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| Ashley Pax, owner of Ashley's Playhouse |
ASF: How long have you lived in Austin?
Where are you originally from?
Ashley: I came to Austin in 2002 to attend
the University of Texas at Austin, and like everyone else, I fell in
love with the city and decided to stay. I’m originally from
McAllen, Texas.
ASF: Do you have kids? If so, what are
their ages?
Ashley: I don’t have any children of my own. I have been
blessed with a love for other people’s children. I’ve been
babysitting since I was 12-years old and was a nanny throughout
college. Even when I was working crazy hours as a CPA, I still
volunteered in the nursery at my church and babysat in my free time
to get my "kid-fix."
ASF: When did you open Ashley's Playhouse? Why did you decide to open a drop-in childcare center?
Ashley: I always knew I
wanted to combine my business-sense with my love for children, so
when I heard about the drop-in childcare concept, I knew immediately
it was what I wanted to do. I left my accounting job in early 2013
to focus on my business plan, go back to school for early childhood
development classes and start looking for locations. Ashley’s
Playhouse officially opened in February 2014.
ASF: What is your favorite part of
running your own company? What is the biggest challenge?
Ashley: My
favorite part of owning my own company is having the privilege to be
involved in so many families’ lives. Parents are trusting us with
their most precious possession and there is no better feeling than
when a kid leaves happy and is begging their parents to return the
next day. It makes both me and the parents feel great. In
addition, I love that I’ve had the opportunity to create jobs for
so many people. However, staffing the daycare is my biggest
challenge since we are open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. (midnight on Fri/Sat), are
open on weekends and have to coordinate 25 caregivers’ schedules
that are constantly changing with school schedules and bringing on
new people.
ASF: What are some features of your
business that you’d like the public to know about?
Ashley: Ashley’s
Playhouse is a drop-in childcare center for children ages 6 weeks to 12
years old. Our magical facility, complete with a two-story treehouse,
acting stage, cinema room and outdoor play area, along with our
loving staff and convenient hours, makes it a place both kids and
parents love. Earlier this year, we started after-school pick-up
from four nearby elementary schools, which has been perfect for parents
who need the occasional hand with after-school care. On Sundays we
are closed except for birthday parties, which are always a hit as the
kids have a blast and parents get to go home to a clean house.
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| Outdoor Play Area |
ASF: What is your favorite summertime
activity?
Ashley: Last year at the daycare we offered Wet & Wild
Wednesdays, with splash tables, wacky sprinklers and popsicle snacks,
which was so much fun that we are bringing Wet & Wild Wednesdays
back again this year! In addition, this summer we are adding our
“Out and About” Summer Series for our school-age kids that
involves fun field trips such as trips to the Austin Aquarium,
picnics in the park, and touring the Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown
to name a few.
ASF: What do you like to do in Austin
when you have a day off?
Ashley: My schedule can be pretty crazy just
because of the hours we have at the daycare, but I try and get in a
run at Town Lake most mornings—it’s one of my favorite things to
do in Austin. On my days off you can find me at Alamo Drafthouse
watching the latest kid’s movie or trying out a new restaurant.
Ashley's Playhouse is giving a FREE Toy to kids who complete at least four items on the Summer Fun Checklist for Kids!
Location: 13343 N. Hwy. 183, Ste. 200, Austin
Website: http://ashleysplayhouseaustin.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Ashleysplayhouseaustin?fref=ts
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