Kindercare wayne nj: KinderCare at Wayne | Daycare, Preschool & Early Education in Wayne, NJ
KinderCare at Wayne | Daycare, Preschool & Early Education in Wayne, NJ
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KinderCare at Wayne
Welcome to KinderCare at Wayne
Welcome to KinderCare at Wayne! Come see us on Barbour Pond Road, just a short distance from Dave Waks Memorial Park. Take a tour to see how our classrooms have been designed to help young people develop. When you visit, you’ll see classrooms that promote the use of our powerful curriculum. It’s our mission from the moment you walk into our center that you feel welcomed and a part of our KinderCare family!
Meet Danielle Parker, Our Center Director
Meet Danielle Parker! Danielle is the Center Director at Wayne KinderCare in New Jersey. Danielle attended Passaic County Community College and earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood, as well as earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Science and Human Development with a concentration in Family Services from Montclair State University. Danielle has been with KinderCare for five years, and was a teacher, team lead, and an assistant director before that. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys traveling and spending time with family. Danielle’s favorite quote is, “Love wins, love always wins.” – Mitch Albom
- KinderCare at Wayne Programs
- Our Teachers
- Family Stories
- FAQs
AMERICA’S MOST ACCREDITED
We’re so proud!
Nationally only 10% of daycares are accredited – nearly 100% of our learning centers are. That’s a big difference,
and that means KinderCare kids are getting the very best. Here’s why.
SCHOOL-READY
What Learning Looks Like
Our talented early-childhood teachers set kids down the path toward becoming lifelong learners in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment.
KinderCare at Wayne Programs
Infant Programs (6 weeks-1 year)
Leaving your baby in someone else’s care is a big step. Everyone at our
centers—most importantly, our naturally gifted infant teachers—will work with
you to make sure the transition goes smoothly. When you step into our infant
classroom, you’ll see how much we want your infant to feel safe, loved, and
ready to explore their world.
Toddler Programs (1-2 Years)
Everything in our toddler classroom is designed for little explorers. That’s
because a lot is going on at this age. When your child is wandering all over the
place, that means they’re learning and discovering new things every day. We’ll
help them explore their interests (and find new ones!) as they play and learn.
Discovery Preschool Programs (2-3 Years)
This age is filled with so much wonder and curiosity.
That’s why we offer a ton
of books and toys and bring artwork down to kids eye level. Children in
discovery preschool also begin to learn how we all work together in a
classroom. Simple math and science, pretend play, and group play help them
get used to a more structured school setting.
Preschool Programs (3-4 Years)
This age is all about expression, when kids really start to form their own ideas
about what they want to play and how they want to create. Every day in our
preschool classroom, your child will explore science experiments, create
artwork, and play pretend—all the skills needed for their big next step:
kindergarten!
Prekindergarten Programs (4-5 Years)
When you walk into one of our pre-K classrooms, you’ll see artwork and
writing displayed around the room. Labels are everywhere to help kids connect
letters with words. You’ll also see pictures on the walls that reflect the families
in our community.
Your child will also deepen their knowledge in language,
math, science, Spanish, and social skills.
Kindergarten Programs (5-6 Years)
Welcome to kindergarten: the gateway to grade school and everything that
comes next! Offered in select centers, our kindergarten programs have small
class sizes and curriculums that mix learning and fun. The basic building
blocks of reading, writing, math, and science are key in kindergarten, so we
make sure they get lots of practice in all of these areas.
Participating Child Care Aware Center
KinderCare partners with Child Care Aware® of America to offer fee assistance for
Active Duty military families and flexible support to fit their needs when care at a Child
Development Center on the installation is not available.
Learning Adventures – Enrichment Program
Cooking Academy™ (3-12 Years)
In Cooking Academy, kids learn new recipes from cultures around the world and
develop a healthy relationship with food.
They’ll whip up everything from Southwest
rainbow lettuce wraps to pumpkin muffins, building their skills in STEM, communication,
and more along the way. And yes—little chefs get to eat their culinary creations!
