Hi! I'm Melanie, and I run Blue Sky Daycare, my warm and inviting in-home daycare. I've been involved in child care for more than ten years, and I'm still learning new things from the children in my care every day. I love to pull from a broad spectrum of educational theories, creating lessons that nurture each child as an individual. and I'm especially drawn to play-based education and the gentle, rhythmical practices of Waldorf education. 

My love for childcare began during babysitting experiences in high school. From there, I was inspired to get a B.A. in Childhood Education from the State University of New York, and during my time in New York State, I worked as a preferred substitute teacher in the Saranac Central School District. I married, and my husband and I moved to Illinois where I became a substitute teacher in Libertyville School District 70. After the birth of my first child, I began working as a lead teacher at KinderCare, where I worked with infant and toddler groups. I opened my home to care for children in 2010, and Blue Sky Daycare has been a great place for kids to learn and grow ever since. 

Due to moving and a slowdown of DCFS services because of Covid-19, Blue Sky Daycare is currently waiting on licensure.