Growing Minds Collective

Where Play Meets Nature, and Young Minds Grow Wildly Curious

A warm, mixed-age licensed home daycare in the Brookside Neighborhood of Norwalk, CT, providing play-based learning for children 12 months to 4 years old.

I previously ran a home daycare in North Stamford called Growing Minds Academy. As I launch my new program in Norwalk, take a look at Growing Minds Academy’s Instagram and Facebook pages to get a feel for the high-quality care and enriching experiences you can expect from my new childcare program!

Ready for a program where muddy boots are badges of honor?
Schedule a tour and see play-based, nature-rich learning in action. Spaces are limited to keep ratios low and curiosity high.

We collaborate with trusted, state-approved specialists to ensure every child’s growth is nurtured through our play-based, nature-rich approach. Each month you’ll receive a personalized newsletter that captures your child’s forest discoveries, mud-kitchen milestones, and the developmental strides they’re making while learning through play at Growing Minds Collective.

Book a Tour

Nature

With a 1:4 ratio, a devoted teaching team, and a thoughtfully structured program, Growing Minds Collective goes beyond traditional home daycare—our play-based curriculum keeps children outdoors 60–70 percent of each day, rain, snow, or shine (we supply the gear!).

Play-based

Children learn best when doing, not just listening. Our curriculum turns every discovery—balancing on a log, building a stick fort, watching ants carry crumbs—into a spark for language, math, and problem-solving.

Holistic

Every day we spark growth by turning natural curiosities into learning adventures. Blending guided provocations with open-ended play, we give young minds room to explore, experiment, and flourish.

The Classroom

Our program is rooted in play-based learning, with a strong focus on fostering independence through a balanced mix of structured activities and unstructured play. Our curriculum is built on the importance of learning life skills outside of the classroom blending guided learning with open-ended exploration. In our warm, home-based environment, children are encouraged to grow, discover, and thrive at their own pace.

Daily Rhythm

7:30 - 8:30 AM

8:30 - 9:00 AM
9:00 - 10:00 AM
10:00 - 11:00 AM
11:00 - 11:30 AM
11:30 - 12:00 PM
12:00 - 12:30 PM
12:30 - 2:30 PM

2:30 - 3:30 PM
3:30 - 4:30 PM

4:30 - 5:30 PM

Early Care

Breakfast & Exploratory Play
Unstructured Play & Morning Meeting
Structured Outdoor Play & Craft
Parallel Play
Lunch Time
Story Time

Quiet Time & Nap
Snack & Structured Activity
Unstructured Outdoor Play

Late Care

Our Space

Located in the peaceful Brookside neighborhood of Norwalk, Growing Minds Collective provides two dedicated spaces designed for children to learn and play. As we undergo a relocation from our North Stamford roots, you can get a feel for what our setup will include: bright, spacious areas for play & a flexible space to encourage movement. Additionally, in our new location, we host a fully fenced yard that wraps around the front, back, and sides of the property—offering a safe and engaging outdoor environment for a world of total exploration!

Check out the virtual tour of our former space here and photos below.