Music Explorers™ (2-4 Years)
KinderCare families are already giving a standing ovation to our newest Learning
Adventures program: Music Explorers! Kids will learn to sing, move, listen, play
instruments, and even create their own tunes. Our original curriculum blends math,
science, social studies, literacy, and mindfulness (think yoga!) for a uniquely KinderCare
way of learning the foundations of music.
Phonics Adventures® (2-4 Years)
Learning how to read is a whole lot of fun at KinderCare! We help kids grow to love
books and words (and get ready for kindergarten) in our Phonics Adventures program.
From discovering the basics of vowels to practicing poetry, kids learn all about letters
and sounds in small-group lessons made just for their age group.
(Bonus: Kids who
attend our phonics program are more prepared than their peers for school—and we
have the data to prove it.)
Spanish
Spanish Adventures provides young learners with a foundation for later success with
the Spanish language. Music, games, children’s Spanish literature, and other tools give
children multiple opportunities to hear, practice, and see Spanish language to develop
vocabulary and conversation skills. Curriculum includes lessons on greetings, numbers,
colors, animals, family, body parts, and pets, as well as how to engage conversationally
during common scenarios at home, a restaurant, or at the zoo.
STEM Innovators (3-8 Years)
You’ve probably heard a lot about how important STEM education is for your child, but
what does that really mean? Our STEM Innovators program takes kids’ natural ability to
make sense of the world and applies it to robotics, chemistry, coding, geology, and
more.
While your child experiments, they’ll discover how to use technology to do
amazing things!
Our Teachers
We’re the only company in early childhood education to select teachers based on natural talent. Being a great educator isn’t enough though.
KinderCare teachers are also amazing listeners, nurturers, boo-boo fixers, and smile-makers. Put more simply,
we love our teachers and your child will, too.
Meet just a few of our amazing KinderCare teachers!
A KINDERCARE TEACHER WITH
An Artist’s Heart
“My classroom is full of art!” says Mary Annthipie-Bane, an award-winning early childhood educator at KinderCare. Art and creative expression, she says, help children discover who they really are.
We put our best-in-class teachers in a best-in-class workplace. We’re so proud to have been named one of Gallup’s 37 winners of the Great Workplace Award.
When you put great teachers in an engaging center, your children will experience
an amazing place to learn and grow.
Family Stories
Don’t take our word for it. Hear what our families have to say about our amazing center!
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To all beautiful and wonderful teachers of KinderCare: I have no words to express my gratitude to all the teachers at the center here in Wayne, New Jersey. You have such enthusiasm and patience, I don’t know how you’re able to keep it up!! It’s not easy to send your first child to school, especially someone like my son. It was really hard the first time he started, and I thought he’d never adjust but the comfort and support I got from all of you at the center, seeing him learn all the new things each day, and enjoying himself makes it a breeze. It makes me forget to give him a visit during lunch time. Thank you so much for all the efforts you put into upbringing our children.
You all are gems, and we are proud to have sent our baby to grow into a bright star amongst all of you. A special thanks to Ms. Fernanda, our son’s first love at KinderCare who helped him settle in really well. Ms. Jessica and Ms Christine are a very special part of his life. He carries a picture of them from the Winter show and is proud to show his family that they are his teachers who’ve taught him and continue to do so. Also thank you for coping with all the tantrums he has to throw. Thanks Teachers. You’re not just appreciated through this week but all year roundFaree N. – KinderCare Parent
You all are gems, and we are proud to have sent our baby to grow into a bright star amongst all of you. A special thanks to Ms. Fernanda, our son’s first love at KinderCare who helped him settle in really well. Ms. Jessica and Ms Christine are a very special part of his life. He carries a picture of them from the Winter show and is proud to show his family that they are his teachers who’ve taught him and continue to do so. Also thank you for coping with all the tantrums he has to throw. Thanks Teachers. You’re not just appreciated through this week but all year round
Share Your Story
If you have a story about your experience at KinderCare,
please share your story with us
.
Who Are KinderCare Families?
