As two toddlers played with green and orange ice cubes in plastic bags, Kassie Shepard watched over an infant scooting around the Carson Lanes Daycare and Preschool.
Shepard is the director of the daycare, owned by Carson Lanes owner Eugene Burger, that opened in May. Shepard said Burger wanted to open a state licensed daycare in south Carson City.
Shepard, 38, studied early childhood development at the University of Nevada, Reno and has served as the infant and toddler director at Western Nevada College. She also has three children of her own.
"I've been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years and waiting for the right opportunity to have a center of my own and provide high quality care," she said.
The daycare and preschool is available to infants and children up to 5 years of age. Shepard said on average there is one staff member per four infants under 12 months, one to six for toddlers under 3 and one to 10 for children 3 to 5.
The daycare, which is located near the Carson Lanes bowling alley, includes a sleeping room for naps and an outdoor play area with slides and an awning to keep the children in the shade.
"Right now we have 11 families," Shepard said, adding the daycare can handle up to 20 infants and toddlers under 3 and 18 pre-schoolers between the ages of 3 and 5.
She said the facility is currently waiving the $25 enrollment fee and accepts full day, part day and drop-in services once parents sign up their child.
"We do a lot of sign language with the kids," Shepard said. "They all sit at the same table and eat. It's all very interactive."