Gaetz Child Care, Inc. has been a cornerstone of early childhood education in the St. Cloud since 1974. As a proud family-owned and operated center, we are committed to providing top-quality, center-based care. Our state-licensed facility is always smoke-free, ensuring a healthy environment for your child.

We are proud to have achieved a Four-Star Parent Aware Rating, a testament to our dedication to school readiness best practices and our commitment to preparing children for kindergarten. You can find more information about the state rating program here.

Our program operates year-round and is designed for three distinct age groups: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers. Each group benefits from a specialized curriculum and lesson plans that promote developmentally appropriate learning through a variety of engaging activities.

About Us

Our Philosophy

  • We believe in the uniqueness of the individual child and the idea that the child will be a happy part of the group when the child is happy with themself.

  • We convey tolerance with a loving and open atmosphere so the child will feel accepted and therefore can accept others.

  • We maintain that there are many different ways of doing things and promote an environment where individual rights are respected.

  • We seek to develop self-sufficiency in each child, encouraging the child to be responsible for themself according to the child's own abilities.

  • We encourage experimentation, creativity and ingenuity in play, art, music and movement.

  • We employ staff of diverse personalities, talents and interests so that the child learns to interact with varied individuals.

  • We not only consider our qualified staff as teachers but that everyone and everything can teach, including the children themselves and the environment.

  • We consider all the needs of the child, including physical, emotional, intellectual, and social, and work on special needs within any of these areas.

  • We seek close interaction with our families through phone calls, Brightwheel, notes, monthly newsletters, and greeting upon the child's arrival and departure.

  • We extend the feeling of “family” by grouping children according to individual needs and their compatibility in their small group.

  • We are constantly aware of how a child learns and employ methods to encourage the natural learning process.

  • We maintain our progressive program to address all of the child's needs, both current and future, focusing on stepping stones to achieve key milestones.