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. Janelle

Ms. Janelle's Neighbor School

Licensed home daycare

Topsfield, MA

8am–4pm, M - Th

Inspiring a love of learning

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.

Circle time

Arts & crafts

Music

Sensory play

Fine motor skills development

Outdoor play

Puzzles

Reading time

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 #9079315

Prior Experience

Nanny
4 years experience with infants, toddlers and preschoolers
Nanny
3 years experience with infants, toddlers and preschoolers
Preschool Teacher @ Shining Stars Learning Center
4 years experience with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school age

Education

Bachelor’s Degree - 2016
BSA Early Childhood Education @ Salem State University

Q&A with Ms. Janelle

What inspires you to care for young children?

I am deeply inspired to teach by my passion for guiding children to think outside the box. I believe that encouraging creativity and independent thinking at an early age can have a profound impact on a child's development. I firmly believe in fostering a nurturing and supportive environment where children can thrive emotionally and intellectually. By cultivating a sense of respect, empathy, and understanding, I aim to empower children to resolve conflicts peacefully and develop healthy relationships. I am dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all children. Recognizing the importance of diversity and individuality, I strive to create a space where every child feels valued and respected. By embracing differences and celebrating unique qualities, I aim to nurture a sense of belonging and foster a community that embraces kindness and acceptance. Lastly, I am passionate about laying a strong foundation for children during their preschool years. These formative years are crucial in shaping their future academic and social success. Through engaging and stimulating educational experiences, I aim to equip children with the necessary skills and knowledge, helping them build a solid groundwork for their future endeavors.

What’s a typical day like at your daycare?

At Ms. Janelle's Neighbor School, each day is filled with warmth and genuine connections. It is a nurturing environment where relationships among neighbors are built and fostered. Through play, children embark on a journey of hands-on discovery, guided by books and enlivened by music. The adventures continue as we explore our community together, with thrilling rides in our Bunch Bike. These excursions not only keep us active but also instill a sense of belonging and engagement within our surroundings. We take delight in being active members of our community. Lunchtime is a special moment at our school, as we gather around the table for home-cooked, balanced meals. Sharing laughter and stories, we strengthen our bonds while enjoying nutritious food. Afterward, during rest time, each child is provided with a cozy blanket, creating a tranquil atmosphere to relax and engage in a guided meditation. For those who don't fall asleep, quiet activities are provided, allowing for peaceful moments of individual exploration. As the day draws to a close, we end with a delightful clean-up dance party, infusing tidying up with joy and movement. We then indulge in a well-deserved snack, refueling our energy for the final chapter of our day—outdoor play. Whether it's running, jumping, or engaging in imaginative games, our time outside is cherished, fostering a sense of wonder, freedom, and connection with nature. At Ms. Janelle's Neighbor School, every day is a vibrant tapestry of learning, growth, and shared experiences. It's a place where hugs, laughter, exploration, and community thrive, shaping each child's journey of discovery and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

What’s one thing parents should know about your program?

My program is a play-based preschool program with a multi-age structure, drawing inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach. This means that children aged 2.9 to 5 years old come together to learn, interact, and play, fostering curiosity and building relationships. In this setting, older children develop leadership skills and patience, while younger students learn from and emulate their older peers. We also prioritize spending ample time outdoors, embracing nature as an integral part of our learning environment. By immersing ourselves in natural surroundings, we encourage children to explore and understand the changes in the world around them. Our curriculum allows for an emergent and child-centered approach that aligns with the children's interests. The primary goal of my program is to create a nurturing and flexible environment that cultivates love, creativity, and effective communication, inspiring each student to reach their unique and full potential.

Think Ms. Janelle might be a good fit?

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

“If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.”

~ Alfie Kohn

Reviews & References

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

Valerie

Over the past 12 years, Janelle has assisted us with childcare for both our children (now 15 & 11). She assisted us with both summer and general babysitting, as well as caring for our children while my husband and I were away on brief vacations. Additionally, our son is autistic and has special needs. Janelle was always able to anticipate and react to his needs--no easy task! Both my children enjoyed their time with Janelle--she went out of her way to make each experience an adventure, and ensured that our children were well cared for. We were able to take breaks, knowing our children were in the capable hands! When my daughter was 8, she created a "Best Babysitter" award for Janelle--well deserved :-) Janelle is an amazing resource--I have and will continue to recommend her to anyone seeking childcare!

Theresa

“Miss Janelle” Where do I begin? Janelle is one of the most caring, sincere, honest people I know - and I’ve known her since she was running around like the children she cares for! Janelle cared for my boys when they were 3/5, they are now 15 and 17 and have great memories of their time spent under her care. She is attentive, engaging and cares for your child as you would. My children were left with their grandmother or Janelle - that says it all! I was able to go to appointments, get my shopping done or just run out for a coffee - knowing my children were safe and happy. Thank you Janelle - for being a part of my children’s childhood and making forever memories. Congratulations! We wish you much luck on your new adventure!

Amy

I worked as a nanny in Topsfield for several years, and developed a close relationship with Janelle after meeting as co-workers. The children that I was a nanny for adored Janelle and always be delighted to see her. She was one of the very few people that I would have trusted with my charges. The children that she nannied for became like family to her, and she is incredible at developing close relationships. Janelle is kind and sweet and her patience is absolutely unmatched. She is also very professional and has many wonderful and creative ideas with little minds. There is no one that I would trust more to run a happy, healthy school.

Talisa

I can not thank Janelle enough for being the absolute best child care provider. Janelle has a huge heart and a beautiful spirit. She works so well with all different types of families and I trust her implicitly. Janelle is loving, comforting, and kind. In addition, her level of professionalism is such a welcome difference from many other child care providers. If I had to describe Janelle succinctly it would be by saying she's a genuine life saver. She incorporates learning into everything and is excellent at making all kids feel special, smart, and loved. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Logan

Janelle is amazing! She has taken care of our son on and off since he was two weeks old (he's now almost 4). There's a lot to love about Janelle: she's trustworthy, reliable, and has tons of experience. Most of all, we love how she interacts with our son. She's great at planning age-appropriate activities and keeping him entertained. You can tell she truly enjoys providing care for children. We've had many care givers/babysitters over the past several years, and I can easily say that Janelle is the best of them all. I can't recommend her highly enough!

Suzanne

We were introduced to Janelle when my daughter was three months old and she quickly became a trusted member of our family. As a new mom, what I valued most was that Janelle became part of our team - through all stages of our daughters development she partnered with us to help with sleep schedules, eating, potty training and more. Three plus years later and we still know we can count on Janelle like we would anyone in our family.

Kimberly

I am so excited for Janelle to be opening her own school. My children are older now, but I would send them to her in a heartbeat if they were still small. Janelle took care of my children when they were younger. Janelle is so companionate and patient with children. She is fun loving and keeps them entertained and going all day long. She is an amazing caregiver. ❤️

Tamica

Janelle is the best. I've never seen someone engage with children and help them learn in the ways that best works for them as well as she does. I trust her wholeheartedly and wouldn't hand little ones off to anyone but 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. Janelle has a spot for you.

Select an age range to get an estimate:

Location

Ms. Janelle’s NeighborSchool10 Colrain Rd Topsfield, MA 01983(978) 953-3025(978) 953-3025

There is 1 home daycare in Topsfield. 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.

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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.