Rainbow Child Care Center offers home away from home

A new day care center in Whitestown offers amenities including a splash pad, baby sign language and Spanish lessons and a home-away-from-home atmosphere, according to Aimee Doty, Rainbow Child Care Center of Zionsville program director.

The facility at 7061 E. Whitestown Parkway is the 130th facility for the nationwide child care company. The center officially opened with a 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7 ribbon cutting ceremony.

Doty said the center had 20 children enrolled as of Friday, beating by six the previous record for a new Rainbow facility.

Care for children from six weeks to 12 years is offered, she said. Younger children may stay all day while parents work. A before and after school program is available.

The infant program currently has a waiting list, while the toddler program is filling up fast, she said. Meanwhile, the varsity program, for school-age children is currently wide-open.

Doty is heading the Whitestown/Zionsville facility after spending four years at the Rainbow location in Brownsburg. She said the rest of the staff is also experienced noting that a few of the instruction staff have advanced degrees, while several others have worked at day care centers previously.

Doty said the goal is to maintain a familiar, comfortable routine similar to what a child would experience at home.

"There is lots of learning all throughout the day," Doty said. "We have much more than free-play all day. We also partner with parents to make sure that the learning keeps happening at home."

Children are taught baby sign language, simple Spanish phrases, phonics, numbers, arts and crafts in a system called Creative Curriculum designed to provide experiences that promote problem-solving, persistence and a passion for life-long learning, according to a release from Rainbow.

The center also promotes an active lifestyle. Doty said the Rainbow model is unique among other facilities because the center offers indoor and outdoor play options. The indoor gym is similar to that found at an elementary school. The outdoor space includes playground equipment and a splash pad.

Visit rainbowccc.com/zionsville or call 317-769-0761.