Courtney’s Drop In Kids Care is opening in Chapel Hill this December, welcoming families to a unique, premiere experience. The center, which will be located off I-40 at highway 54, offers short-term on-demand childcare in which families pay an hourly rate and do not need reservations or memberships. Unlike other drop-in centers, Courtney’s is locally owned and founded with the firm belief in providing cleanliness above industry standards, being environmentally friendly, providing state-of-the-art security measures, and creating a fun, engaging and educationally based environment.

“I’ve worked in childcare setting for more than 20 years, but I’m also a mom,” said Heather Rudd, founder of Courtney’s Drop In Kids Care. “It was so important to me that we create a place that other mothers, fathers and grandparents would feel confident bringing their children. And, equally as important, that kids would want to come here – that they’d have fun and enjoy the time. We’re so proud of what we’ve done and cannot wait to share it with the Chapel Hill community!”

Some of the many activities offered at Courtney’s include:

• Creative centers for dramatic play, such as:

o Home center with a wooden play kitchen, baby dolls and huge wooden playhouse

o Transportation center with trucks, race cars and track, and a train table

o Wooden dollhouse and firehouse

o Building centers with LEGOs, wooden blocks, magnetic tiles, tinker toys and Lincoln logs

o Dress up and puppet theaters

• Arts and crafts activities

• Ball pit with germ-block anti-microbial balls

• Foosball table, board games and a magnetic dart board

• Quiet nook for reading and puzzles

• Chalkboard walls

• Kinetic sand tables

• Plasma cars

• Indoor ride on toys and bikes

• Imagination playground foam blocks

• Xbox, Wii and Blu-ray players

Courtney’s Drop In Kids Care is open to children ages 12 months through 12 years. It is truly a flexible option for parents; there are no enrollment fees, membership fees or commitments.

As part of the center’s opening celebrations, the ownership team will donate a portion of all proceeds from the month of December to UNC Children’s Hospital. As a top-tier academic medical center, UNC Children's upholds a four-tiered mission to "CARE," aligning clinical care, advocacy, research and education to deliver world-class family-centered care—always regardless of a family's ability to pay. The organization is a huge part of the Chapel Hill community and a cause close to Rudd’s heart. In addition to the financial contribution, Courtney’s will also provide complimentary childcare to siblings of children being treated at UNC Children’s on weekdays throughout December as space allows. Families can complete the contact form to inquiry about availability at www.dropinkidscare.com/contact/.

Courtney’s Drop In Kids Care officially opens Thursday, Dec. 1, and families can start taking advantage of the premiere childcare services beginning immediately. They are also invited to an open house event Sunday, Dec. 11, from 2 to 6 p.m. to learn more and meet the team. For further information, visit www.dropinkidscare.com.

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