KidsPark provides flexible and affordable childcare solutions, supporting working families while highlighting the essential role of immigrant workers in the childcare industry.
KidsPark, a national franchise, is dedicated to supporting low- and middle-income parents who often find traditional childcare options prohibitively expensive. This financial burden can lead to parents being pushed out of the workforce for extended periods. Immigrants have played a crucial role in the success of KidsPark, as highlighted by co-owners Heather Alanis and Beth Christie.
“We’ve always relied in the childcare industry on people who have come here from another country, or are first- or second-generation,” said Heather. Beth added, “We have, over the years, hired cousins and sisters because we believe they work so well together, and all of them have come from immigrant families.”
Founded with a straightforward mission, KidsPark aims to provide accessible, responsible hourly daycare for families who cannot or prefer not to use full-day childcare. Parents can drop off their children at any time during operating hours, paying only for the hours they need. This model has proven successful, with KidsPark now operating in nine states after 37 years in business.
Seventeen years ago, sisters Beth Christie and Heather Alanis opened the first KidsPark center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “We have families who use us five days a week, or parents who just drop in as needed,” Beth explained.
KidsPark’s flexible hourly drop-off system allows parents to minimize childcare costs, which is especially beneficial for those juggling conflicting work schedules. Currently, parents pay $12 per hour for one child, with an additional $6 per hour for each sibling—rates that are often lower than those of independent babysitters. “Having quality staff that can take good care of your children and keeping rates low for parents, it’s definitely a balancing act,” Beth noted.
The center typically hires young individuals, often college students, with all current teachers in their 20s and directors in their 30s. Many of these young workers are pursuing careers in nursing or education, reflecting a nurturing personality type that aligns well with childcare.
Immigrants have been integral to KidsPark’s success. “The young women who work for us tend to be very family-oriented,” Beth said. “We’ve loved having teachers that are bilingual.” This bilingual capability is particularly valuable in a diverse area like Dallas, where immigrant workers contribute significantly to various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.
“The teachers that have come from immigrant families have generally been the kindest, most diligent, hard workers,” Beth remarked. “I have found myself in awe of some of the young women who have come through the center, their work ethic. And they’ve brought so much love to the center.”
As KidsPark continues to grow, it remains committed to providing affordable childcare solutions while recognizing the vital contributions of immigrant workers in shaping a supportive environment for families.
According to the American Immigration Council, the impact of immigrant workers in the childcare sector is significant, highlighting the importance of their roles in supporting working families.