A new full-time, year-round daycare facility for children ranging in age from infancy to 36 months opened its doors in Kingsburg last week.

For parents who don't want to send their children to an in-home daycare provider, there are limited options for those with young children. But Small Wonders Infant Toddler Center is licensed to care for 26 children. The facility will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for federal holidays.

Small Wonders got the green light from the city's planning commission last week, so it is now operating with eight children.

"It's a go," said Mary Colby with the planning department. "They just need to address some parking issues."

Michele Hicks, the center's director, wants to run Small Wonders as an educational facility that is designed to facilitate children's learning and to foster competencies in all areas of a child's development.

"Part of developing as a child is developing a whole slew of things," Hicks said. "We really concentrate on creating a relationship with the care provider."

Small Wonders will be located at 1225 Smith St. in a residence between Del Monte and Holy Family Catholic Church. The 1,500-square-foot building has two classroom areas, an ADA compliant student restroom, a staff bathroom, an office, a kitchen, and a break room. There is an outside area that will be split into two separate recreational areas: One for children 0-17 months, and the other for children 18-36 months.

Hicks said that while the building's interior is geared specifically toward child care, she wanted to retain its residential appearance as well.

"I wanted it to be more of a homey feel than an institutional or academic type," she said.

Hicks' background is in education with a special education emphasis. She still holds a teaching credential. After staying home to raise her own kids, she went back to work at a local pre-school that turned away many children because they were too young for the pre-kindergarten program or not yet potty-trained.

"I decided it was time to branch out, become self-employed, and fulfill the need for infant care," Hicks said. "There's a significant need in this area for quality infant care, and it hasn't been available."

Because the new facility is currently caring for only eight children, Hicks said that they are able to be flexible with parents' schedules, something that can be difficult to find with day care providers.

"We're open to all schedules," Hicks said. "At this point, we're taking full-time, part-time, any way that we can help."

The cost for full-time care for an infant 18 months and younger is $700 a month. Because the teacher-to-child ratio is adjusted for toddlers, the cost is less for older children. The cost for full-time children over 18 months is $600 a month. The costs are adjustable for children who need only part-time care.

Hicks welcomes parents to come visit Small Wonders at any time, no appointment necessary.

"We have an open door policy," she said. "Anyone's welcome at any time."

For more information, contact Small Wonders Infant and Toddler Center at 897-1701.