They hail from hundreds of cities across the country from countless backgrounds, and proudly represent every walk in life.
What our families have in common,
though, is the want to give their children the best start in life. We are so proud to be their partner in parenting.
Hear from just a few of our amazing KinderCare families.
A Globe-Trotting Family Finds A
Home in Houston
Four young children, four different passports, two languages, two full-time jobs…oh, and a few triathlons thrown in for good measure.
Meet the globe-trotting Colettas—a family on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What accreditations does KinderCare have?
We are your trusted caregiver. Our centers are state-licensed and regularly inspected to make sure everything meets or exceeds standards, including child-to-teacher ratios and safe facilities. Our centers aren’t just licensed—most are accredited, too! Find out more.
Do you offer part-time schedules at KinderCare at Wayne?
Everybody’s schedule is different.
We’re happy to offer quality, affordable part-time and full-time childcare. Drop-in care may also be available. Reach out to your Center Director to learn more.
How does naptime work at KinderCare at Wayne?
Our teachers meet every child’s needs during naptime. Our teachers know how to get babies to nap. In fact, they are pros at getting children of any age to nap. Visit our article on “10 Ways We Help Kids Get a Great Daycare Nap” to learn more.
Do you support alternative diets?
We strive to be as inclusive as possible. To that point, we provide a vegetarian option at mealtime, take care to not serve common allergens and can adapt menus based on your child’s food sensitivities. If your child has additional needs, we’ll work with you to figure out a plan.
Are meals included in tuition? Can I choose to send my child with lunch?
We provide nutritious meals and snacks developed by a registered dietician to meet the needs of rapidly growing bodies and minds.
If your child has special dietary requirements and you would prefer to bring in their lunch, please make arrangements with the center director.
Does my child need to be potty-trained?
Every child begins toilet learning at a different age. Until your child shows an interest in toilet learning, we’ll provide diaper changes on an as-needed basis. When your child shows an interest, we’ll discuss how to work together to encourage toilet learning.
Daycares & Child Care Centers in Wayne, NJ
ALL CENTERS
> ALL DAYCARE IN WAYNE, NJ
> DAYCARES & CHILD CARE CENTERS IN WAYNE, NJ
We welcome you and your little one to our Wayne daycares.
KinderCare partners with families in Wayne, NJ to provide high-quality daycare at an affordable cost. Our approach is designed to inspire a love of learning in your child, creating a safe and supportive environment where they can build Confidence for Life.
KinderCare teachers give children the freedom to be themselves, explore, and make friends.
Find one of our child care centers at a location near you!
Whether you are looking for part-time or full-time child care, KinderCare offers an affordable option with plenty of fun and learning. Currently we have 9 daycares & child care centers in or nearby Wayne which can be found just below.
9 Daycares & Child Care Centers in
Wayne,
NJ
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1. Lincoln Park KinderCare
1.7 miles Away:
146 Main St,
Lincoln Park,
NJ
07035
Ages:
6 weeks to 5 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(973) 694-6433
-
2.
KinderCare at Wayne
3.6 miles Away:
23 Barbour Pond Dr,
Wayne,
NJ
07470
Ages:
6 weeks to 6 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(973) 628-0222
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3. Roseland Child Development Center
7.7 miles Away:
3 – A Adp Blvd,
Roseland,
NJ
07068
Ages:
6 weeks to 12 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(973) 533-4400
-
4.
Whippany KinderCare
10.3 miles Away:
45 Whippany Rd,
Whippany,
NJ
07981
Ages:
6 weeks to 5 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(973) 428-3724
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5. Paramus KinderCare
10.9 miles Away:
411 Sette Dr,
Paramus,
NJ
07652
Ages:
6 weeks to 5 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(201) 634-1893
-
6.
Denville KinderCare
10.9 miles Away:
162 E Main St,
Denville,
NJ
07834
Ages:
6 weeks to 5 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(973) 625-4555
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7. KinderCare Learning Center at Newark
13.3 miles Away:
132/142 Cabinet Street,
Newark,
NJ
07107
Ages:
6 weeks to 12 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(973) 623-0182
-
8.
