It Really Does Take a Village

It seems apt that those were the words I noticed on the sign during my daughter’s first few weeks of care at Eskay. This wasn’t our first rodeo, this is our third child lucky enough to attend Eskay but I still felt a little anxious. It never gets easier dropping your little one at daycare the first few times but this transition was our smoothest yet. Yes, there were a couple of days of tears, but my daughter settled incredibly quickly with our Eskay village.

I can’t help but reflect on my first child’s transition to daycare. There was nothing wrong that I could put my finger on, so we persevered and it just never felt good. As I grew more confident in myself as a parent, I recognised that it was a misalignment of values. What a breath of fresh air it was to find Eskay. With its charming loose parts play, positive approach to mess, and rigorous evidence-backed approach to early learning, Eskay has so much to offer on paper. Mud days, naps in the dappled light of trees, regular incursions/excursions, consistent efforts to involve the children in community, and of course, magical Mayfield.

It’s so much more than that though. Eskay has heart. My almost 2-year-old is being cared for by two of the same educators who cared for my now 9 and 7-year-old all those years ago. She comes home and tells me about her “cuddles” with her favourite educators and explains in her sweet toddler babble that she “painted” and “saw turtle”.

I wonder, too, as she waves me off in the mornings with a firm “bye”, if my levels of comfort inform hers. For better or worse, at almost 2 years old, my daughter’s ease and unease is aligned with mine. She is comfortable and safe because I feel comfortable and safe. It really does take a village and I am so glad Eskay is ours.

By Haylee Hackenberg

Parent – Eskay Kids Karana