Nevaeh Love Named June Provider of the Month

Supporting Growth Through Creativity, Patience and Play

Nevaeh Love has worked in childcare for a year and a half, serving children and families at the Buhler Beginnings location of Kids Collective. While she is still early in her childcare career, caring for children has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.

“My whole life, I’ve always been surrounded by children, whether it was helping take care of my siblings or babysitting whenever people needed help."

After encouragement from her sister, who was a preschool teacher, Nevaeh decided to take a leap into childcare — a decision that has allowed her to be part of children’s growth, learning and everyday milestones.

One of Nevaeh’s favorite parts of the job is leading crafts and creative activities with the children in her care.

“I love seeing them express themselves through art and watching their creativity grow,” she said. “Every child approaches art differently, and no craft ever turns out exactly the same, which makes it so special.”

For Nevaeh, those creative moments are about more than paint, paper and glue. They are opportunities for children to explore, learn, build confidence and take pride in what they create.

“One of the best parts is seeing how proud and excited they are when their parents take their artwork home,” she said. “Their faces truly light up.”  

Encouraging Milestones, Big and Small

Nevaeh’s nominator, Ally Clubb, shared that Nevaeh has gone above and beyond to build strong relationships with both children and families. She described Nevaeh as patient, warm and especially gifted at connecting with toddlers as they navigate big feelings and rapid growth.

“Nevaeh gets down on their level, using play, songs, and gentle guidance to support language development and social skills,” Ally shared. “She recognizes each child’s individual needs, whether that means offering comfort, encouraging independence, or helping them practice routines like handwashing and clean-up.”

That encouragement has led to meaningful milestones in Nevaeh’s classroom. One moment that stayed with her happened while working with one-year-olds, as she helped a child who was struggling to walk independently.

“I worked closely with them throughout the week, cheering them on and practicing every day,” Nevaeh said. “After only a week in my classroom, they went from barely walking to running around the room.”

The moment reminded her how powerful a safe, supportive and encouraging environment can be for a child’s development.

“I still remember the moment they finally walked on their own — both their mom and I were so excited and proud,” she said. “Moments like that are one of the reasons I love working in childcare.”

Nevaeh believes childcare is important because children are the future of the community. Quality childcare helps children build social, emotional and educational skills at a young age, while also supporting working families who need peace of mind.

“When childcare providers are supported, they are able to create safe, loving, and educational environments where children can thrive,” she said. “A strong childcare system helps strengthen the entire community.”

She also expressed appreciation for the Reno County Child Care Task Force and the ways it supports providers through opportunities like grants, incentives, free training and networking.

“The Reno County Task Force is important to me because they make childcare providers feel appreciated and supported, which can make a huge difference on the hard days,” Nevaeh said. “Knowing there are people who recognize and value the work we do means a lot.”

For anyone considering a career in childcare, Nevaeh offers simple advice:

“Don’t be scared to be silly and play with the kids!” she said. “Do the dances and let your inner child out! It’s all worth it in the end!”

Congratulations, Nevaeh! Your warmth, creativity and dedication to helping children grow are a wonderful example of the impact childcare providers make every day in Reno County.