KinderCare at Woodcliff Lake
13.3 miles Away:
450 Chestnut Ridge Rd,
Woodcliff Lake,
NJ
07677
Ages:
6 weeks to 5 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(201) 505-1680
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9. Chatham KinderCare
13.9 miles Away:
45 Main St,
Chatham,
NJ
07928
Ages:
6 weeks to 5 years
Open:TUITION & OPENINGS
(973) 635-0009
KinderCare at Wayne
Whippany KinderCare
Denville KinderCare
KinderCare at Woodcliff Lake
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Frequently Asked Questions about Daycare
How many KinderCare daycares are there in Wayne
There are 9 KinderCare daycare centers within 15 miles of Wayne.
What types of daycare programs are offered in Wayne?
We have a wide range of programs available in Wayne, including full-time and part time daycare for infants and toddlers.
How do I select the right daycare for my child?
When it comes to selecting the best daycare center that will promote your child’s growth and the well-being of your family, the process may appear daunting. We are here to offer guidance and simplify the decision-making process for you. To see our list of the top 6 factors to keep in mind as you look for the perfect daycare center, please click here.
What is accreditation and are Wayne KinderCare centers accredited?
Accreditation is an official review process performed by a nationally-recognized outside agency.
Our centers pursue national accreditation from one of three national child care accreditation agencies:
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC)
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
To find out which accreditations the KinderCare daycare centers in Wayne have, please visit the individual center pages.
What are your health and safety measures at your child care centers?
Other Early Education & Child Care Programs in Wayne
Infant Daycare in Wayne, NJ
Toddler Daycare in Wayne, NJ
Preschool in Wayne, NJ
Pre-K in Wayne, NJ
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Jobs as a nanny in a family in Wayne Township, vacancies on Flagma
Simakova O.
, FLP | Kyiv, UA
in Old Bridge 58 km, full time
Urgent! From mid-April, New Jersey needs a nanny and housekeeper for a family with one child, a 4-year-old girl. The child is the priority! The girl needs to be collected in the morning for school, the parents themselves take and bring. She is at school until 15:00/15:30….
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May 22, 2020
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time
The position is free.
We are looking for a nanny for a Russian-speaking family in the USA, New York
Conditions: without accommodation 5/2 from 8 to 17
Responsibilities: care for the renk for 1 year, organization of the daily routine, educational games, walks
Salary: from 3400 …
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February 2, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time
The position is free.
We are looking for a nanny for a Russian-speaking family in the USA, New York
Conditions: without accommodation, 5/2, from 11 to 18
Responsibilities: caring for a child 2 years old, development, walks
Salary: from 3500 $
Requirements:Only candidates will be considered.
..
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February 2, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time
The position is free.
We are looking for a nanny for a Russian-speaking family in New York
Conditions: with accommodation
Responsibilities: caring for a child of 4 years, organizing the daily routine, walking
Salary: from 3500 $
Requirements: Only candidates who are already…
Save
February 2, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New Brunswick 51 km, full time, work experience from 1 year and above
A family needs a nanny already residing in the USA. Residential work (private apartment with bath), for a 9-month-old boy, for 5 days a weekUS visa required, under 55 years old, minimum knowledge of New Jersey English is desirable…
Yevtushenko L.V., FLP | Mykolaiv, UA
in Boston 312 km, part time, work experience from 2 years and above
Need a nanny for a Russian-speaking family for a newborn, a woman with work experience.
Knowledge of the language is not necessary, housing and meals are free.
Salary 400 per week, part-time jobs with additional pay ( housework )
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December 17, 2021
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, part time, work experience from 2 years and above, vocational secondary
Babysitter needed. Schedule 6/1 with accommodation. Full child care, bathing, feeding, educational games, walks. With pedagogical/medical education as an advantage. Babysitting experience is required. Requirements: living in…
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6 days ago
Your Nanny, FLP | Kyiv, UA
in New York 33 km, full time
VACANCY: Nanny in the USA, New York Conditions: 5\2, 6\1 with accommodation. Russian-speaking family Accommodation, meals, flights are provided. Salary: from 3400 $ Responsibilities: – care for a child 2 years old, organization of the daily routine, – educational games,…
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8 days ago
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time, work experience from 2 years and above, vocational secondary
Russian-speaking family, two children: boys, 5 years old.
