How Baseball Inspires Wendy’s Approach to Early Education

There is something magical in the air when it comes to baseball playoff season, but this year was extra special when the LA Dodgers headed to the World Series, and they did not disappoint. If you have known Wendy for more than ten minutes, you probably already know that she is a lifelong, passionate, devoted LA Dodgers fan.

A tradition since childhood

Since Wendy was little, she and her dad have shared baseball together. It was not just watching games. It was experiencing them. From scorebooks to stadium hot dogs, from learning about favorite players to understanding the difference between a four seam fastball and a curveball, baseball was something that bonded them in a way that only childhood memories can.

As they often have over the years, they went to many games this year including the final game of the World Series. Even as an adult. Even with a full schedule. Even with life and responsibilities. They were there, in the ballpark, living a moment that connected past to present.

When the final out was made and the stadium roared, Wendy did not just celebrate. She reflected.

She felt her childhood self smiling. And she realized that baseball had taught her some of the most important lessons she uses every single day in her daycare when preparing children for kindergarten success.

Born and raised in California

Wendy was born and raised right here in California, and these values are not just memories. They are the foundation of how she teaches today. At her Murrieta based daycare, she uses teamwork, practice, encouragement, repetition, and confidence building to help children become school ready in a safe, supportive learning environment. While the Dodgers may have inspired her journey, these values are embraced every single day in her daycare right here in Murrieta where all children are welcome and every child is encouraged to discover their own interests and their own version of home run success.

Baseball and early childhood education have a lot in common

The beautiful part is this. You do not have to be a Dodgers fan. You do not have to be a baseball fan at all. The lessons baseball teaches are universal. They are life lessons. They are the kind every child can benefit from. Whether your little one loves dinosaurs, princesses, building blocks, art, Paw Patrol, or anything in between, these timeless principles help shape school ready confidence and behavior.

Here are a few of the baseball values Wendy carries into her approach to early childhood education.

1) Teamwork matters

A baseball game is won because everyone works together. In early education this means learning how to include friends, taking turns, communicating, working toward a shared goal, and recognizing that each person has a role. At Wendy's Daycare in Murrieta, children practice working in pairs, group activities, helping each other clean up, and cheering each other on. Because just like baseball, success is sweeter when we do it together.

3) Always try your best

In baseball every at bat matters. Sometimes you strike out. Sometimes you get a home run. Sometimes you get walked. Sometimes you pop out. What matters is that you keep going. That attitude of try again is one of the most powerful school readiness traits. Children who learn resilience early adapt faster, problem solve quicker, stay confident longer, and handle challenges more constructively.

3) Practice is necessary

Baseball players do not get better overnight. They practice throwing. They practice catching. They practice batting. And kids practice too. They practice their alphabet, they practice patience, they practice problem solving. Learning takes repetition and that is okay. We make practice fun because children learn best through play, movement, and hands on experiences.

4) Celebrate each win big or small

Not every win is a World Series trophy. Sometimes the win is holding scissors the right way for the first time, remembering to raise your hand, counting to twenty, sharing without being asked, or writing the first letter of your name. Kids build confidence when they feel acknowledged for doing their best. That confidence becomes motivation. And motivation leads to school readiness.

A special shout out to Wendy’s Dad

Before we wrap up, it is important to acknowledge where this all began. With Wendy’s dad. The love of baseball did not just happen. It was given to her like a gift. Shared in the seats of those ballparks. In the excitement of cheering for the Dodgers. In happy car rides home. In every game they watched together including this year’s World Series final side by side just like when she was a child. He inspired her love of the game and in turn that love of the game has helped shape how she teaches, encourages, and inspires children today. That spark has now touched hundreds of little learners throughout Murrieta and Temecula. His influence has gone far beyond baseball. It has helped define the heart of early childhood education inside Wendy’s daycare.

The values that last a lifetime

Whether a child is outgoing or shy, full of energy or more quiet, confident or still growing into their confidence, every child has potential that deserves to be nurtured. Baseball reminded Wendy year after year that with encouragement, effort, and heart, any child can grow into their best self. And yes, all children are welcome at Wendy’s Daycare, baseball fan or not. Your child does not need to know who Mookie Betts is. They do not need to love the Dodgers. They do not even need to like sports.

We love all interests here. Princes, princesses, space explorers, animal lovers, block builders, artists, future scientists, and future all stars of every kind.

This year her heart is extra full. Because as she sat next to her dad watching the Dodgers win the World Series, she realized that this is not just a game. It is a lifelong memory. It is tradition. It is the foundation of who she became.

And every single day she spends with children helping them learn, helping them grow, and helping them prepare for kindergarten she is passing those same core values forward.

Teamwork. Confidence. Practice. Kindness. Effort. Belief.

Those are the wins that matter.

If this sounds like the kind of amazing environment you want your child to be a part of, please call Wendy at 760-443-5069 for a personal tour.

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