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The New Brickhouse Daycare Opens in Sutton

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Walk into Brickhouse Daycare in Sutton, MA on an average morning, and you might think you just entered a Boston yoga studio—but with a much younger clientele.

April on the floor with the kids in her beautiful home daycare in Sutton, MA.
April on the floor with the kids in her beautiful home daycare in Sutton, MA.

“It started by happenstance—I was stretching one day, and the kids wanted to join in!” says April Shaw, longtime child care specialist and owner of the new Brickhouse Daycare in Sutton, MA, which opens this summer. “So, I started doing yoga with them every morning. We do poses that are shaped like letters of the alphabet and just have fun with it. I’ve noticed that when we stretch in the morning, the kids seem to be a little bit calmer throughout the day.”

This is just one example of the way April works fitness and nutrition into her child care programs. “I’m very passionate about living a healthy lifestyle,” April says. “I think learning at a young age how to fuel and move your body really sets kids up for success in so many ways.”

And April knows a thing or two about setting kids up for success. The mom of two—ages five and thirteen—has spent the majority of her life caring for children. “I’ve been taking care of kids since I started babysitting at age 14!” laughs April. “For the past decade, I’ve worked in child care centers and, most recently, as a licensed assistant at my friend’s Family Child Care program.”

 

 

With her in-home child care experience, April decided it was time to open her own daycare in her Sutton home. Brickhouse Daycare will accept children ages three months to five years, and daily activities will range from physical play to arts-and-crafts to baking. “Our schedule will be tailored to ages and interests, but I do hope I get a chance to bake with the kids,” says April. “It’s such a rewarding activity for children and engages so many different skills. They can help stir, crack eggs, shape dough—then they can enjoy what they created and feel proud of their accomplishment.”

"I think learning at a young age how to fuel and move your body really sets kids for success many ways," says Ms. April of applying her philosophy to her new daycare in Sutton, MA.

 

April says baking has always been a favorite activity of her family and allows her and her daughter to still enjoy their favorite treats, despite a gluten intolerance. “My daughter and I both have celiac disease,” explains April. “But when we bake together as a family, we can control what goes into our food, have fun cooking as a family, and create delicious baked goods that we all love.” April says family favorites include gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, donuts, and chocolate avocado cream pie. “We devour it!” April laughs.

As a NeighborSchools Provider, April is working with the NeighborSchools team to secure her Family Child Care (FCC) license and launch her home daycare in Sutton, MA. The FCC licensing process is mandated by the Massachusetts’ Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and includes trainings on childhood development and safety; a thorough home inspection and three-part background check; and up-to-date pediatric CPR & First Aid certificates. To learn more about licensing requirements, visit the EEC’s website.  

Through yoga, healthy snacks, structured learning activities, and more, April says her daycare will help children develop their bodies and their minds. “I know how hard it is to put your kids in someone else’s care while you’re at work,” says April, “I want parents to know that I will love their children as if they’re my own. Brickhouse Daycare will be a place where children can learn and grow in a nurturing environment.”

Learn more about April’s daycare in Sutton, MA.

See All Daycares in Sutton

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NeighborSchools partners with experienced educators to launch world-class licensed home daycares. In supporting the creation of more small-scale child care programs, NeighborSchools helps increase access to high-quality programs. Children benefit from lower ratios, greater continuity of care, and a nurturing home environment. Parents can discover and build a relationship with a Provider located right in their neighborhood. Providers get to launch the daycare of their dreams and earn a living wage, while working hands-on with young children every day.

Want to learn more? Find a Provider near you or contact us.

 

Bridget Garsh

Bridget Garsh

Mom to Hudson & Brooks, COO and Co-Founder

About NeighborSchools

NeighborSchools help working parents find the best home daycares for busy lives and precious little ones. Now more than ever, child care options are scarce, crazy expensive, and, in many cases, really stuffy and corporate. NeighborSchools finally offers an alternative: fully licensed providers, with years of experience, caring for a small number of children, all right in the neighborhood. Every month thousands of working parents use NeighborSchools to learn about their options and find the right provider for them.

It’s completely free to browse daycares, see photos, read parent reviews, and try out MagicMatch, our fancy new technology that lets you see exactly which daycares have a spot for you.

Bridget Garsh

Bridget Garsh

Mom to Hudson & Brooks, COO and Co-Founder