Building Blocks Childcare
With more than 50 years of childcare experience, we offer families the stability, consistency, and meaningful relationships that help children thrive during their earliest years
Our Approach to Supporting Your Child
At Building Blocks Childcare, we believe that early childhood is a time for building the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Children learn best through relationships, play, and meaningful everyday experiences.
We use proven, relationship-based approaches to support your child’s growth, learning, and emotional well-being. Our program is guided by three trusted models: Circle of Security, Conscious Discipline, and the Colorado Pyramid Model.
Our approach supports:
Social-emotional development
Confidence and independence
Respectful relationships
A love of learning through play
What This Means for Your Child
A strong sense of safety and trust
We focus on building secure, caring relationships so your child feels safe to explore, learn, and grow. When children feel secure, they gain confidence and independence.
Learning how to understand and manage emotions
We gently teach children how to recognize their feelings, express them in healthy ways, and begin to solve problems. This helps reduce challenging behaviors and builds lifelong skills.
Positive guidance, not punishment
We use calm, consistent strategies to guide behavior. Children are supported in learning what to do, rather than simply being told what not to do.
Strong social skills
Through daily interactions, children learn how to take turns, communicate, build friendships, and show kindness to others.
Consistent routines and expectations
Predictable routines help children feel secure and understand what comes next, making transitions smoother and reducing stress.
We meet children where they are developmentally, allowing them to grow at their own pace while feeling supported and secure. We believe children thrive when surrounded by a supportive village of caregivers, peers, and families working together to nurture their growth.
Building a village where children, families, and caregivers grow together—guided by more than 50 years of childcare experience
At Building Blocks Childcare, LLC, we believe that relationships are the foundation of learning. Children thrive when they feel safe, valued, and connected to the people around them. We recognize that every child develops at their own pace and deserves opportunities to explore, discover, and grow through meaningful play and responsive interactions.
We view childhood as a time of wonder, curiosity, and possibility. Our mixed-age environment encourages children to learn from one another, develop empathy, build confidence, and form a strong sense of belonging. We honor each child's unique strengths, interests, culture, and developmental journey.
Families are a child's first and most important teachers. We value open communication and genuine partnerships with families, recognizing that when caregivers and educators work together, children experience consistency, security, and success.
Guided by respect, compassion, and more than five decades of childcare experience, we strive to nurture the whole child by supporting social-emotional well-being, independence, creativity, physical development, and a lifelong love of learning.
Why Families Choose Building Blocks Childcare
Families choose Building Blocks Childcare because we offer more than childcare—we offer a supportive village where children and families are known, valued, and connected.
Children benefit from:
Consistent caregivers and predictable routines
Small group sizes and individualized attention
Strong relationships across mixed ages
A safe, welcoming home environment
Open communication and family partnership
Play-based learning that supports the whole child
Social-emotional development and confidence building
Regular communication through text and the Early Learning Ventures Childcare Management System
A caring village of support where children develop meaningful relationships
With more than 50 years of childcare experience, we offer families the stability, consistency, and meaningful relationships that help children thrive during their earliest years.
Our goal is to create a true sense of belonging where children, families, and caregivers work together to support each child's growth and development. Every child is known, every family is valued, and every relationship matters.
Together, we are building more than school readiness—we are building a strong village where children develop confidence, curiosity, healthy relationships, and a lifelong love of learning.
Licensed-Care
Language-Rich Social Interactions
Music & Movement
Outdoor Play & Exploration
Safe & Inviting Learning Environment
Continuity of Care
Sensory Play
Mixed-Ages
We Offer Gluten-Free Meals That Are Fresh and Homemade
At Building Blocks Childcare, all meals and snacks are gluten-free and prepared fresh from scratch each day. We focus on wholesome, nutritious foods made with quality ingredients, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and balanced proteins to support healthy growth and development.
Many commercially prepared foods contain excess salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and hidden gluten ingredients. By preparing meals in-house, families can feel confident knowing exactly what their child is eating in a safe, gluten-free environment.
We proudly provide:
100% gluten-free meals and snacks
Fresh, hot meals prepared daily
Whole foods made from scratch
Fruits, vegetables, and balanced nutrition
Healthy meals are included at no additional cost
Our goal is to provide children with healthy, delicious food that supports both wellness and everyday learning.
The Benefits of a Mixed-Age Environment & Continuity of Care
Our mixed-age environment is an intentional part of how we support children and families. By keeping children and caregivers together over time, we build strong, trusting relationships that create a sense of security and belonging.
Younger children learn by observing and interacting with older peers, while older children develop empathy, leadership, and confidence. This natural dynamic fosters a sense of community—a small village where children learn to care for, support, and learn from one another each day, creating the building blocks of lifelong relationships.
When families feel supported and connected, children flourish—developing confidence, meaningful relationships, and a love of learning that grows from the inside out.
Continuity of care is a core part of our program. Whenever possible, children remain in the same environment with the same caregivers over an extended period of time, rather than transitioning based solely on age.
This consistency allows children to:
Build deep, secure attachments
Feel safe and understood
Develop trust and emotional stability
Strong relationships are the foundation for all learning, and continuity allows those relationships—the building blocks of our village—to grow over time.
“My daughter started attending childcare with Ms. Carol at 3 months old. As she grew in her home over the following 5 years, Carol truly made us feel like family. My daughter, now in Kindergarten, asks to visit Ms. Carol regularly.”
