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JBSA News
NEWS | June 30, 2008

Cibolo resident honored as Randolph Family Child Care Provider of the Year

By Robert Goetz Staff writer

Kim Sandmann became an Air Force family child care provider shortly after giving birth to her fourth child. 

Just three years later she is the Randolph Family Child Care Provider of the Year. 

"It was exciting to win the honor," said Ms. Sandmann, who lives in Cibolo with her husband, 2nd Lt. Chad Sandmann, and their children. "I was shocked at first because I was one of the new child care providers." 

She said her husband was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida when they decided she should pursue a position as a family child care provider. 

"I'm good with kids and I love kids, so we checked into it," Ms. Sandmann said. "Now I've been doing this since my youngest child (Logan, now 3) was 5 weeks old." 

When Lieutenant Sandmann was assigned to Wilford Hall Medical Center, where he works as a clinical nurse, two years ago, the family moved to the San Antonio area. Ms. Sandmann then joined the Randolph Family Child Care Program. She typically provides care for four children in addition to her two youngest, Logan and 6-year-old Justin. 

Ms. Sandmann said taking care of other children did not require much of an adjustment. 

"It took a little bit to get used to, but it all kind of clicked," she said. "It's like having a play group all day. They entertain each other, and we do a lot of learning activities. My motto is 'We learn by play every day.'" 

Ms. Sandmann has taken her involvement in child care a step further. She is accredited through the National Association of Family Child Care and she serves as a mentor to other providers. 

Essie Howard, Randolph FCC coordinator, calls Ms. Sandmann an "awesome" provider. 

"She loves working with children, and she's passionate about her job as a child care provider," she said. "Her activities challenge them to be creative as well as develop emotionally, cognitively, socially and physically." 

Ms. Sandmann said it's challenging to take care of a "wide variety of kids." 

"It's challenging to keep them all entertained," she said. "One of the things you must have is patience. There are times when the kids will test your patience. But you have to understand they're not adults. You have to explain things at their level." 

It also helps to be "funny," Ms. Sandmann said. "I want them to want to be here." 

The rewards are many, she said, especially the "hugs and kisses" and the "funny stories they tell." 

"The love that you get from the kids - it's all unconditional," Ms. Sandmann said.