Front and center for families

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The Salvation Army’s childcare ministry in Massachusetts began in 1917. Back then, it was primarily for families in the community that had the greatest need.

“The Salvation Army in Boston took care of the Irish immigrants who came here to work,” says Jeffrey Bailey, director of social services for the Massachusetts Salvation Army. “Well–to–do establishments in Boston wanted nothing to do with those folks and their children. So, while the parents worked nights or days, The Salvation Army offered daycare for those families, at no cost.”

The Children’s Learning Center (CLC) in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester is a continuation of that work established over a hundred years ago. The daycare center accepts children as young as three months old and has summer camp and after-school activities for children up to 13. Outreach to their families include meals during the holidays and a backpack donation event with Boston’s TD Garden in August. The CLC hosts martial arts classes, Boy and Girl Scouts, tutoring, sports programs, and more. Above all, CLC teachers and staff are reliable, trusted participants in the lives of children and their families.

“When we open at 7:30 a.m., there are parents outside who have been waiting for almost an hour,” says Sandra Burdette, program director at the CLC. “Many of the parents are essential workers who arrive early but can’t make the 5:30 p.m., pick-up time.” For those parents, Burdette sometimes stays in the building with their children until the parents arrive.

The CLC is designed to blend in with the surrounding community, with a Salvation Army shield appearing only in the center’s lobby. So unlike other Salvation Army buildings, they do not offer food pantries, help with utilities, rent assistance, or lunch programs for the public. But, CLC staff does connect students’ families to local Army

corps for those same types of services. “The CLC is based 100 percent on the care of children and serving the needs of their families,” says Bailey.

“Childcare is the underpinning of our economic structure,” says Lonnie Schroeder, contract manager at the CLC. “Without readily available childcare, a large majority of the U.S. work force stays home. In 2020, a lot of mothers lost their jobs because they took days off to be with their children when daycare centers closed.”

The Army’s role in childcare has evolved and changed with time. Today, the Children’s Learning Center is the it’s oldest childcare facility in Massachusetts. They have succeeded and grown while other similar centers in Boston have closed.

“We do what we know how to do best, and that’s care for families first and earn their trust. Then, we add little, extra things that make a real difference in people’s lives,” says Bailey. “I believe that childcare is one of the things that The Salvation Army does best.”

“When a child runs into my arms and is happy to see me again, it’s a moment that makes me want to keep coming back to work every day,” says Burdette.

“We take every child in, even if they have behavior issues, because some places won’t take them,” says Schroeder. “For those children, we’ll bring in outside services at no additional cost to the family. Some children need more help than others, but every one of them is a treasure, and their parents need all that we can give them.”

by HUGO BRAVO

Preparing your child for daycare or preschool

Don’t overprepare. Avoid talking about daycare in May or June if your little one is starting in September. Gradually mentioning it a week or two before their first day won’t overwhelm or make them feel anxious.

Visit the daycare. If possible, bring your child to meet their teachers and see their classroom before their first day. Let them tour the location where they will eat, play, and use the restroom. Afterwards, ask them what their favorite thing about the classroom is, and what part they might not have liked.

Work on routines. Start a schedule of waking up on time, getting dressed, and eating before daycare. Develop a nighttime routine as well, so there is a sense of normalcy and reassurance throughout the day.

Ask about comfort items. Some daycares allow your child to bring a favorite blanket or stuffed toy to ease them into a new place. It doesn’t have to be a soft, cuddly item either. Sending a favorite book to be read to the class is a great way to make your child feel at home.

Encourage independence. Don’t be surprised to see your child develop an independent streak once they get used to preschool. Now is the time to introduce new, age–appropriate tasks to them, such as picking up their toys after playtime or trying to dress themselves.