Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00am -5:00pm
Location
4920 104th St E Tacoma WA 98446
When driving on 104th St, if you are coming from the direction of Canyon Road, turn left onto 50th Ave. E If you are coming from the other direction on 104th St turn right onto 50th Ave E.
Daycare parking is either in the large gravel driveway along very tall hedge trees in front of the cedar fence, or across the street on the shoulder in the gravel.
Ages we Care For
We currently care for children ages 2-5 years.
In order to keep our space functioning well we care for 5-7 children at a time. This also ensures that your child does indeed get some one on one attention.
I do accept 1 year olds, but there are two conditions:
Your child has already transitioned into taking one nap a day.
Our teacher to child ration would have to be at 1:6. I am only allowed to have maximum of 6 children if a child is under 2 years old. We usually have more children in the AM on Tue/Wed/Thur mornings because of the Playschool spot children.
Nap time
Our Nap Time window is from 12:30-2:30/3:00. It is required by the state that children be provide a quiet and calm time with a comfortable space to lay down if they are in care for 6+ hours a day. Our second room has blackout curtains and a sound machine for those who do nap everyday. There is a pac-n-play for the youngest child if needed, and floor mats for everyone else.
For older children who are growing out of their nap, they still have their nap mat and can sleep in they need to, or if not then they get quiet activities to do on their mat for the first hour. They are in the front room with lights off and soft music. After an hour they can get off their mat to do other quiet activities as long as it is not disruptive to those who are sleeping.
Each child is provided their own 2” foam mat (or pac-n-play), a cotton crib sheet, and a small toddler pillow. Children are encouraged to bring a blanket from home, as well as 1-2 plush animals/dolls from home to snuggle with. It is preferred these items from home do stay at Puddleduck, but taking back and forth is okay if needed.
I provide breakfast for full time kids who arrive before 8:40.
Children bring their own lunch from home. We eat at 11:15-12:00
I provide a snack for full time kids around 3:15.
meals
Holiday Closures
We close on annual federal holidays just like public school, and have a 2 week winter break and a 5 week summer break.
MLK Jr. Day
President’s Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth Day
Independence Day (plus the Monday before if 4th on tue, or Friday after in the 4th is on a Thursday)
Summer Break : 5 weeks long starting a week after 4th of July week, returning in mid August.
Labor Day
Indigenous People’s Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day & the Friday after.
Winter Break : December 24th - January 1st
In-Service Closures (for deep cleaning, training, parents meetings and more)
September, last Friday of the month
December, first Friday of the month
March, first Friday of the month
June, first Friday of the month
*If a holiday falls on a Saturday then the Friday before we will be closed.
*If a holiday falls on a Sunday then the Monday after we will be closed.
If there is severe weather and/or unsafe weather conditions we must close the daycare until conditions are safe again. We follow the decisions of the Franklin Pierce school district. As soon as the closure information for schools has been sent out, which is 5:00am, we will also send out a notice by Text and a group email. Families MUST respond that they received the notice..
*If you wish to join the Franklin Pierce District Emergency Closures and Delays for school (and Puddleduck Daycare) then text the “YES” to 67587 to opt-in. You can easily stop these messages by texting STOP to the same number. To find out more about this system click here.
Poor weather and/or unsafe road conditions may cause a full day closure, or just a 2 hour delay in hopes roads will become safer later on. Following these rules are very important, it helps keep you and your child safe from crashing on the road or getting stuck in a snowbank with your little one, and also helps make sure children do not get stuck at daycare and must have a surprise unwanted sleepover. When the weather and roads are unsafe, it’s best for you and your child to be together at home.
Dangerous Weather Closures
summer Care
We do not have “just for summer” care. We actually take a 5 week summer break. A summer break does not get billed to families even if they return after summer.
Place Holder Fee
To hold a spot at our daycare until your child is ready to be in attendance, for any reason, a place holder fee is required if you need to hold the spot for more than a month.
This is a monthly fee, and is about 75% of your regular spot cost. These are non refundable.
Childcare License
Yes I are licensed! I am licensed to care for children through age 5.
I am not licensed for elementary school aged children.
Was updated January 2023.
Click HERE to view it.