Historical February 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Sixteen years ago, when her youngest child started kindergarten, Loretta Lloyd decided that she wanted to resume a career outside the home.
She was very interested in daycare.
She had noticed that many children did not have a suitable place to go while their parents were at work.
After consulting with her husband Willis, a letter carrier in our neighborhood, she decided to work as a daycare provider for a year to see if she was suited to the task and if the task suited her.
The first site of what was to become the Sunshine Academy was a building the Lloyds owned at 5900 McPherson. Lloyd found that she loved working with small children. You have to love and respect the kids to do the job well.” She has found a very special satisfaction when a child greets her with a smile and a hug.
It makes her want to make that part of the day when the children are in her care a pleasant and secure time.
After that first year, Lloyd returned to Forest Park College to complete her education.
She and her husband remodeled their basement so that it could serve as a daycare center.
The site was licensed by the state.
After four years at this location, the Sunshine Academy moved to larger quarters at 6001 Delmar.
After three years, Lloyd decided to try to purchase property on Delmar.
She believed the area to be on the upswing and also needed more space for the children.
The Sunshine Academy is now at 5967 Delmar.
This site required a lot of remodeling after purchase but had the requisite number of bathrooms and adequate space for the number of children she wished to serve. Currently, 60 preschoolers attend the Sunshine Academy and there is space for more.
The two year olds explore, socialize, and get some autonomy from their parents.
The 3, 4, and 5 year olds are taught the learning skills necessary to prepare them for kindergarten as soon as their attention spans permit.
The Academy also has field trips for children in the appropriate age groups. Favorites include outings to the zoo and other activities in Forest Park, circuses, and the Arch.
There also is an excursion on the Huck Finn each year. Older children are able to play kickball in the park with their counterparts from other daycare centers.
In the early years, the Academy drew most of its students from SkinkerDeBaliviere, those who lived within walking distance. Today they come from all over the city and sometimes from the county as well.
The majority are from single-parent households. Their parents work in the medical professions, are bus drivers, security guards, cashiers, and sometimes students. Loretta Lloyd continues to love working with children.
We only have them for nine hours- If we can instill some things, maybe we can help them cope with the rest of it.” The Lloyds have lived in SkinkerDeBaliviere since May 1, 1968. Mrs. Lloyd feels that it is a positive thing to live here.
She and her husband have been able to interact with all kinds of people and have grown in relation to community issues.
They also have seen the neighborhood stabilize and grow.
She likes where she lives and has wanted to keep her daycare center in the area, providing a much-needed service to mothers and children. Currently, Lloyd serves as a business representative on the Commercial Committee, working to revitalize Delmar. •
Original photograph caption
Loretta Lloyd, Sunshine Academy. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_02.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 6; PDF page(s) 1, 6.
