For Robin Skrincosky, opening up Robin's Nest Early Learning and Child Care Center, 335 N. Fourth St., Lehighton is a dream come true. She is in her element, happy, content that her dream of opening up a child-care center has reached fruition.

The center is open and ready to offer parents the peace of mind they need to so they can go to work and not worry about their children.The center, in the former Third Ward School, is welcoming. The staff is warm, caring and friendly. Several staff members are parents of children she has cared for in past years.Skrincosky said she first offered child care in her home seven-and-a-half years ago and in November 2011, she opened the center to expand her services."I kept getting calls from parents of babies and toddlers," she said. "By the grace of God, I recently opened up the second floor to expand my services."She said parents know her to be spiritually-motivated, but said she is not overtly religious; she is merely thankful and feels blessed in her life and believes that her faith in God has helped her reach her goals."Everyone who knows me, knows I love our Lord," Skrincosky said. "I am not afraid to show it in my personal life or my professional life."She said the center celebrates Christ at Christmas and Easter, without a lot of commercialism.Robin's Nest is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., hours which are considered non-traditional in the child care field, but is great for families who have child care needs beyond the traditional hours."We are licensed to 9 p.m.," she said. "We accept children for "flex" hours. We are able to accommodate parents for the hours they need child care."She said that because the facility is so large, she is able to offer the flexible hours. The center's phone number is (610) 377-4201.Her center also works with speech therapists who offer outside services and also offers child care to families with children who need technical support, breathing treatments or testing for diabetes.The center is handicapped accessible for children and their caretakers. Not only is the front entrance to the building handicapped accessible, but so are the bathrooms and classrooms.She accepts CCTI and Title 20 low income families. She is also offering college students internships as an outreach to help the community as much as possible.Children enrolled at Robin's Nest will receive nutritional meals and snacks. They follow the CACFP nutritional guidelines.While Robin's Nest is set inside a rather large building, the child care center itself has the feeling of being at home. There are plenty of toys and projects to provide activity for the children."It's a school, but its all warmed up," added Skrincosky.Skrincosky said that the days are organized so that the children have periods of high and low activity levels."We don't have them sit too long," she said. "We have marching band, walks through the neighborhood and a big outdoor play area."She said that the curriculum is varied and is aligned to their age level. They teach life skills, personal hygiene, and teach children how to zip jackets, put on their own shoes and table manners."I've always wanted to open a child-care center," said Skrincosky. "I started with a vision.""I have a lot of people who believed in me," she said. "I had a lot of support from Salem Bible Fellowship and my staff worked with me nearly around the clock to get this place ready.""I am a single mom myself," she said. "Having my own business allows me to be here for my children as well."