Schedule: 6/1 with accommodation, the nanny has a separate room.
Responsibilities: childcare, cooking for children, cleaning the children’s room, washing children’s things, walking,…
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8 days ago
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, part time, work experience from 2 years and above, vocational secondary
Nanny – governess (USA) Working conditions: 4-year-old girl, schedule 6/1 with accommodation, own separate room, house on the ocean. The child speaks fluent Russian, the first half of the day is at school. Responsibilities: 8:00 hygiene, breakfast,…
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11 days ago
Submit your resume
Employers will be able to find you and offer you a decent job.
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, part time, work experience from 2 years and above, vocational secondary
Working conditions: Schedule 6/1, with accommodation. Full care for a 3-year-old child, boy.
Responsibilities: Everything related to the child, care, feeding, walking, playing, additional duties in helping around the house are not required. Requirements: work experience…
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20 days ago
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, part time, work experience from 2 years and above, vocational secondary
Job conditions: New York, 6/1 live in, 3 year old girl. Responsibilities: Responsibilities only for the child, cooking, bathing, full care. Requirements: US visa, babysitting experience. Salary: $4,000 per month Job address:…
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June 21, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, part time, work experience from 2 y. : Education, games, walks Requirements: knowledge of English Salary: $ 4,000 per month (can be discussed)
WhatsApp:…
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June 7, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, part time, work experience from 2 years and above, vocational secondary years, full child care, development, active games with the child, accompaniment.
Requirements: fluent Russian, active,…
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May 23, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time
Nanny-governess
Working conditions: 5/2 with accommodation, 2 children, children 3 and 4 years old – girls.
Responsibilities: Responsibilities only for children, prepare breakfast and lunch for the elder.
Requirements: kind, decent, with experience, must be a candidate in the US,…
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February 22, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time, work experience from 1 year and above
Conditions: 24 hours on a 5/2 schedule with accommodation (the nanny has a separate room for her weekends). The family will also consider the work schedule of the watch.
Responsibilities: caring for a child of 5 months, maintaining order in the house.
$3,000 payment at…
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February 22, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time
Vacancy is free
We are looking for a nanny in the USA, (Russian-speaking family)
Schedule: 5 \ 2 (you can work with accommodation)
Location: USA, New York
Salary: $3500 per month
Responsibilities:
Caring for a 2 year old
Organization of the daily routine
Development according to.
..
Save
February 22, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time, work experience from 1 year and above
Vacancy #8035 Position: Nanny – Governess (USA) Working conditions: Nanny for girls 2 years old, boys 8 and 10 years old Pennsylvania USA, schedule 6 /1 Responsibilities: childcare and housework Requirements: work experience, preferably medical. educationSalary:…
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February 22, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time
Nanny – Governess (USA)
Working conditions: New York, with accommodation, 2 children, children 1 month and 2.4 years old – boys. Lives in a separate room, own bathroom. The elder goes to a developing school 3 days a week, a driver drives
Responsibilities:…
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February 10, 2023
Homestaff Intl, LLC | Dubai, AE
in New York 33 km, full time, work experience from 1 year and above
Nanny-governess
Working conditions: without accommodation, 2 children, children 3 and 4 years old – girls.
Responsibilities: Responsibilities only for children, prepare breakfast and lunch for the elder.
Requirements: kind, decent, with experience.
Salary: 3000 per month
Address…
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February 2, 2023
forward in NHL history Wayne Gretzky, we publish a chapter from a book about his father hockey player Walter, written by today’s hero of the day in the late 80s. The legendary player talks about how to raise a star, remembers his grandmother, and also gives a lot of useful advice to parents of novice hockey players.
