Sheila Andreic, founder of child care center Noah’s World, was one of 15 children. She is also the mother of three.
When her son Noah was about 2 years old, she noticed that “he was in his own world,” she said. He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
“Most recreation centers were too loud and intimidating for him to enjoy himself. I decided it was time we created a safe place that had equipment and toys that would be both educational and skill-building for all children,” Andreic said.
Noah’s World, named after Noah, just celebrated eight years in business.
Today, Noah is 12. His brother, Nick, is 14 and his sister, Nadia, is 10. When they were much younger, Andreic said, “I was a stay-at-home mom at the time. I was going around town to the YMCA’s Toddler Time and the library with two kids. Nadia was only 6 months old.”
She noticed that options were limited and structured play did not work well for Noah. “I wanted Noah to feel comfortable, happy and not judged,” she said.
“I was able to witness how much play was vital to learning,” she said.
“In 2016, I lost my brother to leukemia,” she said. Being one of 15 kids, she experienced that different kids have different needs.
Having a conversation with her father after her brother died, Andreic listed all the frustrations she had experienced searching for a place like Noah’s World. It did not exist. Her father encouraged her to open her own business.
“Life is short,” he said. “You are passionate. You need to do this.” He invested in her business.
Her father contacted Ed May, a local property owner, in January 2017. May showed Andreic a large empty warehouse at 144 Roundhouse Road that she remembers was “dark and dingy and had no bathroom.”
Nevertheless, she could see the possibility of turning the space into the clean, brightly-lit 3,800 square foot facility it is today. She filled it with educational toys and sensory experiences ideal for all kinds of children up to ten years old.
“Ed designed and built out the space. We opened on Black Friday November 2017 just after Thanksgiving,” Andreic said. The facility has two bathrooms, a space with tables and chairs for birthday parties and a large open space filled with opportunities to play and to learn gross and fine motor skills at the same time.
“Ed May has been a huge support. I could not ask for a better landlord,” Andreic said.
Andreic worked part-time at the YMCA before starting Noah’s World, she said, and “I got a lot of ideas from listening to families.” Some did not have the money for a six-to-eight-week summer camp. “A lot of parents love the flexibility of Noah’s World.”
Noah’s World offers one-month, three-month and six-month memberships for parents who “just want to make it through the winter,” she said.
“I started offering summer camps seven years ago,” she said. They fill up fast. Noah’s World can accommodate between 12 and 15 children for camp. Advertising for summer camp begins in April.
Noah’s World also offers parent/child programs called PALS, or Parents and Little Sidekicks. “We do parachute time,” she said.
Those interestred can check the website at www.noahsworld.net and the business’s Facebook page for drop off times for 3- to 5-year-olds and pre-school children. Once kids become comfortable with one of the programs, parents sign them up for others.
The busiest times at Noah’s World are during holiday breaks and on weekends.
Birthday parties are quite popular, with three time slots available every Saturday and Sunday. Andreic suggests calling a couple months in advance of the birthday to hold the date with a $100 deposit. Deposits are refundable within a certain cancellation period.
Andriec stressed that “Every child is welcome. We collaborate with the Family Resource Network which supports children and adults with disabilities.” If a family cannot afford the $15 admission fee, a playtime fund is available.
The purpose of the Playtime Fund, Andriec said, is to provide families who have a child with special needs financial assistance for accessing two-day passes each month to Noah’s World.