At Barrel of Monkeys Preschool and Childcare Facility, an open house allowed parents to check out the new facility in Austintown.

 

The owner tells 21 News the secret to success is keeping infants aged six weeks and children up to 12 years of age, safe, happy, and engaged.

 

STEM is incorporated for kids, not just with a robotic dog, but with 3-D printing, and educational activities. 

 

"One of our biggest things is our education is integrated through play. We do creative curriculum. We keep them busy all the time," said Owner Arron Bohr.

 

There is a desperate statewide need for childcare since facilities across Ohio are closing due to a lack of staffing. 

 

Barrel of Monkeys  Preschool and Childcare says that the key to success if being flexible with scheduling, and treating employees like family.

 

About 7 million more spots are needed for childcare across the state.

 

The administrator tells us if families didn't qualify for state assistance they may now. 

 

"Some families in the past who could not afford it due to whatever their income was, they've kind of expanded it. So you might be making a little more, but you still might want to apply now, because they want to help families get into child care," administrator Jerica Perrine added.

 

This new facility on Westchester in Austintown was made possible by a half-million-dollar grant.

 

"Since we had all the highest ratings in the state, and our track record we have another center that was open for 13 years, we are lucky we were one of the 50 selected out of 7,000 applicants to receive a grant, in order to make more child care available in this state," Bohr said.