Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of Griswold

11/18/2025

Lakin's first annual cookie walk is happening at our Christmas Open House! ❤️🍪
Families and community members are donating baked goods, and you can fill a box for a free-will donation.
Come support the center, enjoy treats, sip hot chocolate, and celebrate the season with us on Dec 20th, 2–4 PM! 🎅🎄

11/14/2025

Feathered, fluffy, and full of candy!! How many pieces do you think are hiding in this large jar? Share the excitement with your friends and give them a chance to guess too. The closest estimate wins the Turkey.

11/14/2025

🍪 We Need Bakers! 🍪
LFCDC is hosting a Cookie Walk (and more so be on the lookout) on Saturday, December 20th from 2–4 PM, and we are looking for community members and center families to donate baked goodies!

Cookies, bars, breads, candies — anything homemade and delicious is welcome! 🎄✨

If you would like to donate, please:
📞 Call the center: 712-778-2273
📧 Email us: lakinofgriswold@gmail.com
💬 Message us on Facebook
👋 Or let any staff member know!

Thank you for helping make this event sweet and successful! ❤️

Send a message to learn more

11/13/2025

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Miss Carrie 🌟

Floating Lead & Food Service Coordinator

Carrie joined the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center this summer as a volunteer and quickly became an irreplaceable part of our team. 💛 She’s originally from Griswold and now lives in Oakland with her husband, Brad. Together, they run Southwest Iowa Tiling. Carrie is a proud mom of six — including our own Miss Jadynn — and a loving “Juju” to two little boys. 👩‍👧‍👦💕

You can find Carrie just about anywhere in the building. If she’s not in the kitchen or lunchroom, she’s popping into classrooms to make the kids laugh 🤣, wind them up 🎉, and sneak back out with a grin. And when she’s not doing that, she’s cuddling a baby 🤱, singing, and rocking little ones to sleep. 💤🎶

Carrie loves to cook 👩‍🍳, bake 🧁, color 🎨, and craft ✂️ — and she’s famous for her killer cupcakes! She’s also the queen of Pinterest ideas, always designing bulletin boards and helping decorate the center to make everything warm, welcoming, and fun for the kids. 🧡✨

💛 Favorite Part of the Job

“The children. Every day is different and full of joy. This place feels like home. One of my biggest blessings is getting to work alongside my daughter, Miss Jadynn, and seeing her shine in her classroom.”

🎉 Fun Facts About Miss Carrie

• 🎂 Birthday: June 26, 1979
• 🌈 Favorite Color: All colors
• 🍓 Favorite Food: Fresh fruit
• 🥤 Favorite Drink: White Monster
• 🎄 Favorite Holiday: Any holiday spent with family
• 🐶 Favorite Animals: Shih Tzus (she has FOUR!)
• 💒 Fun Fact: She’s an ordained minister and loves performing weddings
• 💬 Quote: “Once a mom, always a mom — whether it’s my six, my two grandbabies, or the dozens of little ones who brighten my day.”

11/13/2025

🌟 NOW HIRING: Assistant Teacher (10AM–6PM, Mon–Fri)! 🌟

Do you love kids? Are you reliable, upbeat, and passionate about helping little learners grow?
We’re hiring an Assistant Teacher to join our amazing team!

🕒 Schedule: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
📍 Location: Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of Griswold
🧡 Start Date: ASAP

✨ Position Overview

As an Assistant Teacher, you’ll:

Support the Lead Teacher with daily routines and activities

Help create a safe, positive, and engaging classroom environment

Assist with lesson plans, playtime, meals, and transitions

Maintain cleanliness and follow all health & safety guidelines

Build positive relationships with children, parents, and coworkers

Support diapering, potty training, and supervision (age-specific)

Help ensure DHS and CACFP rules are followed daily

✔️ Requirements

Must be reliable, patient, and excited to work with young children

Must pass a comprehensive background check (Iowa DHS requirement)

Ability to lift 30+ lbs, get on the floor, and stay active throughout the day

Willingness to complete required training (we help with this!)

