HOULTON, Maine — Almost as soon as a new Houlton day care center opened its doors two weeks ago, the infant room was full, and the waiting list topped 100.
Mrs. Kaitie’s Laugh & Learn Academy at 18 High St. was fully licensed by the Maine Department of Health for 49 children from ages six weeks to school age at the end of September. Owner Kaitie Gilmour hopes it will help meet a dire community need for additional day care in The County.
“We’re really excited. I love that it combines something the community really needs with something I love and am passionate about,” Gilmour said.
Nearly two-thirds of Maine parents with pre-school children work, but finding day care is challenging for many. According to the Council for a Strong America, 26 percent of rural Maine children live in a child care desert with Aroostook, Washington, Somerset and Piscataquis among the worst.
Gilmour decided to expand her in-home day care facility that she’s been operating since 2019 after her state contact suggested she consider it. At the time she had her own six children and her two nephews living with her and she wasn’t convinced.
After some thought, she chose to keep her in-home day care open as well as build the new day care center, she said. After a lot of work and a long journey to get fully licensed, the new center was complete.
Based on her own experience with her in-home day care and preschool, Gilmour knew that it’s challenging for parents to find care for their young children while they work.
Initially, the new facility had more than 100 on the waitlist. But as they work down the list, children over 2.5 years old are getting placed in the few remaining slots for children in that age group.
They won’t be open for long, Gilmour said.
The need for infant child care is huge, she said, adding that because the state requires one teacher for every four infants, along with food and supplies, the infant care portion of the business is not profitable.
But once the new center is approved for the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program, that may help, she said, adding that the program provides for infant formula.
The weekly cost for infants is $210; toddler (2.5 years to 4 years) $170; Pre-K (4 through Pre-K) $160; after school care $110 and summer and vacations $150.
“The cost of childcare does not go unnoticed with me,” Gilmour said. “We have tried to keep our costs as low as possible and I encourage people to apply for the state subsidy programs to help defray expenses, it can be a huge help to some parents.”
Gilmour said her curriculum is learning based and even when it looks like the kids are playing, they are engaged in intentional activities that prepare them for future learning, she said.
The new center is licensed for seven infants, 21 toddlers, 20 pre-kindergarten and 12 afterschool.
Gilmour hopes to host an open house soon and has big plans for Halloween, Gilmour said.
According to the Department of Health licensing information, other Houlton day care facilities and preschools fully licensed for 20 or more children include, Little Eagles Daycare & Preschool, ages three to four, licensed for 49; Sonshine Corner Nursery School, ages three and four, licensed for 20; Maliseet Daycare Center, infant to school-age, licensed for 20; ACAP Bird Street Site, infant to school-age, licensed for 20; ACAP, Military Street, infant to school-age, licensed for 80.
For information on smaller facilities contact the Maine Department of Health.