“…I heard a lot of stories about how my father would not let me out of the ice rink in our backyard because he wanted to make me an NHL star at any cost. It is not true. My father never forced me. I myself was constantly pushing myself, and my father … He often repeated: “It doesn’t matter what the result will be. Of course, it’s nice to win, I would like you to always strive to win…. But the main thing is to try and do your job as best you can.
No one has the right to demand more from you.” He was dissatisfied with me only when I did not try, when I did not give all the best.
And my father had the right to be tough on me because he spent a lot of money on me when I was a child. Children’s hockey in Canada is expensive. We children, of course, did not understand this. They played for fun. Meanwhile, my parents had to sacrifice a lot so that I could drive the puck to my heart’s content. But my father never reproached me for this, he wanted only one thing in return – that I always play and train in good conscience.
Imagine this: Stanley Cup Final Series 1982/83, we’re losing 3-0 to the New York Islanders. We have a fourth meeting in New York, which in the event of our defeat will be the last … It’s easy to understand what my mood was. There is a training, and I just pretend to work. My father, of course, came to the games and watches me. I leave the ice – he is waiting for me at the exit.
– Why did you go to practice today? “Everyone is out,” I answer.
– I might as well not go out. You just lost time for nothing – you didn’t train, but pretended. I shrugged my shoulders, after a few minutes both the training and the words of my father flew out of my head … But my father did not forget anything. We lost that game, the season ended. It was May, my father and I worked on the farm. It was terribly hot, and my grandmother was watering the garden. My father looked at me, then at her, then back at me… And he said, “Look at her! She is already seventy-nine, and she works, does what she has the strength to do. And you did not consider it necessary to train honestly even before the decisive game. I have no doubt that all his illnesses are connected with hockey. After all, at night before my games, he does not sleep. Not because victory is so important to him, he just cannot do otherwise, he is such a person. In this we are not like him. Frankly, I don’t particularly care what they say and write about me. I don’t worry about it. But my father is worried about both of us.
And sometimes it affects our relationships. One day, for example, he heard someone say: “This Gretzky’s hair is too long.” And he immediately ordered me: “Immediately get a haircut!” I didn’t want to. Over time, he realized: there are too many people around, you can’t please everyone and you can’t be good for everyone.
Father is a man! “I’m just a phone company employee,” he says of himself. In fact, now he is a lawyer, and an accountant, and a sales agent. It is he who makes sure that I am not forced to work for wear and tear. I mean everyone: my coach, my impresario, my salespeople, lawyers… all of them. When my father sees that someone is putting too much pressure on me, he immediately rushes to the rescue with advice.
My father still works for the telephone company, but he always has time to read every contract I sign from the first letter to the last. Actually, other people check my contracts, but my father doesn’t care about them. He cares about Wayne Gretzky, and only Wayne Gretzky.
And it has always been that way for as long as I can remember.
He knows how to get right to the heart of the matter, in my opinion, he has learned to anticipate possible complications even before they arise. One day he looked at a contract I had signed with a skate company and immediately said that I was in trouble. And so it happened. Then we fixed the contract. Michael Barnet, one of my sales agents, once said, “Walter may not have a college degree, but he deserves a master’s degree in business. Before you can blink an eye, he will become a doctor.”
Now that I have grown up and can make important decisions myself, some people think that my father’s insistence on keeping track of all my affairs can ruin our relationship. But this is not true. My father and I argued all our lives. They argued about everything – both about what I was doing on the ice, and about what I was doing behind the edge of the site. But it didn’t bother us. And I hope that I will have the same relationship with my son.
I would like him to respect my opinion and understand: I am doing his business for his own good. And I also want him not to be afraid to express his opinion to me on any issue.
I agree with my father ninety-five times out of a hundred. And not just because he puts pressure on me with his father’s authority. He’s just older and wiser. But when I’m sure the truth is on my side, I go my own way. I think the first time it happened, he was having a hard time. But when I get into a difficult situation, I always turn to him for help. And even when I am sixty years old, I will still listen to him first. And why shouldn’t I do it? After all, he was always by my side in difficult times.
