Little Pals Child Care

Fairfield, California

Little Pals Child Care is a family child care home in Fairfield, California, owned and directed by me, Lucy Andris; I am licensed to care for up to 14 children. In November, 2008, I was accredited by the National Association for Family Child Care!

I earned a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois in 1974, and for the next 3 decades I worked, in one way or another, with children and families. Following my heart, I opened Little Pals Child Care in 2003. Enrollment is open to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Before and after school care, for older children, is also available.

Children learn from birth through their 3rd birthday, faster than at any other time in their lives. At Little Pals, every effort is made to maximize these formative years. Each child is provided with a wide variety of learning opportunities. Infants learn sign language and can communicate basic needs between long before they can say their first words.  As they get older, they are taught how to do things for themselves. Even though an adult can accomplish a task more quickly (for example, tying the shoes of a 3 year old), it's important to take the time to teach self-help skills; this gives the youngster a strong sense of pride and a belief that s/he is becoming a "big girl (or boy)". Additionally every child is lovingly nurtured; hugs and kisses are a daily occurrence. Children are regularly told how important they are and how happy we are to have them with us. This, along with the love expressed by their parents, supports their emotional growth.

One of the most significant ways children achieve success in school and later in life is through reading!  Studies have shown that very young babies can learn about the world around them at a much quicker rate if they are read to daily! While infants do not understand specific words, they are learning how words are said, they are hearing changes in the readers' voice at the beginning and end of sentences and at exciting parts of a story. Their brains are putting things together at an incredible rate.  By reading to children, even the youngest, adults are giving an incredibly valuable gift to that child. Children who grow up in an environment rich in words, and one where their caretakers devote at least 20 minutes of every day reading out loud to them, are farther ahead throughout elementary school and beyond.

This is the primary reason why every child is read to throughout each day at Little Pals Child Care.  (The other reason is I really like to read out loud!)

Each family who enrolls a child at Little Pals is given a welcome package; among their gifts is a book by Mem Fox: Reading Magic. I give this specific book to parents to make sure they understand how very important it is  to read to their child every day. When either parent reads to a child at home, that compliments the work I do during the day and the team work of providing the best care for a child begins. The synergistic impact is incalculable.

Optional services include developmental assessments in the following skill areas: language, cognitive, gross motor, fine motor, social skills and self-help abilities. Parents who choose to have their child evaluated, receive quarterly progress updates; if any delay is noticed, a variety of skill-building exercises are taught to parents, to help their child to "catch up". For more information go to Assessments.

Little Pals Child Care is located just one mile from I-80, in the Paradise Valley area of Fairfield (exit at N. Texas); it's convenient for parents who live in the area, or who commute along the I-80 corridor.

In case you have access to the Internet during the day, we have a "web cam" for your peace of mind, showing the primary play area, in real time. Upon enrollment, each parent is given a user name and password to allow them access to the web cam.

Please call me at 707-208-9727, or send an email: lucy@lilpals.com to schedule an appointment. Note: the best time to have a chat with me is after the close of my day. When you call, do so after 6:30PM when I can give you my full attention! 

login