.”
A unique feature of KandeeLand Academy is that it will be open 24 hours a day.
“Initially, I was only going to be open until midnight, and even that was huge because everyone around here is closing at 6 p.m. I’ve been that parent that had to work mid shift, noon to 8 p.m., so I have my child in daycare and then I’m also paying someone to pick them up from daycare and keep them until I get home,” Anderson said. “So now you’re paying two sitters.”
Anderson hopes these late night hours are helpful to mothers working overnight at the nearby Lower Bucks Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center.
“People need someone to keep their kids until they get off of work,” she said. “They want somewhere safe. They want somewhere fun. They want somewhere that they know is going to be open and I’m not going to call you and say, ‘Hey, I can’t watch your kid today because I’m sick.’ They need stability.”
As far as the name of her business, Anderson said it stemmed from a brainstorming session with her sister. A self-described “candy fein,” KandeeLand seemed like a perfect fit for her. The “Academy” portion correlates with her mission of running an “educational-based” facility.
“I don’t want people to feel like they’re just dropping their child off at a center. I want them to know that when they bring their child here, the child is really going to learn,” she said. “Sometimes, people get the notion, ‘Oh, they’re only 2 or 3. It doesn’t matter where they go as long as they’re safe.’ But no. Those are formative years. When you teach these kids, you can really mold these kids.”
Anderson added that she ordered collared shirts as the official KandeeLand uniform.
“I want them to be able to get that structure of school and be able to thrive in an educational setting because sometimes children go to school and they’re unprepared,” she said. “They don’t really know how to be attentive or sit at the table or just sit quietly and listen to the story being read. I want to make sure that we’re equipping these children to move on so they’ll be successful when they go to school.”
Children can attend KandeeLand Academy part-time, full-time or one day if, for example, a babysitter gets sick and the parent needs last-minute services. Subsidized child care is accepted from all areas, including Bucks County, Philadelphia and New Jersey.
For Anderson, opening KandeeLand comes with a two-fold goal – to educate local youth and help revitalize her hometown.
“This community isn’t what it used to be, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get it back,” she said. “This generation, my generation, I feel like it’s now our turn to get out here, to bring this community back, and to really build it back up. That’s my goal, and I’m excited to be a part of that. I really am.” ••
For information on registration and employment at KandeeLand Academy, visit facebook.com/kandeelandacademy, email info@kandeelandacademy.com or message Anderson on Instagram @KandeeLandAcademy.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
