Official Winnie Blog

How the New "Banana Bill" Could Help Childcare Providers

Sara Mauskopf — Wed, 13 May 2026 21:25:07 GMT

This may come as a shock but at some licensed childcare centers, opening a bag of chips for a child is allowed, but peeling a banana for a child is not.

Winnie’s New AI-powered Search

Anne Halsall — Wed, 06 May 2026 01:12:05 GMT

Finding child care has never been easy. Even with Winnie, parents had to spend time filtering through options, trying to find the best possible match for their price range, location, age of child, work hours and so much more. Today, we're changing that.

Child Care Costs More Than College. Why Are We Still Using Old Math?

Sara Mauskopf — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:38:36 GMT

Child care now costs more than public college tuition in 38 states. Yet the federal government's primary tool to help families afford it, known as the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, hasn't been meaningfully updated for more than two decades. The credit only recognizes $3,000 to $6,000 in child care expenses, even though care now costs on average $15,000 a year nationally. In other words, the tax code still assumes child care costs a fraction of what families actually pay.

How AI Can Actually Transform Early Education

Sara Mauskopf — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:07:48 GMT

When people talk about AI in education, the conversation almost always goes the same place: personalized tutoring. Apps that sit alongside students and fill learning gaps in real time.

Case Study: How Tierra Encantada Used Winnie

Winnie — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:47:35 GMT

Tierra Encantada is a Spanish immersion daycare and preschool program with nine corporate centers (6 in the Twin Cities, 1 in Rochester, MN, and 1 in the Chicago area) and three franchise centers. Their first location opened in 2013, and they began franchising in 2019. Here are the ways they used Winnie to boost enrollment for their new centers.

A Decade of Winnie

Sara Mauskopf — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:26:21 GMT

It feels like just yesterday that I was a brand new mom brainstorming with my co-founder about how we could make parents’ lives easier. That brainstorm turned into a company and this month that company celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

Government Shutdown 2025: What Parents Need to Know

Sara Mauskopf — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:50:29 GMT

As the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week, millions of families are starting to feel the effects. Funding for key programs like Head Start, WIC, and SNAP is at risk. In this article, we break down how the shutdown is impacting parents and share resources you can turn to for help right now.

Case Study: How Guidepost Montessori Used Winnie

Winnie — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Guidepost Montessori is one of the largest Montessori networks in the U.S., serving children from infancy through elementary. They provide an authentic Montessori approach and the opportunity for families to stay with them through every stage of early childhood. Winnie is one of the channels that Guidepost Montessori uses to reach local families looking for childcare and early education.

Everything You Should Know About Free Childcare in New Mexico

Sara Mauskopf — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:01:49 GMT

In a historic turn of events, New Mexico has become the first U.S. state to guarantee free universal childcare for all residents, regardless of income, effective November 1, 2025. This is absolutely game-changing and the whole country should be paying attention.

Everything Parents Need to Know About the New Federal School Choice Policy

Sara Mauskopf — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:02:24 GMT

In July 2025, the U.S. government passed a major education reform that could significantly expand schooling options for millions of families. Tucked into the broader budget bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, the federal government created the first nationwide private school choice program in American history. If you're a parent wondering what this means for your family, you're not alone.