<...> Maybe because I’m good at hockey, people think my parents know the secret to raising the Wayne Gretzky. It gets ridiculous. Take this story with our backyard ice rink.
Once I told a journalist that my father and I spent several hours at the skating rink. And my words were printed in the newspaper: “Lord, it was so cold that I came home and cried!” And now I have to see the unfortunate children who trudge home with tears in their eyes, and their parents meet them with the words: “Go back to the skating rink! Wayne Gretzky was cold, but now he is sitting in a posh apartment in Edmonton.
What, are you worse?! … ”
But these people did not understand the main thing. Yes, when they ask me: “Did you train for four hours every night?” – I answer: “It seems so.” But now, remembering those years, I understand that the time I spent at the rink cannot be called training. If I had thought then that I was training, I would not have started skating. I rode just for my own pleasure.
Never have I thought, “I’m going to train for four hours today, because if I do that, I’ll get into the NHL.” Nothing like that ever crossed my mind. We played hockey. It was played, and the game gave us pleasure. The biggest in the world. There were guys who spent much more time on the ice than I did, but they never made it to the NHL. You can’t say, “Do this and that, and you’re bound to get into the NHL.” I rode for three to four hours and went home. Father asked: “Well, did you roll?” “Yes,” I answered, and the next day I went to the skating rink again. But I cried. Yes it’s true.
When cold feet hurt. Everyone who has been in the cold for a long time knows this pain. When the legs are warm, the pain is crazy. But now I remember not pain and tears, but hot chocolate and big warm hands of my father. He squeezed my stiff feet with them to warm them …
But now I play in the NHL, earn good money and have great opportunities. And some people tell their kids, “Do it like Wayne Gretzky. Look how hard he worked. Look how long he’s been training.” But don’t copy others. Everyone has his own path. Of course, you won’t get into the NHL if you don’t train, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll become an NHL player by practicing endlessly. I have many interests, a variety of hobbies. Yes, I used to crochet. And it worked out well. Somewhere I read that the famous goalkeeper Jacques Plante is fond of knitting, and decided to try it. I knitted my mother’s wallet first, and then the bedspread. (I’ve often imagined some dad saying to his turkey boy: “Look, Wayne Gretzky knitted, and now he’s in the NHL.
Come on, grab the hook!”).
I still try myself in various fields. I’m interested. I didn’t sing in Paul Anka’s program because I’m going to become a singer, I didn’t act in films because I decided to become an actor. It was just that both were new and interesting. After all, hockey is not the whole life. I’m going to continue to try myself in everything that will be interesting to me. Especially since the day will come when I retire from hockey, and I will need to do something. And life is getting more and more stressful, exhausting more and more. I noticed that I was becoming less and less patient, more and more often I got annoyed and snapped, and not even at strangers, but at my relatives. “Fuse blows” more and more often, and I know that it will not get any easier. And the only place where I can completely relax … is the ice of the hockey rink.
When I play hockey, I don’t think about anything but the game. I know that there are many players whose non-hockey affairs affect the game, spoil it, because they cannot drop, forget their problems during matches.
For me, the ice is a refuge. Sometimes I even laugh at myself. All I have to do is go to the dressing room, grab a ping pong racket, play a few games, wrap four clubs with tape, and I forget about everything. Because then I go to the ice to play. There I will do only what I really like, and no one will pester me with anything else. This is cool. The game is the best thing in my life. And the work … She follows along with everything else.
And my parents did all this for me. But they did not have a game to somehow take a break. They took on the hardest part, and I got the easy part. Like Kim and Keith, Glen and Brent. We just needed to play. Money, uniforms, inventory, moving – all this was taken care of by my mother and father …
Sometimes I wonder: what kind of father will Wayne Gretzky be? No, my son will not leave home when he is fourteen years old. Recently, the parents of a twelve-year-old boy wanted to send him to Toronto to play hockey. My father said that the Ontario Children’s Hockey Association would not agree to this, and, fortunately, he was right.