“While in her care, my daughter was provided with constant enrichment activities, such as music class, bumble bus, dance class, age appropriate environmental engagement classes, and of course healthy socialization with other kids. Ms. Carol is constantly adjusting to accommodate new families that come into her home and works with parents on how to make adjusting as comfortable as possible.
Adjusting to new schedules can be really hard for little ones, but with constant communication my daughter felt comfortable getting used to a new daily schedule. A previous caregiver for my daughter informed me that she did not do well and would not do anything but cry the entire time she was there. This caregiver quickly became unwilling to work with me and would no longer watch my daughter, which as a new mom is heart retching and stressful all the while trying to get used to my own new schedule as a working mom. However, once she started going regularly to Ms. Carol's childcare everything became easier as a first time parent.
Now that my daughter is in kindergarten, she uses the skills she learned throughout her newborn to toddler years in the classroom. She is kind to others, supportive of her friends, and her teacher expresses how well she excels at everything they do in the classroom. I believe that without Ms. Carol's care and the enrichment that she provided, my daughter would be struggling like many children her age who were isolated during Covid closures. I feel forever grateful to have find someone who showed so much compassion and kindness to my daughter as well as every child who comes into her care.”
— Susan A.
Relationships are the foundation of learning
My name is Carol Duhaime, and I am the owner and provider of Building Blocks Childcare LLC in Fort Collins, Colorado. For more than 50 years, I have cared for children and supported families, and I feel truly honored to be part of each child's early learning journey.
Throughout my career, I have witnessed the incredible growth and development that occurs during the early years, and I remain passionate about helping children build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success. I have also learned that children thrive when they are surrounded by caring, connected adults who work together to support their growth. I believe it truly takes a village to raise a child, and I strive to create that sense of community within my program every day.
My goal is to create a true sense of belonging where children, families, and caregivers work together to support each child's growth and development
In 2020, I opened Building Blocks Childcare to create a warm, safe, and nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. My goal was not only to provide quality, licensed childcare, but also to build a village of support where children feel valued, families feel connected, and relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
I believe that children learn best through play, exploration, music, movement, and meaningful relationships. My program focuses on supporting the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively—while helping each child develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning.
I am committed to ongoing professional development and continuously seek opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills. Through training in infant development, inclusive practices, trauma-informed care, Universal Design, Conscious Discipline, and supporting children with delays and disabilities, I strive to ensure that every child in my care feels valued, included, and supported.
As a childcare provider and mother, I understand the trust families place in me when they choose childcare. Building strong relationships with children and their families is at the heart of my work. My goal is to create a welcoming, family-centered environment where children feel secure, parents feel confident, and everyone is treated with kindness and respect.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve families in the Fort Collins community and look forward to helping children build the skills, confidence, and curiosity they need for a successful future while strengthening the village that supports them along the way.
Check Out Our Daily Routine
Our daily routine is designed to provide consistency, predictability, and a balance of structured and child-led experiences that support engagement, learning, and smooth transitions throughout the day. Children are taught daily routines, household tasks, along with respect and gentle care for all members of our program.
The morning begins with welcoming play, followed by a good morning song and a nutritious, family-style breakfast that encourages social interaction and independence. After breakfast, children participate in circle time, an enrichment activity and table-time experience, followed by a morning snack.
Circle time is used as a group learning opportunity and includes songs, stories, and creative activities that support early language, cognitive, and social development. The day continues with child-led learning centers and outdoor exploration, allowing children to engage in purposeful play, build peer relationships, and develop physical skills through active movement.
Children then transition into lunch, followed by a rest period in the afternoon to support physical recovery and emotional regulation.
In the late afternoon, children enjoy an afternoon snack and participate in additional learning and creative and movement-based activities, including music, dance, and body movement, before transitioning into parent pickup and end-of-day routines.
Ready to Visit Our Program?
Families choose Building Blocks Childcare because we offer more than childcare—we offer a supportive village where children and families are known, valued, and connected.
If you’re ready to take the next step in the enrollment process, contact us to book a tour of our program!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Monday through Friday, from 7:30-5:30
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We are located in West Fort Collins, Colorado.
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We serve infants to 5 years old
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At Building Blocks Childcare, LLC, I provide gluten-free breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily, primarily using whole foods.
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The first step is to submit an interest form on our website. Once we receive that, we will reach out to you to schedule a phone interview.
From there, you will review our schedule and handbook, and then book a time to visit our program. If you are coming from out of state, virtual tours are available.
If we are a good match, we will send over the enrollment paperwork and discuss next steps.
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Our ratios are 6 children to 1 staff member.
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Tuition at Building Blocks Childcare reserves a dedicated space for your child and is based on your contracted schedule, not attendance. Monthly rates are all-inclusive and cover meals, snacks, enrichment activities, arts and crafts, and program supplies. Rates are calculated annually and divided into equal monthly payments, which already include holidays, provider vacations, and professional days.
Full tuition is required regardless of absences due to illness, vacations, holidays, weather closures, or provider time off. Families are responsible for arranging backup care when needed.
Childcare is prepaid, with payment due on the 28th of the month prior to care. A non-refundable registration fee equal to half of one month’s tuition is required to secure enrollment and may be applied toward the final two weeks of care with proper notice.
Limited openings may be reserved in advance with a holding fee.
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Not at this time.
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Family & Parent Testimonials