Welcome to Childcare Lane
Where Caring Begins and Excellence Thrives

Hi, I’m Kristie Chaffee. I am a wife, mother of four, and have been working with children for over 16 years.

I believe all children deserve a positive, happy, and encouraging childhood to learn, grow, and discover their true potential. I am thrilled to welcome you to Childcare Lane, your trusted partner in high-quality family childcare AND professional development services, right here in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  • I completed my thesis/research paper for my Masters Degree in early reading and math instruction. I will provide the most current research based pre-reading and pre-math instruction. Your child will be ready for kindergarten.

  • I am a Licensed General Education Teacher (K-6) & Special Education Teacher (Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Academic/Behavior Specialist). I have a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State University and a Masters Degree in Special Education from University of St. Thomas.

  • I have a four-star Parent Aware MN Daycare Rating and I am a licensed Daycare in the state of Minnesota.

I believe that when childcare professionals succeed, entire communities will benefit.

Here's what you can expect from Childcare Lane:

Exceptional Childcare: I am here to provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment for your child to explore, learn, and grow.

Coaching and Support: I offer tailored coaching and support to childcare providers seeking to start or enhance their practices.

Professional Development: Stay ahead of the curve with my comprehensive professional development programs designed to equip childcare providers with the latest tools and knowledge.

Thank you for considering Childcare Lane as your trusted partner in childcare and professional development. I invited you to explore my website to learn more about my family childcare program and professional development opportunities. I’m here to serve families and providers, offering the highest standard of care and support. I look forward to embarking on this journey together, nurturing young minds and elevating the standards of childcare in Minnesota and elsewhere.

Yours in Childcare,
Kristie Chaffee
Founder, Childcare Lane

Mission

The mission of Childcare Lane is to support educators and families in their journey of raising confident and capable children by offering high-quality childcare and early childhood education, while empowering childcare professionals to excel in their roles.

Vision

“The needs of a developing child start with them feeling an invitation to exist in our presence EXACTLY the way they are. To give the message to the child: They are exactly the person we welcome, want and love. This embrace is not earned, nor can it be revoked. It is not dependent upon the child’s personality or behavior. This is unconditional love.”

What My Families Say…

  • "WE HAVE BEEN WITH KRISTIE FOR 3 YEARS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT HER. MY DAUGHTER LOVES HER, SHE HAS SO MUCH FUN AND LEARNS A LOT AS WELL. WE WILL BE SAD TO LEAVE WHEN MY DAUGHTER STARTS KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL, BUT SHE WILL BE READY, THANKS TO KRISTIE. MY FAMILY OFTEN TELLS ME HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE FOUND KRISTIE."

    Rana

  • "KRISTIE PROVIDES GREAT COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIIES ABOUT WHAT KIDS ARE DOING, IMPORTANT DATES, AND UPCOMING EVENTS. SHE PROVIDES PLENTY OF TIME FOR BOTH STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES AND FREE PLAY."

    Amanda

  • "KRISTIE'S DAYCARE HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR MY SON. SHE FOSTERS EACH CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT WHILE PROVIDING A FAMILY COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND HER!"

    Stephanie

Meet Kristie

Aside from being an Educator and Childcare Professional, here I want to share a personable side of me.

I value integrity, authenticity, creativity, flexibility, and balance. I enjoy time of quiet moments where I can gather my thoughts and make thoughtful plans for myself, my family, and my business. In the early morning, you will find me drinking a warm cup of coffee and listening to a book or podcast. In the afternoon’s, taking a 20-minute rest laying in the sun with a meditation playing in one earbud. In early evenings at Lifetime doing a yoga/cardio or interval strength training class.

I prioritize personal development, friendship, and fun. I enjoy listening to audiobooks (psychological thrillers are a favorite!) and podcasts (We Can Do Hard Things, Ten Percent Happier, Good Inside, My Favorite Murder, to name a few 😉). I make time to meet up with friends for coffee and dinner dates and attending our weekly/monthly neighborhood gatherings. I enjoy making updates to our home by redesigning spaces and working alongside my husband to complete the tasks together. We are always working on the next project or planning the next getaway adventure.

My husband, Alec and I have been married for 13 years. We enjoy dates nights out at baseball, basketball and football games, comedy clubs, all types of restaurants and on the golf courses.  We enjoy traveling together (when we can get away) just the two of us to anywhere with sunshine and sand ☀️

Most of our time is spent with our four children. Ari (11), Audrey (9), Maddox (6), Lucy (4). They are busy playing on basketball and softball/baseball teams, swimming, golf and after school extracurricular activities. You will find us outside playing catch, 1 on 1basketball in the driveway, or on bike rides, to name a few. At home, they enjoy playing pool, ping pong, video games, building Legos, marble runs or making up any game involving a ball.

My family is big into sports. I’m a lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan! I have a 6th grade picture of me in a Chiefs shirt holding a football to prove it. Growing up in ND allows you to pick any NFL team you choose. The rest of the family cheers for the Vikings. You will find us at plenty of Twins games and a few Timberwolves games too. You can find our family sitting together watching most games at home cheering on all MN teams. 🏈 ⚾️ ⛳️ 🎾 🏀

We have some family pets. We have two cats, Ruby (13) and Patrick (3). Ruby is gentle and sweet. She’s always looking for an open lap or soft blanket to cuddle on and anyone willing to sit and pet her. Patrick is a Maine Coon and true to his breed, he is a gentle giant. We have a rabbit named Oreo, he loves when the kids feed him vegetables or leftover snacks. Audrey has an axolotl name Echo and few fish in her room.

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