New ‘bright’ day care opening soon in Houlton

    HOULTON, Maine — Finding a safe place to keep their children is always a very important thought in parents’ minds. A new day care in Houlton will give parents a safe, fun and educational place to leave their children while they work.

    Sharon Jackett is opening up the Bright Beginnings Day Care in her home at 7 Park Street, starting August 25.

    Jackett, who was an elementary school teacher for 27 years, is licensed with DHHS, the state of Maine, and is CPR certified for all ages. Jackett will closely follow state regulations and plans to use all of her certifications on her clientele, which will range from infants to after-school kids.

    “I’ve always wanted to do this, so before I lose all my energy … I don’t want to go to retire, and look back on my life and say that I wish I had done this,” explained Jackett emphatically.

    “Every age group has its own schedule, but of course I realize that each child will have its own schedule,” laughed Jackett.

    Jackett’s schedules include either homework and reading time or quiet time during the afternoon. Being a teacher for 27 years, Jackett plans to focus more on educational fun than most other daycares in the area, and will be able to tutor the children if they are in need of help with their studies.

    “Monday and Friday will be our fun days, because I realize the children will be close to the weekend,” said Jackett. “We will have activities with cooking, science experiments, all hands-on kinds of things,”

    Jackett also plans to have a nursery school, alongside her daycare, for three hours a day during the regular school year.

    Volunteer programs will be set up with seniors who would like to give their time to go to the day care by rocking and feed the infants. Numerous other programs, which could include jr. high and high school aged kids, are possibilities for the future of Bright Beginnings.

    “I’ve got a lot of ideas and plans in my head. I’m open to volunteers coming in, but of course I would interview them all,” said Jackett.

    Jackett set the hours for the daycare from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 52 weeks a year, and she will amend the hours to evenings and weekends by special request. For more information, contact Sharon Jacket at 532-2833.