Take our 5-minute survey to see 3 daycares that match your preferences, timeline, and what matters most to you.
When smaller is better, home daycare is the best. Find great options for infants & toddlers near you.
I just love children so much that I opened my family childcare 20 years ago! It is so special to see these little ones grow right before my eyes. I have such strong relationships with my families that I care for the children of kiddos that graduated my program years ago! My favorite thing about caring for children is that they all need love and care. People have said that I create an environment that is nurturing and friendly. I focus on learning through play, and I especially love to watch them express themselves. I’m proud when I think about all the children I've helped grow and learn. That's what makes this work so special
With four children of my own, I know how challenging it is to find a local daycare you love and trust. I have worked in the education and mental health fields since the age of 14, and decided to give back to my community by opening a daycare of my own. I care for children and families like they are my own, and I am very flexible and happy to help with any needs that may arise—from special circumstances and extra hours to meals—my husband is even licensed to drive a van and can assist with transportation. Every child is welcomed in my home, regardless of race, religion, or gender. I believe our community is better when we work together!
I’ve been a mom for over 16 years, and I have been caring for children ever since. Opening my own child care program in my home gave me the opportunity to create the welcoming, happy environment that I think is so important. I especially love to watch them express themselves, but the truth is that so many parts of the day and the week bring me a lot of joy. Through it all, I focus on learning through play. One of the best parts of working with children is that they all need love and care. The work is incredibly rewarding, especially when I think about how I've prepared children for pre-K. It's such a gift to guide the children in my program as they grow.
Children and parents love Ms. Aracelis’s daycare for its small-scale, personal feel. Fully licensed by the state, her program focuses on infants and toddlers, and the mixed-age range helps children learn to socialize in a small group setting. Parents often prefer home daycare when looking for options that are closer to home, where they can develop a long-term relationship with the provider. Many come to see the provider as an extension of the family, leaning on them for advice on all sorts of parenting questions. Check out Ms. Aracelis’s full profile and take the survey to see if she is a good match for your family.
There are 9 licensed home daycares in Mattapan. Most parents don’t know that home daycare is regulated by the Department of Early Education and Care, just like the big preschool centers.
For more daycare recommendations in Mattapan, take our 5-minute survey.
See what parents are saying about these preschools & daycares right in the neighborhood.
I started working with children as a child care professional in my home 15 years ago, and I have been caring for children ever since. Opening my own child care program in my home gave me the opportunity to create the nurturing, happy environment that I think is so important. I especially love to take children outside to explore and play, but the truth is that so many parts of the day and the week bring me a lot of joy. Through it all, I focus on exploration and imagination. One of the best parts of working with children is watching them explore and discover. The work is incredibly rewarding, especially when I think about how I've prepared children for pre-K. It's such a gift to guide the children in my program as they grow.
Children and parents love Ms. Yolanda’s daycare for its small-scale, personal feel. Fully licensed by the state, her program focuses on infants and toddlers, and the mixed-age range helps children learn to socialize in a small group setting. Parents often prefer home daycare when looking for options that are closer to home, where they can develop a long-term relationship with the provider. Many come to see the provider as an extension of the family, leaning on them for advice on all sorts of parenting questions. Check out Ms. Yolanda’s full profile and take the survey to see if she is a good match for your family.
A small-scale daycare, Ms. Nia provides care for just 6 children at a time. As with all home daycares, her program is licensed by the state and she has completed training in childhood ages & stages, medication administration, and food safety. In this mixed-age group program, children get the socialization, stimulation and support they need to learn and grow. Parents are often surprised to discover home daycares like Ms. Nia right in the neighborhood. See more details and take the survey to see if she has an opening for your little one.
Caring for kids is so gratifying! The motivation to open a daycare twenty-seven years ago was that it allowed me to spend more time with my own kids while caring for others, too. All these years later, I still love taking care of kids and am still very family oriented! In fact, my adult daughter is the one who inspired me to open up my daycare again - in my new hometown. She knows how much I love being around little ones, and that it’s my purpose to give kids a safe haven to learn and grow!
Young children are such a source of joy! With 5 kids and 16 grandkids, I am no stranger to the variety of needs that a large family requires. Of course, every child is unique, and it’s a blessing to be able to take the time to figure out what specific things they need to help them thrive. The kids in my program will be treated with patience and empathy. They won’t just be babysat or taught—they will be understood. As a daycare owner, it’s my job to really get to know every child and understand what they’re passionate about, what makes them excited to be here.
Each daycare provider designs their program based on their unique background & child care experience.
All of these nearby daycares are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care. While they don’t work with NeighborSchools, you can visit the government website here to try to contact them directly.
82 Westview Street, #40, Dorchester, MA
License # 9059185
Licensed for 6 since 2020
18 Angell St # 2, Dorchester Center, MA
License # 9050825
Licensed for 8 since 2004
15 Rector Road #1, Mattapan, MA
License # 9059041
Licensed for 8 since 2021
55 Hollowell Street, Mattapan, MA
License # 9083604
Licensed for 6 since 2009
66 Astoria Street, Mattapan, MA
License # 9061755
Licensed for 6 since 2022
15 Hollingsworth Street, Mattapan, MA
License # 9058098
Licensed for 6 since 2022
Get your own recommendations based on your preferences, daily routine, and what matters most to you.
Your family is unique to you, but some of your questions might not be. 😉 Here’s what most parents want to know when starting out.
Most first-time parents don’t know exactly what they’re looking for, so we created a simple survey that will ask you questions about your lifestyle, your daily routines, and your preferences for child care. We’ll then share 3 personalized recommendations that we think might be a good fit. We’ll also give you a timeline that maps out when we would suggest you start touring programs, choose a daycare, and pay a deposit to secure a spot. Your timeline is based on when you want to start care - so you set the pace, and you decide when you’ve found the right match.
Nope. Our daycare recommendation service is free for parents. The other half of our business is helping these small-scale daycares with software and services that handle all their administrative tasks, like online contracting, payment processing, and licensing requirements. Before NeighborSchools, services like these were only designed for large corporate child care centers, and part of our mission is to level the playing field for small, independent child care programs. That’s why we picked the name NeighborSchools - we’re all about making child care more personal, more human, and more equitable for the incredible individuals who do this work and care for our children.
Generally, if you’re here, you’re ready. The survey lets us give you 3 recommendations to consider, but it’ll also help you better understand what factors to consider, and what questions to be asking right now. It’s simple things like where you live, your child’s date of birth, when you want to start care, and if you have any preferences around program philosophy or language of instruction. If you’re planning 6+ months ahead, it’s a great way to get started, and if you’re hoping to start daycare in the next 2-4 months, it’s definitely time to get started. Click here to start the survey.
Each program has a limited number of spots for each age range, so we need to know your schedule and child’s age before we can share availability. The survey covers these basics, as well as factors like drop-off and pick-up times to make sure that recommended programs fit your daily routine. Once we know your child’s age and schedule we can share rates and costs as well.
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Take the survey and get 3 daycare recommendations that fit your preferences. Takes 5 minutes and it’s 100% free for parents.