The Business of Caring for ALASKA'S CHILDREN.

• Author: WILLIAMS, COLLEEN MADONNA FLOOD
• Position: Statistical Data Included

Child-care providers don't make a lot of money, but they receive other rewards from running their home businesses.

There are about 291 licensed family child-care homes in the state of Alaska, according to Claudia Shanely of the Department of Education and Early Development for the State of Alaska. Most of these businesses are owned and operated by women. Who are these women?

Meet Peggy Aamodt, one of last year's 10 recipients of the prestigious BP/YWCA Women of Achievement Award. Aamodt ran Turtle Soup Child Care, her state licensed Anchorage childcare home, for over 15 years. Why would a woman with a B.A. in psychology, a secondary teaching certificate in language arts and social studies, an A.A.S. in early childhood development, a child development associate degree in family child care, and a master provider credential in family child care choose to stay at home and provide child care?

Aamodt responds resolutely, "I really believe that child care is one of the most important professions that there is. Children need to be nurtured, cared for, encouraged to learn and to use their imaginations, and allowed to feel safe. I always referred to my place as a safe haven for children."

Shawn Sypeck is the owner and manager of Green Acres Playpin of Juneau. She has been operating her home business since November of 1996. Sypeck decided that she wanted to leave her position as a branch manager for a travel agency to be a full-time mom soon after becoming pregnant with her second child. Sypeck continually takes classes to further her knowledge of early childhood education issues and actively pursues accredited classes to enhance her professional credentials. Why did Sypeck want to work at home? "I wanted to be with my own children," she states simply.

Jan Stiers holds a doctorate in psychology, works in the Philippines helping to set up sexual abuse and domestic violence prevention programs, and runs a state-licensed child-care home in Kenai's Woodland Subdivision. Why? "My grandchildren are out of state. When my husband and I were together, he was very opposed to the idea of a home child-care center. Now, that he and I aren't together, I love being able to spend my time nurturing small children and getting paid for it."

Sylvia Hair of Fairbanks has owned and run Alaska Home Day Care for the last eight years. She has worked in the child-care field for over 20 years. What motivates Hair? "I love working with children. They keep me young," she states.

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