Menagerie Child Care
Presents:
Menagerie Mindset
Welcome to our unique daycare training program! We specialize in equipping providers to serve both diagnosed pre-diagnosed students effectively. Our community is built on first-hand experience navigating local systems, allowing us to collaborate with professionals to create tailored training sessions. Childcare professionals can count on us for the support and consultations they need to excel in their roles.
Menagerie Services
Menagerie Child Care provides practical training, consultation, and support designed to help childcare professionals build stronger relationships with children, families, staff, and community resources.
Menagerie services focus on making complex developmental, behavioral, and systems-based concepts understandable and usable in everyday care.
Through the Menagerie Mindset, providers learn to observe more carefully, respond with intention, strengthen communication, identify unmet support needs, and create environments that move children and families toward greater connection, regulation, and participation.
Professional Development Training
Practical, engaging professional development designed for childcare providers and educators. Menagerie trainings turn developmental concepts into usable strategies that strengthen communication, build relationships, support responsive care, and give providers tools they can confidently integrate into everyday practice.
Family Support Integration
Practical support that helps childcare programs connect families with appropriate resources, services, and community networks. Menagerie helps providers strengthen the bridge between home, care, and community—creating coordinated support that reduces isolation and helps families thrive.
Provider Consultation
Personalized consultation for childcare programs navigating developmental, behavioral, communication, or operational challenges. Menagerie works collaboratively with providers to understand their unique needs, identify practical strategies, and adapt supportive approaches that integrate naturally into their existing program and practice.
Adventure with Menagerie Child Care
This program is like no other. Menagerie Mindset is a growing training program that believes childhood should be fun and adventurous, filled with whimsy and structure. Caring for children should be just as much fun. If this sounds like a good fit for you, contact us for more information
Team
Michelle Gregor Mendiola
"Ms. Michelle"
Hi,
I'm a mother of three, a wife, an early childhood educator, and a Leavenworth resident. My husband is a Clinical Director in Lawrance for SERC Physical Therapy. My first husband (and co-parent) lives in Olathe and is a Cloud Architect for Children's Mercy. I received my early education in Deritter, LA., when my dad was stationed at Fort Polk. In 1987 my family moved to Williamsburg, Va. My mom settled there. My dad stayed in the army and my parents got divorced.
In 1998 I moved to Leavenworth, Ks. to live with my dad.
I graduated from Leavenworth High in 2000.
In 2010 I graduated from KU with a BA in Classical Antiquities and got married to an Air Force Captain.
In 2013 I opened Momo's Knitting Nook, a boutique local yarn shop in downtown Leavenworth. And, after the birth of my second baby, I sold the yarn shop to a wonderful Lt. Col. and her husband who still run it today.
When the Pandemic hit I had three kids.
My sister and I decided to raise our five kids together. With her Master's degree in Social Work and my adventurous nature, we made the best of a scary time.
That's not to say it was easy.
We are an active bunch. With varying amounts of Hyperactivity, Autism, Tourette, and anxiety, We had to come up with a new way of meeting the individual needs of each kid.
Luckily, We both had experience in Early Childhood Education. What inspired our curriculum the most was our time with the Lawrence Co-opp Nursery School (LCNS). I encourage you to take a look at their page.
My biggest takeaway from my time with LCNS was how to kids how to respect the autonomy of themselves and others.
After the lockdown ended, my kids and I moved back to Leavenworth.
Shortly after we got back into town a Montessori school moved in. The isolation of the lockdown was brutal. I felt like my kids needed more interaction they they were getting, and frankly, I did too.
I was intrigued by the method and ethos of the Montessori Method. So, I enrolled my youngest in their program and took a job there myself.
After almost a year it was clear that while I enjoyed the Montessori Method, corporate child care wasn't for us.
Then my son and I went to a local daycare. The people were wonderful. Unfortunately, the program wasn't flexible enough to address the social-emotional needs of the kids today.
After attempting to find a good fit locally, I decided to be the change.
I believe kids take a village. As an educator, I understand it's my privilege to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children in my care.
I believe everyone should be treated with respect, including children. "Children can only show respect if they are shown respect," is the motto I live and teach by.
My approach to early education is: Play is first. Daycare should be a fun place that the kids want to come to in the mornings. I want this daycare to be a place you and your kids can remember fondly in years to come.
I look forward to meeting you.
