Take the survey to see 3 daycares that match your preferences, timeline, and what matters most to you. It’s free for parents & takes 5 minutes.Take the 5-minute survey to see 3 daycares that match your preferences & timeline.

Ms. Amy

Little Hands Preschool

Licensed home daycare

East Longmeadow, MA

9am–4pm, M - F

Home daycare led by experienced preschool teacher

Great for parents who want...

Each daycare has its own approach and specialties based on the provider’s expertise. Take the survey to see daycares that match your preferences and work best for you.Each daycare has its own approach & specialties. Take the survey to see 3 good matches for you.

A Few Favorite Activities

Activities are designed to help children develop social, emotional and cognitive skills as they sing, dance, play, and learn in a small group setting.

Outdoor play

Reading time

Circle time

Arts & crafts

Fine motor skills development

Puzzles

STEAM activities

Drawing & illustration

Activities are designed to help children develop social, emotional and cognitive skills as they sing, dance, play, and learn in a small group setting.

Each program is led by a licensed child care professional. While they each have their own expertise and approach, they all share a genuine love for educating and helping young children grow & thrive. Being licensed also means they have done a series of state-required trainings and they’ve passed a government background check.

About the Provider

Licensed Family Child Care Educator

License #9038634

Licensing Requirements

Background record checked
Government-level CORI, SORI, and fingerprinting
Home inspected for child safety
Thorough assessment by a licensor from the EEC
Health & safety training
Includes annual professional development hours

Q&A with Ms. Amy

Tell us about your experience working with young children?

I started taking care of children when I was in high school and I got a job as a teacher’s assistant at a nearby daycare. After college, I got teacher certified and worked in daycare once again. After an interim period in the corporate and small business worlds, I returned to Early Childhood Education, this time directing a literacy program in public schools and then teaching in a local preschool. Opening a child care program in my own home gives me an opportunity to use my experience and my teaching skills in a new setting. I provide a safe and loving atmosphere, and I value every child’s uniqueness. I recognize that I’m a really important adult for kids who spend time with me every day, and I focus on making kids feel cared for and loved. I’m so excited about this new chapter!

What are the key areas of focus at your daycare?

Every child is different and unique, so I like to be flexible and allow children’s interests and curiosities to guide how we spend our time. Days include free play, circle time that focuses on a topic of the week, related activities, outdoor play, lunch, snack, and rest time. I believe that kids learn through socialization and play, so I incorporate lots of opportunities for them to imagine, explore, and play! For example, I love sensory and exploratory activities like shaving cream and coloring. I also really enjoy legos and kinetic sand. Children and parents can expect a warm, clean environment at Little Hands Preschool. I am a mother myself, and my children will be here. I treat the children in my program as I would treat my own, providing them a caring, safe environment. I also practice open communication. I’m happy to share pictures and updates during the day.

Can you tell us a bit about your home environment?

Little Hands Preschool takes place in three rooms of my East Longmeadow home. We will eat meals in my kitchen, and kids can play at the child-sized table in the den. The playroom is an inviting, colorful space with areas for reading, playing, circle time, and various other activities. We will gather for circle time on the large ABC carpet. At other times, kids can read on the cozy pillows in the library area and play with toys like musical instruments, legos, puzzles, and a kitchenette. We also have access to my backyard, which is completely surrounded by a fence.

Think Ms. Amy might be a good fit?

Find out if she has a spot for you. It’s 100% free and takes just 5 minutes.

“Play is the highest form of research.”

~ Albert Einstein

Reviews & References

Here’s the inside scoop from other parents that have worked with Ms. Amy.

Samantha

Amy is absolutely wonderful! She took care of my little ones and they loved her so much. She treats them like they are her own. I highly recommend her!!

Rates & Openings

Daycare rates depend on how old your child will be and what your schedule looks like. 5 days / week might get a slight discount, and infant rates are usually more than toddlers’. Finding a spot also depends on age and schedule because each daycare has a limited number of openings for each age range.

to see if Ms. Amy has a spot for you.

Select an age range to get an estimate:

Location

Ms. Amy’s NeighborSchool43 Colony Drive East Longmeadow, MA 01028(413) 798-8112(413) 798-8112

There are 13 home daycares in East Longmeadow. Most care for 6 to 10 children and take both infants and toddlers. All home daycares are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care, just like preschool centers.

Let’s find a really good daycare for you

Get your own recommendations based on your preferences, daily routine, and what matters most to you.

FAQs

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.

What is NeighborSchools?

Hey there, nice to meet you 👋 We’re a new-ish startup that helps new-ish parents find daycare.

We know how hard finding good child care can be - especially for first-time parents. But really good care is what gives you the peace of mind to go back to work and feel confident that your child is getting the stimulation, socialization, and support they need to learn and grow.

So we created NeighborSchools to make this piece of parenthood a whole lot easier. We say “easier” because, let’s be honest, it’s still a big thing to figure out, but working together we can help you find some good options, understand the whole process, and choose a program you’ll feel really good about.

How’s it work?

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.

Is there a cost?

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.

How do I know if I’m ready to take the survey?

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.

How do I know if a daycare has openings?

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.