About RisingStars Childcare

Small-Group Care with a Big Heart

Choosing childcare is one of the most personal decisions a family makes.

Parents want to know that their child will be safe, comforted when they are upset, encouraged when they try something new, and cared for by someone who truly knows them.

RisingStars Childcare is a licensed family childcare home where children receive the comfort and personal attention of a small-group setting along with meaningful early-learning experiences.

Our primary program serves children ages 2–5, with limited enrollment available for young toddlers ages 16–24 months.

In our family childcare setting, children spend their days with familiar friends and consistent caregivers who learn their personalities, interests, strengths, routines, and individual needs. Our goal is for every child to feel safe, valued, included, and excited to return each day.

Florida Family Child Care Home License #F07SJ0120

Why Families Choose RisingStars

Some children thrive best in a smaller setting where the people, routines, and surroundings remain familiar.

At RisingStars, children benefit from:

  • A small-group, home-like environment

  • Consistent care and familiar daily routines

  • Individual attention and responsive support

  • Close friendships and a sense of belonging

  • Hands-on learning through play and exploration

  • Age-appropriate opportunities to develop independence

  • Personal communication between the provider and family

  • Natural exposure to English and Russian language and culture

Children are not treated like another name on a classroom list. We take time to notice their progress, understand their needs, celebrate their accomplishments, and help them work through the more difficult parts of growing up.

Qualified and Experienced Care

RisingStars Childcare is led by a provider who holds the Child Development Associate® Credential™ in Family Child Care, awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition.

The provider also holds:

  • A current Florida VPK Instructor Certificate

  • A Florida VPK Director Credential

  • Required Florida childcare training

  • Pediatric first aid and CPR certification

  • Ongoing early childhood professional development

Professional credentials matter, but quality childcare also requires patience, consistency, observation, honest communication, and a genuine understanding of young children.

We are committed to continuing our education and improving the program as early childhood standards and the needs of our families evolve.

Safety, Screening, and Supervision

Children’s safety is at the center of every decision we make.

RisingStars follows applicable Florida Department of Children and Families licensing requirements related to:

  • Background screening

  • Staff training and qualifications

  • Active supervision

  • Staff-to-child ratios

  • Health and sanitation

  • Emergency preparedness

  • Safe sleep and rest

  • Medication and allergy procedures

  • Authorized pickup

  • Mandated reporting

  • Recordkeeping and family notification

Caregivers, substitutes, household members, volunteers, enrichment instructors, and other individuals complete the screening and program requirements applicable to their role before having access to children as permitted by Florida law.

Visitors and service professionals do not have unsupervised access to children. Whenever possible, maintenance and non-childcare services are scheduled outside childcare hours. When an urgent service must occur during operating hours, children remain directly supervised and separated from the work area.

Positive and Respectful Guidance

Young children are still learning how to communicate, share, wait, solve problems, and manage strong emotions.

We use positive, developmentally appropriate guidance to help children understand expectations and make safer choices.

Our approach may include:

  • Modeling appropriate behavior

  • Redirecting children to safer choices

  • Naming and validating emotions

  • Teaching children how to communicate their needs

  • Helping children solve peer conflicts

  • Offering appropriate choices

  • Maintaining clear and consistent limits

  • Recognizing and encouraging positive behavio

Learning Through Play and Everyday Experiences

Children learn throughout the entire day—not only while sitting at a table.

Learning happens when children count cups for snack, investigate something they find outside, build a tower, retell a story, mix paint colors, care for their belongings, negotiate a turn, or finally accomplish a task independently.

We use resources from:

  • Experience Early Learning, formerly known as Mother Goose Time

  • FunShine Express

  • Provider-created activities based on children’s interests and developmental needs

Children have opportunities to build skills in:

  • Early literacy and communication

  • Mathematics and problem-solving

  • Science and discovery

  • Social-emotional development

  • Fine- and gross-motor coordination

  • Art and creative expression

  • Music and movement

  • Independence and practical self-help

  • Friendship and cooperation

Our activities include both child-led exploration and intentional teacher guidance. We support children’s development without rushing childhood or expecting every child to learn the same skill at the same time.

Bilingual Language Exposure

English is the primary language of instruction at RisingStars Childcare.

Children also receive natural exposure to Russian language and culture through songs, stories, greetings, simple words, conversation, and everyday activities.

Children are never pressured to speak Russian. This gentle exposure allows them to experience another language in a comfortable and meaningful way while continuing to strengthen their English communication skills.

Families do not need to speak Russian for their child to participate successfully.

Fresh Meals and Snacks

RisingStars serves breakfast, lunch, and snacks according to the child’s enrollment schedule and the posted menu.

Menus are shared with families so they can review upcoming meals, ingredients, and planned substitutions.

Families may provide food from home when preferred or when a child needs an appropriate substitute because of:

  • A documented allergy

  • Food intolerance

  • Dietary restriction

  • Feeding delay

  • Developmental eating needs

  • Family preference

Families are responsible for reviewing the menu and communicating all allergies, dietary restrictions, and feeding concerns before care begins and whenever the child’s needs change.

Enrichment Opportunities

Depending on the program season, advance registration, and provider availability, children may have access to optional enrichment opportunities such as:

  • Music and movement

  • Math and reading tutoring

  • Speech and language services

  • Piano lessons

  • Summer Bridge activities

Specialized services are scheduled separately, may require an additional fee, and are not automatically included with regular childcare enrollment.

All enrichment professionals must meet the screening and program requirements applicable to their role before providing services during childcare hours.

Family Communication

Strong childcare begins with honest and respectful communication between families and the provider.

RisingStars uses Brightwheel to help families stay connected and informed. Depending on the child’s age, program, and family permissions, updates may include:

  • Photos

  • Meals and snacks

  • Nap or rest information

  • Diapering and toileting

  • Activities and learning experiences

  • Messages and reminders

  • Incident or health notifications

Families are encouraged to share important changes that may affect their child, including changes in health, sleep, behavior, medication, family circumstances, or developmental needs.

Preparing for Future VPK

RisingStars Childcare is preparing to offer Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.

The provider’s VPK credentials are current; however, VPK enrollment is not currently open or guaranteed. The program remains pending final licensing, insurance, staffing, curriculum, and Early Learning Coalition approvals.

Once approved:

  • Eligible VPK instructional hours will be offered at no charge

  • Families will not be required to purchase additional childcare

  • Optional wraparound care will remain separate from VPK

  • Final enrollment information will be announced after authorization

RisingStars is also working toward a Large Family Child Care Home license and future quality-recognition opportunities, including NAFCC accreditation and Florida Gold Seal Quality Care eligibility.

These are program-development goals and should not be interpreted as current accreditation, Gold Seal designation, VPK approval, or Large Family Child Care Home licensure.

Come Meet Our RisingStars Family

A website can explain our program, but it cannot fully show how a childcare environment feels.

We invite families to schedule a tour, ask questions, and see whether our small family childcare setting feels like the right fit.

At RisingStars Childcare, we want every child to feel safe enough to explore, comfortable enough to be themselves, and proud of everything they are learning.

We would love the opportunity to meet your family and learn more about your little star.

Contact us to ask about current availability or schedule a personal tour.