Little Love Bugs aims to fill childcare needs in Imperial

    With 25 years experience in childcare, opening a center in Imperial seemed a natural move for Cyndi Langenfeld.
    That became reality this week for Langenfeld, who opened Little Love Bugs Childcare Center in the lower level of the Imperial Manor and Parkview-Heights.
    “I saw a need in the community,” she said Tuesday, the first day Little Love Bugs began services.
    She said it became even more real when her own grandchild was born and her daughter found it difficult to find infant care here.
    “It’s something we wanted to do,” she said.
    The former Cyndi Kunnemann and husband John Langenfeld, both Imperial natives, moved back to their hometown in June 2021 from the Denver area.
    She said they wanted to be closer to family. Her dad, Paul, and two sisters and families live here, as does one of John’s sisters and extended families.
    “It worked out, time-wise, and we just did it,” she said.
    Langenfeld has completed numerous early childhood education classes, and is director-qualified.
    She’s spent the past 25 years involved in childcare at her home, at other centers or schools, she said.
    This is a “new adventure,” she noted, because she’s the childcare center owner now.
    The two teachers working with her at the center—daughter Katie and Jayne Henry—both have early childhood education certification. Together, the three of them have 36 years combined experience in child care.
    All of them have met the state’s continuing education requirements, are CPR-certified and have completed the annual courses in such areas as safe sleep, she said.
    After the childcare center received the go-ahead from the senior services board and city officials, work started in mid-June to get the center ready.
    In addition to the baby room for ages 3-18 months, dividers section off areas for 18 months to 3 years, 3 and 4 year olds and 4 and 5 year olds (preschool room), each with their own theme—baby bugs, bumblebees, caterpillars and butterflies, she said.
    A creative curriculum will be used with each age group, Langenfeld said.
    She plans to begin a more structured preschool program Oct. 3. She continues to enroll children in all age groups, and will accept drop-ins.
    Being in the same building as the manor and Parkview-Heights, Langenfeld plans to have the children interact with the residents upstairs.
    She also will schedule events for the family during some holidays, and other services down the road.
    In the past few years, the lower level had been used for manor equipment storage, which was moved so they could begin cleaning in June, do some painting and build dividers for  the age groups, she said. CEO Lynne West and Brett Harmon were a big help getting items moved, she said.
    Bobbie Hust did the colorful wall paintings throughout, she added, and husband, John, was also a big help preparing the space, she said.
    In addition to daughter Katie, the couple has twin sons, Coby and Cory, both 28, in Denver and grandson, Asher, 8 months.
    An open house is planned at Little Love Bugs on Sunday, Sept. 18, from 1-3 p.m.
    Langenfeld can be contacted for more information at 303-710-6197.