Saturday, May 4, 2024
Childcare options have expanded for the town of Tolar with the Feb. 5 opening of Tolar Tots.
After a continuous increase in the Tolar population, Courtney Boggs decided to create a daycare in the town to further serve the community. According to the World Population Review, Tolar has a 2024 population of 1,278 people. Tolar is currently growing at a rate of 7.85% annually and its population has increased by 34.48% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 951 people in 2020.
Boggs saw an opportunity to purchase the property located at 9010 W. U.S. Highway 377 and decided to bring her vision to life.
Boggs owned and operated an autism treatment center in Fort Worth for 21 years. During the first eight years, the center was a licensed care center for children. She also served as an assistant director at two daycares in the DFW area and has various hours in the classroom.
Boggs earned an associate degree from Weatherford College in early childhood education with additional certification in the infant and toddler track. She is a graduate of Tolar High School and is proud to call herself a Tolar Rattler.
Brandice Hayes serves as assistant director at Tolar Tots and has spent over five years in childcare along with two years in a special education setting. Hayes expects to obtain a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Western Governors University in about a year. Alongside Boggs and Hayes are staff members with experience ranging from two to 20 years in childcare.
The building is licensed for 77 students and serves students ages 6 weeks to 13 years old. The center has seven classrooms, an indoor playground, a cafeteria and an indoor activity area.
The infant room strives to provide a safe and loving environment with a day filled with stories, music, tummy time and many other learning opportunities.
The toddler room is designed to nurture an environment for growth and exploration with a day of hands-on activities, sensory exploration and beginning curriculum. This curriculum focuses on introducing shapes, colors, nursery rhymes and identifying body parts.
The preschool and pre-k classrooms are designed to prepare children for school. The students will learn skills to allow for easier transition into a more structured environment. The center provides age-appropriate activities to promote self-awareness, problem solving skills, social and emotional development, emergent literacy skills along with others aligning with the Texas Education Agency Guidelines.
“We plan to follow the standards of the Texas Rising Star, with a child to teacher ratio of four to one for infants, five to one for toddlers, six to one for two-year-olds, eight to one for three-year-olds, nine to one for preschoolers, and 11 to one for schoolers,” Boggs said. “Not only have we begun the process of Texas Rising Star, but we also plan to be a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited center.”
According to the NAEYC, this accreditation is the gold standard for early childhood programs across the country.
Tolar Tots provides a before and after school care program alongside a full summer school program. Children will participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities throughout the day such as art, cooking, outside play, group games and much more. With every student at the center, daily communication logs will be provided to parents.
“Tolar Tots will be able to provide care for the growing population. Our mission is to create a safe and fun learning environment that encourages children to explore their interests and empower critical thinking skills as well as creativity,” Boggs told the HCN. “We strive to create a strong foundation and foster the skills needed to be successful in all they desire in life.”
The center offers part- and full-time rates. A child may attend a maximum of 11 hours per day Monday though Friday. Tuition is due weekly regardless of attendance and will be required until the family withdraws with two weeks’ notice. A registration fee is billed once a year of $80. Infant care is $240 a week, 18- to 23-month-olds are $225 a week, two-year-olds are $215 a week, with pre-k costing $150 at time of enrollment as a supply fee, $195 a week for 3- and 4-year-olds. Before and after school care costs $100 per week or $85 a week for after school only, or $45 for before school only. School break and summer care costs $160 a week.
All students are accepted and will be required to fill out an enrollment form. For more information about Tolar Tots visit its website at tolartots.com, reach out by email to tolartots@gmail.com, or call 254-835-3050. The center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
