In prosperous Boulder, where a month of day care costs $1,200, children from low-income families may miss out on quality early-childhood education – something that could hurt them for the rest of their lives.
So Boulder Day Nursery levels the playing field. Ninety percent of the nursery’s clients pay subsidized fees, and about half are single-parent families.
Good care is vital for a child’s emotional and academic development, said Steve Callander, executive director.
“When kids have access to Boulder Day Nursery, it can be life-changing for them,” Callander said. “If kids aren’t socially and emotionally prepared for school, that’s hard to make up.”
The nursery is seeking funding from this year’s Post-News Season to Share campaign.
Every week, the children go on field trips. Teachers take them down to the creek to turn over rocks and look for bugs. Sometimes they go to shows at Fiske Planetarium or for hikes in Chautauqua Park.
Jack Davidson’s two sons, Colin, 3, and Julian, 5, especially like the trips to weed and water the nursery’s plot at the community garden.
Davidson moved to Boulder from Memphis, Tenn., to take a position teaching philosophy at the University of Colorado. He took a $14,000 pay cut to transfer, and with the moving expenses, money is tight.
With Davidson’s busy work schedule, he relies on the teachers to answer questions and give him advice about his sons’ behavior and development.
“The teachers have seen it all,” he said. “They are professionals, and I’ve learned about parenting from them.”
The children at Boulder Day Nursery get a full day’s nutrition served to them, and this is great for Davidson.
“It takes some of the pressure off me, and it saves me money,” he said. “And it’s probably better than anything I cook.”
The nursery boasts low teacher-to-student ratios, which is one reason there are 300 names on the waiting list. Priority is given to needy families.
Another reason for the nursery’s popularity is the culturally diverse environment it provides the children.
“Boulder can seem like a homogeneous community,” Callander said. “But there’s a lot of diversity out there if you make an effort to tap into it.”
Callander said he wants families to see their culture reflected in the care their children receive at the nursery.
With the chaos of single fatherhood, a new job, a pending divorce and a new city, the one thing Davidson doesn’t worry about is the quality of his boys’ care.
“They saved my life; I don’t know how I would have managed,” Davidson said. “Things are hard enough.”
Staff writer Katharine Bernuth can be reached at 303-954-1752 or kbernuth@denverpost.com.
How to give
Post-News Season to Share, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, gave more than $1.73 million to 56 agencies last year serving children and people who are hungry, homeless or in need of medical care. Donations are matched 50 cents to the dollar, and 100 percent of the donations go to the charitable agencies. To contribute, please see the coupon on Page 6B, call 888-683-4483 or go to seasontoshare.com.
