Every quarter, our Child Care Resource and Referral team highlights a child care provider in Clatsop, Columbia or Tillamook County. This fall, we are pleased to introduce you to Olyvia Skelton-Cook, the owner of Little Learners Childcare, Inc. in Scappoose, Oregon.

We recently sat down with Olyvia to ask her about her work, how our Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) team has supported her and the future of child care in our region. 

Question: How did you get your start in child care/early learning?

Answer: I am the middle child from a large family and have a lot of nephews and nieces, so caring for littles has always been a big part of my life. I started working in child care in 2020 and quickly realized how natural it was for me. I started the Child Development Associate program through the local CCR&R in just a few months of working in child care. I was a lead teacher for a local center for a few years before I got the opportunity to open my own certified child care home called Little Learners Childcare, Inc. in Scappoose. 

It's been a blessing to have this opportunity and give families the peace of mind to provide a safe, loving, and fun place to take their littles.

Question: What is your favorite part of the job?

Answer: I have many favorites; it's hard to choose one. I think the best thing about working in child care is seeing the children learn something new, overcome challenges, and the opportunity to witness their growth and development firsthand. Working in an in-home we get a lot more one-on-one time with kids, which I believe builds such a strong bond with both kids and parents.

Question: What do you find most challenging about the job?

Answer: Something I find most difficult in child care is when it's time for the children to graduate and start their next adventure in elementary school. It's such a bittersweet feeling because you are excited for them but sad to see them go. You spend so much time with these children and their parents; they tend to become family.

Question: How would you summarize your approach to child care/early learning -- what is your philosophy in a nutshell?

Answer: My philosophy in a nutshell is providing a place that will inspire and motivate children to love to learn. We are Christian-based, and we do bible study daily where children
build their faith, love God, and explore his world. Play-based learning is a strong belief of mine as it provides a natural motivation for exploration, creativity, and social interaction. In addition to play-based learning, we also have daily circle time and a curriculum that we follow to ''feed our brains,'' as I tell the kids.

Question: Can you share one great moment -- something funny or memorable or meaningful to you?

Answer: A memorable/meaningful moment for me is seeing children or parents that I've taught years ago and being told their children still talk about Miss Olyvia. Those moments are a great reminder of why I'm in child care. I strive to be that teacher that former students want to come back and visit and remember, the same as I do with my preschool teachers.   

Question: What do you think/how do you feel about the future of child care/early learning? Any forecasts, predictions, thoughts?

Answer: I believe the future of early learning is changing every day for the better, as early learning is becoming more recognized as a crucial part of children's future. We educators are laying the foundation for lifelong learning and success. We are finally getting more resources for assistance, recognition, and support to better the lives of the children in our care.

Question: What do you think the future holds for you personally?

Answer: What I hope the future holds for Little Learners Childcare, Inc. is to expand our services to better serve families in our community. Continuing to further my education and keep supporting our staff to do the same, as well as keep providing a safe, loving and healthy environment for the children in our care.

Read our Fall 2025 Child Care Resource and Referral Newsletter.