​Meet Cassie, the Culinary Director for Compass Child Care. When kids are entrusted to Compass, parents can be assured of a safe and educational environment. Just as important is making sure they are getting the proper nutrition and healthy snacks as part of their fun and busy day.

Cassie has a passion for cooking delicious food and is an award-winning chef. Learning how to make tasty and attractive meals started at the age of six while she learned from her grandmothers'  kitchens. They taught her the art of using good ingredients and how to savor the taste, smell and process of creating memorable meals.

She entered cooking contests while in high school and took second place in a state cooking competition called ProStart. She continues to be involved in that program as a volunteer mentor.

Cassie works with a team of chefs every year to make six-course/six-person dinners for a nonprofit called, No Kid Hungry, which helps millions of children in the USA get a healthy meal every day.

In her professional career she has worked in fine dining establishments including hotels, dessert cafes, restaurants, cooking schools and catering.

When the owners of Compass met Cassie they knew they had to include her in the team because they agreed with her about the value of teaching good eating habits at an early age. The meals offered at Compass act as fuel for energy and for their brains. When Cassie isn't overseeing the meal plans for Compass, she is home with her 3 year old daughter and husband as well as a black lab and a cat. Besides cooking she loves to spend time in the outdoors, fishing, gardening and hanging out with her family.

If you have questions about the meal plans at Compass or are concerned about food allergy issues, feel free to connect with Cassie. 

Do you remember when you were a child and you would use the power of your imagination to transform the world around you? No matter if you were by yourself in your room or with a group of friends, you could turn anywhere or anything into whatever you wanted to. From sitting on a wagon pretending that you were a pirate sailing across the seven seas to imagining the rock in your hand was actually a race car zooming its way to the finish line. A child’s imagination is pretty incredible and this is clear when you watch your young one role-play. While imaginative play is purely for enjoyment in the child’s opinion, did you know that it is also very beneficial to their early childhood education? In this blog post, we will talk about the things that your child is learning when they use their creativity to create a world of their own. 

If you are currently looking for a child care center for your kiddo in Cedar Rapids or Blaine, then go ahead and contact Compass Early Learning to schedule a tour or to learn more about our center.

Social Skills
Social skills are so important to your child’s development. If they do not know how to interact with their classmates, teachers, or other people that they encounter, the world can become a pretty difficult and scary thing for them to maneuver through. When they partake in imaginative play with neighbors, friends, or classmates, they are learning how to be around their peers and how to make friends out of strangers. While one kid is a detective and the other is an elusive jewel thief on the run, their minds work together to create the story and figure out where it leads. This will help them to realize that making friends isn’t such a frightening thing after all and is actually really easy! 

​Language Skills
If you just sit in the area of a child role-playing, you will not only hear words and phrases that you didn’t realize that they know, but you will also see how their mind is developing and enhancing their storytelling abilities. Imaginative play is great for your young one’s language skills and will also help them understand the difference between the written language and the spoken one.

Creativity
It doesn’t matter if you are an artist or an accountant, being creative is important for everyone in our day-to-day lives. It’s incredibly beneficial to encourage your child to be as creative as possible right from the get-go and one way that they can do this is through imaginative play.

Problem Solving
Surprisingly enough, role-playing is actually very good for their problem-solving abilities. While they are trying to figure out which world they will be living in, whether it be one of superheroes or aliens, they have to piece everything together. What are these superheroes’ powers? What do the aliens look like, and if they aren’t friendly, how are they going to save the earth? The child must also use their minds to figure out the props and costumes. All of this, in its own way, is a great example of problem-solving which they will use all throughout their lives. And hey, if aliens do invade earth, maybe they can help!

As you can see, imaginative play is so much more than just a good time for your young one. It provides them with cognitive skills that will carry on throughout their lives. That’s why here at Compass Early Learning, we make sure that it is a part of our curriculum because we believe that their creativity is just as important for them as learning math or science. If you would like to learn more about our childcare center and how we can help with your kiddo’s early childhood development, give us a call today.

Early childhood education may just seem like art and activities, but in reality, your kiddo is learning a lot, both about themselves, others, and the world around them! It may not seem like it, but preschool offers all sorts of opportunities for your child to develop and grow into themselves. Early childhood education offers physical development, social development, emotional development, cognitive development, and literacy development. Your child’s first few years of school are filled with wondrous moments that shape them more than you would know! There is an intense amount of brainwork going on and you may only witness some of it while they are home! At Compass Early Learning in Coon Rapids and Blaine, we aim to foster and support your child’s creativity and learning through our early learning programs, like S.T.E.M., art, and music and movement. Enroll with us today and expose your child to the world of endless learning and fun!

Building Their Social Skills
Yes, your child does learn to socialize while they are at home, but it is essential that they learn to socialize in a safe environment outside of the home as well. Introducing them to other children will allow them to build friendships, which helps children overcome shyness and gain self-confidence. Social interactions also teach your kiddo how to get along with other children and gives them some insight into how to play with other kids and respect their space. Social development will help build your child’s social skills, language, and even conflict resolution. Positive interactions with other children help them explore skills and other interests, leading them to build a healthy view of themselves. They also learn how to work with others, which is a skill that will follow them into their professional lives. 

Experience Is The Best Teacher
As children are exposed to environments outside of their home, they are able to think more complexly, making decisions, and solving problems that would otherwise not present themselves. The classroom is a unique place for children to reflect on and use information that helps them understand the world they live in. As they explore new situations, experiences, and environments, children’s minds are more lively and imaginative. Teachers help to balance this stimulation by asking them to listen, follow directions, and participate in group tasks, building the critical skill of concentration. By making their environment somewhat challenging, the teacher is encouraging students to learn through first-hand experiences that help build coping mechanisms for the greater challenges they will face in life. They will learn how to better handle their emotions and themselves. 

An Excitement For Learning
When your kid is surrounded by a stimulating classroom that supports creativity, music, art, and the sciences, they are excited to continue their educational journey, opting to take a positive perspective on new learning experiences. Compass Early Learning helps kids develop an enthusiastic thirst for lifelong learning by providing programs like S.T.E.M., Music and Movement, Art, and Dramatic Play. Each program inspires your child to approach school and learning with eagerness, ready to re-discover their love for education every day they are with us! All of our educators are trained in identifying where children need the most support, which is why our programs create a holistic perspective that will help your kid flourish, preparing them for a lifetime of learning. 

Exercising Their Minds And Bodies
As stated previously, early childhood education is essential for working out their minds, but it is just as important for their bodies! Our teachers offer various physical activities that will encourage your child to move their body, which supports motor skills and healthy bones and muscles. Whether it is indoors or outdoors, children can run, jump, climb, throw, and catch, expanding their physical abilities and inspiring them to continue an active lifestyle as they grow older!

At Compass Early Learning, we are inspired to inspire your kids! Every moment of their lives is a moment that they will learn from, which is why it is our goal to expand their horizons and optimize their potential. Their lives are just beginning and the world is opening up for them. Don’t let them get lost, enroll them in Compass Early Learning today! We specialize in infant care, daycare, toddler child care, and preschool. Schedule a tour with us at our Coon Rapids or Blaine locations today!