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Hernando Today

Child Care Service Instills Early Learning

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: December 22, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The academic success of children rides on their love of learning.

That is the philosophy of Susan Vega, who recently opened the new Academy of Early Learning in Brooksville.

She offers a variety of hands-on activities that are designed to bolster not only a child's aptitude to learn, but his or her enthusiasm for all mind-improving lessons.

She reads books to them, shows them science experiments and even teaches them the importance of self-reliance.

At the start of each day, a boy or girl in the advanced age class will sign in, place his or her name on the attendance tree and participate in the early-morning planning period.

Vega is far from being merely a babysitter.

"These are the most formidable years," she said of her 3, 4 and 5 year olds. "Education is really dependent on attitude. I want to help them develop a lust for learning."

Her child care business is grouped into three sections - one for infants and 1 year olds, another for 2 year olds and a section for children ages 3, 4 and 5.

Vega is always in the mix. She supervises everything.

The 54-year-old Floral City resident has been teaching adults on how to run child care businesses for the past 20 years. She also supervises Head Start programs in five counties.
Head Start is one of the best-known school-readiness programs in the country.

This is Vega's first child care business in Hernando County.

She has six children currently enrolled and five more starting in January. Her maximum capacity is 45 kids.

Vega has four teachers on staff. One of them, Heather Von Oesen, supervises the infants and 1 year olds.

"I have found a warm place to stay," she said of Vega's business. "It's wonderful here.

"It's creative and refreshing," Von Oesen continued. "It keeps them (occupied) and learning. You see their eyes light up."

Vega charts everything. She is able to sit down with parents and show them where their children excel and where they need the most work.

She sees them in various phases during the day. She observes them learning, listening and interacting with both adults and other children.

It is not always about reading and numbers. Vega also takes the children outside and shows them science experiments on the water table. They will guess what objects float and which ones sink.

It is a popular comic routine on the "Late Show with David Letterman."

Vega acknowledged that and laughed. She also thinks it is an entertaining way for kids to learn.

She has no disillusions about the state of the economy. Earlier this year, while preparing for her business, she admitted she thought her line of work would be unaffected by the high unemployment rate.

"Is it immune to the economy? I used to think so, but not anymore," she said. "Everyone knows aunts, sisters or friends who have lost their jobs. They will have their children stay with them."

As a way to offset the declining pool of applicants, she wants to make sure those who are economically solvent enough to send their kids to child care know about her new business.

"I want to bring quality care here," she said. "The best way to drum up business is by word of mouth. One word from a happy parent gets people in here."

It also doesn't hurt that Vega offers some of the cheapest rates around, she said.

Vega can offer six hours of free services per day for any child who turned 4 years old by Sept. 1. That offer will be in effect beginning in January and will last through May.

Biz at a glance:

Name of biz - Academy of Early Learning

Owner - Susan Vega
What it is - Child care services for children 6 weeks old through preschool

Where it is - 16352 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville

On the Web - www.EarlyLearningAcad.com

Get in touch - 352-345-4840.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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