Florence Pacia, teacher aide; Melva Mafnas, teacher aide; Anastasia Inos, DreamPlay director; Rep. Manny Castro; Father Enrico Nacorda; Michael Sheu, co-owner; and Perry Inos Jr. co-owner cut the ceremonial ribbon during the official opening of DreamPlay in Chalan Kanoa.
Co-owner Perry Inos Jr. welcomes guests at the official opening of DreamPlay in Chalan Kanoa.
DREAMPLAY, a day care and soft play facility at the Town House center in Chalan Kanoa, held an official grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Present at the event were children, parents, teachers, and owners of DreamPlay.
DreamPlay is open as a daycare center from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday, with after-school activities taking place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays as well.
Also on the weekend, the facility’s soft play center is open to the public.
Anastasia Inos, who directs the curriculum at DreamPlay, said at their daycare center, children encounter a “hybrid” of Montessori and traditional classroom teaching styles.
According to the American Montessori Society’s website, the Montessori teaching method was developed by Maria Montessori as a child-centered approach to learning.
Inos said she and her husband, Perry Inos Jr., recognized the benefits of both styles of teaching and saw a need to bridge them.
“We do have our own kids and we have experience having them in a Montessori environment, which is great for kids because they can explore, and teacher guides can be there for the kids,” Mrs. Inos said. “But at the same time it’s pretty hard because eventually kids will be going to middle school and high school, which is a structured environment, which is also good.”
A secondary teacher in the CNMI Public School System, Mrs. Inos said children at DreamPlay will be allowed to explore school topics that interest them, but also have structured lessons that reflect more traditional class instruction.
Perry Inos Jr. describes the curriculum as a “learn-play-grow” method.
Mrs. Inos said children at DreamPlay will partake in art therapy, Chamorro literacy, English literacy, cosmic yoga and other gross motor skill activities, soft play, and more.
Parents can utilize the Procare app to monitor the lessons and activities of their children, Mr. Inos said.
The monthly rate for daycare from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. is $400. After-school enrollment from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. is $300. A monthly, full-day session from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. is $500.
Mr. Inos said their day rate is $30, to accommodate parents who only need their child watched on particular days of the week.
DreamPlay accepts children from the ages of two to 11, and can accommodate between 25 and 30 students.
“We’re trying to adjust and adapt based on what the community needs,” Mrs. Inos said. “I do understand that some parents are interested in dropping their kids for a couple days only or on specific days.”
To register your children, visit dreamplay.mp, contact info@dreamplay.mp, or call (670) 287-0358.
