About Us
April Westman, Owner
Aunty’s Child Care was founded in 2010 by April, inspired by her desire to spend meaningful time with her nieces and nephews and to ensure they received exceptional care during the most vulnerable and foundational years of childhood. What began as a deeply personal endeavor has grown into a trusted program rooted in intention, connection, and a deep understanding of early childhood development.
Over the years, Aunty’s has earned a strong reputation throughout the greater Duluth area as a thoughtfully designed, high-quality child care environment. Our approach is both nurturing and informed, blending current knowledge of child development with a therapeutic, whole-child philosophy. We intentionally support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth through play-based, nature-infused learning, active living, and healthy, home-cooked meals. Families choose Aunty’s because they know their children are cared for by knowledgeable professionals who truly understand how children grow and learn.
Rooted in nature and guided by an understanding of the connection between the brain and body, our program helps children build a sense of harmony with themselves and the world around them. Daily experiences encourage curiosity, regulation, communication, and respect—laying the foundation for lifelong learning and healthy habits.
What further sets Aunty’s Child Care apart is our commitment to care that goes beyond the expected. We are proud maintain an an Eco-Healthy rating, reflecting our dedication to environmental stewardship and teaching children to care for the earth. Nutrition is intentionally integrated into each child’s day, ensuring balanced, nourishing meals that support both body and brain. Our clean, engaging, and joyful environment is a safe place for children to learn, explore, and grow.
At the heart of Aunty’s Child Care is community. We strive to build meaningful relationships with children, families, and staff, cultivating a space where connection, communication, and belonging are deeply valued. All primary caregivers are highly trained and committed to ongoing professional growth, including supervision best practices, trauma informed care, child psychology, current best practices, and extensive social and emotional development training. We exceed the state’s annual training requirements and are proudly Parent Aware rated, giving families confidence that their children are supported by a knowledgeable, compassionate, and connected team.
Feel the Difference
At Aunty’s Child Care, we have core “pillars” or “cornerstones” of beliefs that support our everyday activities. There are four core beliefs on which everything centers at our locations.
Healthy Eating
Children do not get nearly enough nutrition education in school, so we strive to promote healthy eating habits and good eating choices.
Community
A child’s educational success in large part depends on families, educators, peers and relevant members of the community.
Collaboration
Sharing new experiences and solving problems with others leads to a greater sense of connectedness – as well as meaningful learning experiences.
Responsibility
We work on teaching our kids responsibility, how to clean up after themselves, and the importance of helping out around the classroom. Our kids are great helpers!
Aunty's is Parent Aware Accredited
We reach for the stars!
To participate in Parent Aware, child care and early education programs must go above and beyond basic child safety and health standards in the state of Minnesota. Aunty’s Child Care-Lakeside is currently Parent Aware Accredited, holding a Four-Star accreditation!
Evaluates learning activities, materials, classroom layout, and health-related practices to set goals for growth
Plans school-readiness activities for children
Guides families through their children’s transition to kindergarten
Plans for continued learning and professional growth
Parent Aware helps families find helpful resources