Southern Hospitality at a New England Childcare Center

The sound of children’s laughter rolls out the doors of the Little Owl’s Valued Experiences (L.O.V.E Childcare Center) in Pawcatuck. Inside children ages six-weeks-old to 12 years old are engrossed in different activities—there are songs, art projects, and even homework help for the older kids.

Seven years ago Niambi Heyward began L.O.V.E Childcare Center as a family daycare in Groton. As the center grew and expanded she found a location in Pawcatuck that allowed her to focus on more programs for the children and stay open seven days a week.

Today, the center is open from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday and features a monthly parent’s night out, art and yoga classes for preschool students and even hosts children’s parties.

“This is my baby, I’ve grown with it,” Heyward said.

Hewyard grew up in the southern part of the United States and said she was raised on southern hospitality.

“I was always taught to respect my elders and help out in the community, I try to pass that on to the children in the daycare,” Hewyard said.

A job in the hospitality industry at Foxwoods Resort & Casino took her to Connecticut and it was there that she decided to go back to school for early childhood education.

“I’ve always loved children and wanted to be in this field,” Hewyard said. “This is my passion.”

L.O.V.E. Childcare Center currently serves about 11 families, and while Hewyard said she hopes the center keeps growing she says she is also mindful of the size.

“We don’t want any child to get lost, we want each child to thrive,” Hewyard said.

Hewyard said one of the next projects for the center is to have an outdoor classroom and that L.O.V.E. Childcare center already focuses on children learning about the environment.

“I love the fact that children are going outside instead of stuck inside,” Hewyard said.

For the older students, L.O.V.E. provides afterschool care. School busses drop off students from West Vine and West Broad Street Schools. There is an afternoon snack for them, homework help and then project such as a cooking class, art class or science project.