Aside from learning, cleanliness and safety are among the highest priorities at Creative Playrooms.

By RHONDA CROWDER

Staff Reporter

As a concerned, working parent seeking day care, you want to leave your child with a loving, caring provider in a safe, clean environment. But, as you look around, you discovery it difficult to find a center that meets all of those standards.

Well, probably one of the best kept secrets in the Cleveland area, Creative Playrooms Montessori and Child Care Centers is such a place.

Founded on April 1, 1968, Joan Wenk established Creative Playrooms – with five children, three of them her own – out of sheer necessity. Having to work and support her family after her husband became disabled, she couldn’t find suitable child care.

After one year, thirty children were entrusted to her care.

Forty four years later, with a total of seven centers in Northeast Ohio, her operation has grown exponentially.

Today, the Maple Heights location, where it all started, has approximately 12,000 square feet on about an acre of land while the quality of care is superb – far exceeding expectations. And, the proof of Wenk’s work is in the pudding as she’s starting to receive the great and grandchildren of people she cared for in the early days.

“Coming here is like going to grandma’s house,” said Wenk as she provided us with a tour of the facility. “A lot of kids have been here since infants. They start and stay here for a long time. It’s truly a family atmosphere.

With infant, toddler, and pre-Kindergarten rooms as well private, chartered Kindergarten and after-school care, Creative Playrooms accepts all children, except those with special needs, from 6 weeks to 12 years.

“There is educational curriculum for every age, including the infants. They have to learn something,” she continued while pointing out the many teaching instruments found throughout the center.

For example, toddlers use the “My Baby Can Read” program, learn hand/eye coordination and manipulation while Kindergartners are engaged in activities reinforcing science, language arts, and drama. A computer lab is also available for their use. Teachers track the child’s progress so parents know exactly what their children are doing and learning each day.

And, age-appropriate books are seen throughout the center. “Play is good but learning is important,” Lisa Woodward, director at the Maple Heights location, added.

However, because there’s more than enough space, instructors do take the children outside to engage in physical activity such as climbing the Jungle Gyms or playing kickball and softball. 

Aside from learning, cleanliness and safety are among the highest priorities at Creative Playrooms. Each location has a highly protective security system. Parents receive a key fob enabling them to enter the center that is locked down like Fort Knox. And, no one can remove a child without showing their white card.

Also, Creative Playrooms offers transportation as well as a fresh cooked breakfast, lunch and snacks. Wenk makes sure the children get plenty of milk, following FDA regulations.

“The child’s mind and body is important to us,” said Wenk.

One of the things that make Creative Playrooms unique is the loyalty of employees. One has been with Wenk 39 years. Others have between 6 to 20 years at Creative Playrooms.

With that, the standard of care provided including the love and passion for children immediately becomes apparent to anyone who visits the center.  

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the kid,” said Wenk.

At this point, she just wants to provide this service to more parents in need.

Currently, the Maple Heights center has 150 enrollees including after school care children. But, it has the capacity to accept 275. Wenk believes she’s not receiving more children because of monies being held back by the county.

Wenk, who not only care for children, monitors legislation and fights for the right of the children and their parents. She lobbied extensively to help establish Child Care Laws under HB435. Currently, she’s taken aback by Governor John Kasich’s recent cut backs.

Overall, Wenk, passed retirement age, believes she was called to this work.

“Obviously, I don’t want to leave. I’m still very involved,” she said.