From yoga studio to country daycare: How a St. Marys mother found her calling

Little Homestead Daycare, a newly opened rural daycare, offers children a safe, country-style space to play and explore, complete with a large sandbox, swing set and open fields. Pictured, Megan Annett, owner of Little Homestead Daycare, cherishes the feeling of operating a daycare on her property.

By Alex Hunt

What began as a dream at a yoga studio turned into a full-time passion for Megan Annett. Her new daycare offers five children room to run, learn and explore the countryside.

Little Homestead Daycare is located in Megan Annett’s private residence on the 4th Line just outside of St. Marys. The countryside property is 1.2 acres, which provides small children a place to be toddlers and have fun. 

“I decided to start the daycare at the beginning of summer after leaving my job at a yoga studio,” said Annett. “I’ve always wanted to create a warm, country-style space where children can feel at home, the kind of place I’d want for my own kids. I have two little girls myself, so building something that feels nurturing and family-oriented was really important to me.”

Annett started developing the idea for a daycare just this past summer. She started advertising and posting on social media to gain some attention, and she opened the daycare at the beginning of the school year. Registration is only open for five spots, but she plans to accept new children once there’s more vacancies.

“I’d say one small challenge is that some parents choose to enroll their kids in the larger daycares in town,” said Annett. “But overall, it really wasn’t too hard to get things started. Most parents just message me on Facebook if they’re interested in enrolling, and it’s been a pretty easy process.”

The daycare features activities such as a trampoline, a playhouse, swing sets and a sandbox, which Annett noted is very popular with the children. Annett provides snacks and lunches for all the kids.

Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Annett says the daycare will operate year-round. Since the daycare is located in the countryside, there’s no concern from children playing too close to the road, and Annett said she is with the kids at all times to ensure the safety and wellbeing of each child.

“I love watching the kids learn new things and grow; it’s the best part of my day. I provide all their snacks and lunches, and every day is a little different,” said Annett. “There’s always something fun on the menu, whether it’s fresh fruit, cheesy perogies, or something new the kids want to try.

“We also have themed days throughout the year. For Halloween, everyone comes in costume and at Christmas, we’ll have lots of festive activities and crafts. Since raising my own children, caring for these kids just comes naturally. It’s such a joy, and with two friendly cats around, it really does feel like one big family.”

Children at Little Homestead Daycare have plenty of room to explore, with a swing set, climber, trampoline and a large sandbox – a clear favourite among the group. Annett said she enjoys watching the children become more comfortable each day.

“They were definitely shy at first, but now they’re coming around and starting to play with each other,” she said. “We also have two cats on the property too so that adds to the fun.”

Annett added she plans to continue running the daycare for years to come.