Strong communication and teamwork skills

🌈 Perks of Joining Our Team

Supportive, fun, family-oriented environment

Opportunities for growth and training

Making a real difference in children’s lives every single day

📩 Interested? Please message us, Email us at lakinofgriswold@gmail.com or stop in for an application today!
We can’t wait to meet our newest team member! 💛

Send a message to learn more

11/12/2025

🧣❄️ Winter Weather & Holiday Fun Reminder! 🎄☃️

It’s that time of year again! Please take a moment to check your child’s cubby and swap out clothing for weather-appropriate attire — coats, hats, gloves, and warm extra outfits. We’ll continue to enjoy outdoor play even as the temperatures drop!

A friendly reminder to also keep kiddos home when they’re not feeling well and follow the Iowa HHS Child Illness and Exclusion Guidelines. This helps keep everyone healthy and happy during the busy holiday season. ❤️

And don’t forget to keep an eye out for all the fun we’ll be having this Holiday Season — special activities, crafts, and cheerful celebrations are on the way! 🎁✨

🧤 LFCDC is also accepting donations of new or gently used winter items such as coats, hats, boots, snow pants, and gloves to help ensure all our little ones stay warm this winter. We’re so grateful for the continued kindness and support from our amazing families and community — thank you! 💙

Send a message to learn more

11/07/2025

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Miss Caroline Oathoudt! 🌟

We’re so excited to feature Miss Caroline, our amazing School Age Lead, who joined the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center family in August! 🧡

Caroline is from Griswold and loves to paint and draw in her free time. When she’s not here with us, you can find her helping out on her family farm by her dad’s side! 🚜💛

Her favorite part of her job?
✨ “Teaching kids to help themselves.”

Here are a few fun facts about Miss Caroline:
🎂 Birthday: October 14, 2002
💚 Favorite Color: Green
🍣 Favorite Food/Drink: Redbull & Sushi
🎃 Favorite Holiday: Halloween
🐸 Favorite Animals: Birds & Frogs
🌸 Favorite Smell: Vanilla

💬 Favorite Quote:
“Planting seeds of curiosity that grow long after the day is done.” 🌱

We’re so lucky to have Miss Caroline bringing creativity, energy, and heart to our center every day! 💕

11/05/2025

📚✨ Upcoming Events & Reminders! ✨📚

We’re so excited to welcome Mrs. Megan from the Griswold Library this Thursday, November 6th at 10 AM! The kids always look forward to her fun stories! 💛

🦃 Thanksgiving Reminder:
Our center will be closed November 27th and 28th so our families and staff can enjoy the holiday.

⏰ Updated Hours:
We’re now back to being open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM!

👶 Now Enrolling!
We currently have openings available—come join the fun, learning, and loving environment at LFCDC! 💕

Send a message to learn more

11/05/2025

🎃👻 Look at all the fun we had last week! 👻🎃
We played, learned, shared, and had the best Halloween week ever! 🧡🕸️ From creative crafts to spooky snacks and costume fun — our week was filled with smiles, laughter, and lots of memories! 💫

📸 Check out some of our favorite moments below!

11/04/2025

Our daycare kids and staff made a special delivery. Janice Steffen was the lucky winner of our candy corn guessing game with 287 pieces. Thank you to all participants. What should we do for November?

10/30/2025

Staff Spotlight: Meet Sabrina 🌟
Say hello to Sabrina, our Lead Teacher in the Youngsters Room (with Lakin since August).
She was born and raised in Iowa, grew up in Nodaway, graduated in Corning, and is a proud mom of four amazing boys. When she’s not in the classroom, you’ll find her enjoying art, riding four-wheelers, and fishing.

Teaching style: keep it fun, safe, and positive every day.
Favorite part of the job: “the hugs in the morning and seeing how excited the kiddos get when they see me!” 🥰

Fun favorites
• Birthday: Dec 17 🎂
• Color: Pink 💗
• Food/Drink: Shrimp & Dr Pepper
• Holiday: Christmas 🎄
• Animal: Cow 🐄
• Smell: Vanilla cupcake 🧁

Favorite quote:
“Every child is a different kind of flower, and all together, they make this world a beautiful garden.” 🌷🌼🌻

Help us thank Sabrina for all the love and positivity she brings to our kiddos every single day! 💛

10/29/2025

🌟 Look at Our Beautiful Center! 🌟
We are beyond grateful for how far we’ve come — and it’s all thanks to our amazing community and the wonderful donors who helped make it possible! 💛

Every classroom, every smile, and every learning moment is a reflection of your generosity and support. Together, we’re building a brighter future for our children — one day, one dream, and one donation at a time. ✨