HINSDALE, Mass. — Tina's Kiddie Junction is expanding its day-care program to add a new prekindergarten class this month. 

 

Owner and educator Tina Karch said the preK was a step above preschool in offering more educational programming. 

 

"PreK is like the new, honestly, first grade, and then preschool is like new kindergarten now," she said. "It's more getting ready for school. Making sure they have all their skills."

 

Karch has been teaching and caring for children for 30 years, since opening her initial day-care in 1996 and running one out of her home Dalton.

 

She opened the Hinsdale center in November 2023 with classrooms serving preschool, infant and toddler, and toddler. The new preK classroom has been under construction and will open July 14 with teacher Charity Bergeron.

 

Karch said it has always been her dream to take care of children.

 

"I just want to pass on the learning and make it a happy, enjoyable experience, because a lot of the kids that I've taken care of when they were little remember all of the wonderful things I've done with them," she said. "And it's nice to know that I gave them a foundation of a good provider, some good learning."