We are a ministry of Epworth United Methodist Church, and our program reflects our desire to share the love of Jesus with children and their families. We welcome families of all faith backgrounds, and our staff come from a variety of faith traditions. We strive for acceptance and inclusion of everyone, respecting and celebrating one another’s differences. 

We do not have a separate religious education component for any age group. 

We do: 

• Sing songs about God and Jesus 
• Tell Bible stories in developmentally age-appropriate ways 
• Pray to God before meals 
• Celebrate Christian holidays 
• Share stories from other faith traditions when culturally appropriate 

If you have any questions, please talk with the Director, the Center’s Board, or the Pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church. 

At the Center, we enroll children ages 2 through 5 for our academic session programs. Additionally, some school-aged children (up to age 6) are accepted for our summer session program and some holiday breaks. 

Our staff are licensed through the state of Montana. Our lead teachers have been at Smith Memorial Childcare for 2-27 years. They are required to be Adult & Child CPR and First Aid certified. They also take 16 hours of continuing education annually to renew their teacher license. 

The importance of a licensed childcare program, such as Smith Memorial, cannot be overstated. The Child Care Licensing (CCL) program plays a crucial role in monitoring, inspecting, and supporting licensed and registered childcare facilities to ensure the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being for children. These regulations are meticulously established and include comprehensive pre-inspections, ongoing monitoring, annual inspections, and diligent follow-ups on complaints. This rigorous oversight ensures that licensed daycare programs provide a safe, nurturing, and educational environment for children, fostering their development and growth in a setting that parents can trust. 

Smith Memorial Childcare center is a licensed day care center in Kalispell, Montana for children ages 2-8 with a center capacity of 56 children per day. 

We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for the children we serve, and our health policies meet or exceed all state standards. For our current policies relating to illness, please refer to the Family Handbook. 

We are committed to ensuring a safe, nurturing, loving, and caring environment for every child we serve. We encourage appropriate behavior by children through positive reinforcement, re-direction, choice-making, and respectful actions. When necessary, a calm down period may be utilized with a child who is struggling with behavior. 

Our staff are proactive about communicating and collaborating with families to address challenging behaviors. Please refer to the Family Handbook or our Director for more information. 

Our days are filled with self-directed and play-based learning, supplemented with age-appropriate learning activities planned and guided by our teaching staff. We also offer field trips and educational enrichment opportunities including science, Spanish, gardening, and art. Our library offers multiple genres of age appropriate books and story time with Pastor Chad. 

Our outdoor environment is a hub of physical activity and imaginative play. Here, children develop crucial motor skills, engage in healthy physical exercise, and learn the importance of teamwork and social interaction. 

At Smith Memorial Childcare, children get their hands dirty in our interactive garden, learning about nature and the cycle of life. This hands-on activity not only teaches them about plant growth but also instills a sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship. 

The Center provides a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack each day to children in attendance. This food is provided at no additional charge to parents or guardians. Meals are served family style. 

We do not permit food from home unless previously approved by the Center’s Director because of a child’s food allergies or religious beliefs. 

No, our program is designed for a full day of care. 

For late-arrivals, early pick-ups, or other scheduling accommodations, we do ask that families coordinate arrangements with our Director in advance. 

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or to learn more about our programs – we’re here to help your child thrive at Smith Memorial Childcare Center!