Ellen's Home Daycare
Grow. Play. Learn
Play-Based Learning
Play is at the heart of my daycare. I will provide your child an indoor and outdoor space that is safe, clean and an environment where children can freely explore, grow, and learn through play. Young children learn best through play and by "doing." I believe that learning should be a fun and exciting experience. Our daily schedule is flexible and relaxing. Each child is given the opportunity to develop at his or her own pace.
I also use Funshine express buttercups curriculum kits with monthly themes designed for ages 0-3 yrs old.
“Children learn
as they play.
Most importantly,
in play children learn
how to learn.”
– O. Fred Donaldson
Young children need routine in their lives to help them feel secure and to understand what to expect next. This is our schedule*, and what our day will look like:
* Daycare is open from 8:00am-5:00pm; parents may drop-off/pick-up within this time frame
8:00 ------- Drop off/ free Play
8:30 ------- Activity of the day
9:00 am ----- Morning Snack
10:00 am ---- Outdoor Play
11:30 am ---- Lunch
12:30 noon---- Nap time
2:30 pm ----- afternoon snack
4:00 pm ----- Free Play/outside
5:00 pm ---- Pick Up Time/closed
Daily Schedule
"My experience at Ellen’s home day care has surpassed my expectations from day one. My daughter began attending Ellen’s daycare at 8 months old. Daycare was a shock for her as she was used to only her parents and grandparents watching her. Ellen and Jane were so attentive and invested in helping her feel comfortable and keeping us updated on how she was adjusting. Isabel took some time to get used to being around other kids, but Jane and Ellen were able to give her the special attention that she needed while still meeting the needs of the other kids at the daycare. They do a fabulous job of updating, not only via text and photos during the initial transition, but on a daily basis using an app on your phone. They keep detailed notes of what you child eats, diaper changes, they post photos and videos of the kids playing and participating in fun and creative activities and also update you on what supplies you may need to bring in using the app. Initially many of the photo updates would be of Isabel sitting on Jane’s lap while Jane lead fun activities with the others. This continued for months, and Jane and Ellen just carried on giving Isabel the special attention she needed all the while engaging all the others at the same time. My daughter Isabel then needed special care when she broke her leg and was in a very prohibitive cast. I was unsure if Ellen would be able to take her while she was in a cast because she could not walk or sit up without assistance. Without hesitation Ellen agreed to take her at daycare. She invited me and my husband over after hours to learn about what special care Isabel would need, from special chairs and strollers to diaper changes to brainstorming about how to keep her engaged and participating in activities despite her cast and short-term physical limitations. During the same time, The world was in the early days of dealing with the Covid 19 Pandemic. Although Ellen had to close her doors for a short time during the worst of the pandemic, per state regulations, she kept us all well informed of her safety plans and of the steps she was taking to get clearance to reopen. Upon reopening Ellen had all necessary safety measures in place. Her space was always clean and pristine prior to covid, but it was clear that she was very well educated on safety and was following the guidance of board of health and other governing bodies to make she understood and was carrying out all recommendations. While at Ellen’s we never had any confirmed COVID cases in parents or kids, yet a few scares. Each time, Ellen was prompt in her communication and the she had immediately sought the guidance of the appropriate governing body. Luckily the couple of instances were false alarms, but Ellen always took every potential exposure seriously. Her day care community is a loving accepting and supportive environment where children are encouraged to grow and learn at their own pace. Ellen, Jane and Mary truly are amazing, and I cannot think of a better place for parents and children looking for a daycare. My daughter has aged out of Ellens as of September 2021 and it is truly bittersweet. The love and education that my daughter has received since she started attending Ellen’s home daycare in 2019 has, I will say again, truly surpassed my expectations and I am forever grateful for their hard work, constant compassion and fun curriculum."
Julia Nickrosz and Derek Eggleton
Maynard, MA
"We are so glad that we found Ellen's daycare! Our son started at a larger daycare center, which we found impersonal, disorganized, and unclean. Ellen's daycare is the exact opposite of all these things. Ellen and Jane are loving, encouraging, and patient, and all the kids have so much fun with them. I am a university educator, so I am particularly impressed by how much our son learns at Ellen's. Every day he plays new games, does new crafts, learns new letters and words and songs, reads books, and has a blast doing it all. He loves going to Ellen's home and its wonderfully stress free for us, too, like dropping off our beloved toddler at a trusted relatives house for the day. Ellen is a fantastic communicator and regularly shares stories, pictures, and important information about our kids with us parents, which is also much appreciated. If we have a second child, we can only hope that Ellen will have space for him or her!"
Zach and Nick Hansel-Snider, Maynard, MA
"We love Ellen's home daycare. My daughter really enjoys being there. They take great care of children. We really feel secured when we leave our daughter at Ellen's. Earlier my daughter used to go to a corporate daycare center and she used to cry everyday when we leave her there and also mostly crying when we pick her up in the evening. In a few weeks after we started with Ellen's, she is happy to go there. She really loves Jane and Ellen and other assistants. I can not imagine a better daycare for my daughter. If you prefer an engaging and developing environment for your child this is your place. I would highly recommend Ellen's home daycare!"
Satya Kota and Sai Sure,
Acton, MA
"Ellen is a sweet, fun, and incredibly studious childcare provider for our daughter, Ellie. Ellen and Jane provide a nurturing, play-based experience for their children and we are so fortunate for her. Ellie started spending two days a week with Ellen when she was 9 months old and is now a year and a half. I’m grateful that every day that she is with Ellen she has a loving and stimulating time (and a nap :)"
Carey Graber, Acton, MA