I think the point is, first of all, why the parents sent their son away from home. If only for him to become a professional hockey player, then they deserve condemnation. It was different for me. My parents sent me away from home just so that I could live a normal life. They reasoned like this: if he is destined to become a professional hockey player, it’s good, but the main thing is that he should turn out to be a good person.
You cannot send your child out of the house. You can’t tell your son, no matter how old he is: “Go, learn to be a professional.” When I was fourteen, I thought moving to Toronto was the most wonderful thing in the world. Fortunately, it turned out that for me it was really the best way out. But if I could start my life over again, I would make it so that I could live at home until nineteen…
<....>Some parents say that kids should only play for fun, and rightly so. They believe that absolutely all kids should play hockey, and this is also a great idea.
They also say that after winning or losing, kids should leave hockey worries on the court and return to normal life with its worries and problems. Amazing. But in children’s sports there should be a place for everyone. Including for those who always want to be the best, who are already at a young age ready to take on all the responsibility for the team, who want to win every day, who live hockey.
I would say to my son: “You play for this team, and you will try, and you will show your best. And you will learn to win. But if you lose, it’s okay. Learn from defeat. And when you return to the court again, learn not to repeat the mistakes and strive for victory again. With all my might.”
It seems to me that this kind of upbringing is the most correct. Such an attitude is necessary for a person if he wants to achieve something not only in hockey, but also in studies, and in work, and in general in life. A person should not give rest to the thought: “Damn it, I will be the best! Our team will be the best!”
And if parents do not want to subject their son to excessive psychological stress, do they consider it harmful? Well, for such boys there are yard teams.
But there is another kind of hockey. There are harsh laws. There, players are expected only to win.
I am outraged when some coaches try to reduce good players to the general average level, instead of forcing the average players to catch up. Why are they doing that? To avoid disagreements and conflicts. My problems in the children’s team were connected precisely with this. I had to meet with coaches who wanted to make me an average player. If I had to work with a team that has an outstanding player, I would say to the rest: “Guys, take a good look at what he can do and try to learn it yourself.” Even if they didn’t get anything out of it, it’s not scary. The main thing is that they would try. And it always brings results.
How can you force yourself to try your best, to do everything with maximum efficiency? My father always told me: “I don’t force you to do what you can’t. But what you can, you must do.” Let’s take school for example. My father knew that some subjects come easily to me, while others not so much.
And if I got a decent grade in a subject in which I did not shine, my father would praise me. But, if I suddenly “failed” where I could keep up, I got the first number. This was considered unforgivable.
You should always remember that no kid, no matter how good he is in junior hockey, can be sure that he will make it to the NHL. Many things can get in the way. I want to give one advice to those who aspire to become a professional: if nothing works out for you, go back home. Yes exactly. My brothers may be in the same situation and I will tell them the same. No one works on the ice more than my brother Glen, no one dreams of playing in the NHL more than him, but getting there will not be easy for him.
However, even if he breaks into a professional team, but turns out to be average there, I would advise him to drop everything and forget hockey. I would have done just that myself. When NHL teams open training camps and announce that all the places in the team are vacant, that everyone has a chance to play, this is not true.
Only a few have a chance. The rest suffer in vain. If I hadn’t made any progress after playing for two years in a children’s team, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to say to everyone: “Thank you. I really like it here, I learned a lot from you, but the best thing I learned is that I need to look for a job that I can do or go back to school.”
I have been very lucky in my life. I grew up in a family where I was always loved, where in general everyone loves each other. And I also play a game that I love. Hockey is fun for me. Sometimes I think: it’s good that my apartment is located so high. If I lived on the first floor, then, when I saw the boys with clubs on the ice through the window, I could not resist and jumped out to play with them. And no one knows when we would have finished … Someday, if I’m very lucky, I’ll go out on the ice in the backyard of our house in Brantford. And when we get back to the house and my son starts to whimper because his cold feet will hurt, I will take them in my hands to warm them.