GMC is a mixed-age private early childhood education program in Norwalk, CT, serving children from infancy through age 5. We offer two standard-day options to give families flexibility based on their schedules:
Standard Day A: 7:30 AM–4:30 PM
Standard Day B: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Families who need additional coverage can add wrap-around care, which extends their child's day by 30 minutes before and/or after their selected standard schedule.

As Growing Minds Collective continues to evolve, our long-term vision is to grow into a comprehensive early childhood education system that supports children and families through multiple stages of the early years—including The Collective, The Academy, and The Companions.

The Collective
Our core private early childhood education program, serving children from infancy through age 5. The Collective provides a nurturing, nature-based, play-centered learning environment where children build relationships, develop independence, and learn through exploration, movement, and hands-on experiences.

The Academy
Mixed-age homeschool learning pods designed for Pre-K through 2nd Grade students, focused on curiosity-driven, project-based, collaborative learning.
 
The Companions
Flexible, nurturing day programs that support children across the early learning years, designed to meet families where they are. Think "Companion & Me" enrichment classes.
 
At Growing Minds Collective, our goal is simple: to provide thoughtful, high-quality care and education that adapts to each family’s unique schedule, needs, and stage of development.
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Click here to learn more about our vision.

GMC was intentionally designed to offer something different from a traditional daycare or large early childhood center. We combine the warmth and individualized attention of a small program with the intentionality, structure, and resources of a comprehensive early childhood education setting.
 
Our educators are deeply engaged in the children's experience, focusing on relationships, developmental needs, independence, and meaningful learning through play and exploration. As we grow into a Group Child Care Home, we are expanding our space and resources while preserving the small-group environment where children are genuinely known and supported.
 
As a nature-based learning community, 60–70% of our time is spent outdoors, using nature as an extension of the classroom, and our program is screen-free for children under age 5. Beyond The Collective, our core early childhood program, our long-term vision includes The Academy and The Companions, creating an educational community designed to grow with children and families through the early years.

Wrap-Around Care is available for families who need additional flexibility beyond their selected standard-day schedule. Families may add 30 minutes of care before and/or after their child’s standard day for an additional fee. Wrap-around care must be arranged in advance and is subject to availability.

Click here to apply for FREE. We will respond within 48 hours regarding your interest in enrolling at GMC. Please note that submitting the form places you on our Priority Enrollment Waitlist if enrollment isn't immediately available.

• All the Essentials—On Us:
 Every child receives a steady supply of premium, fragrance-free diapers and wipes, so you can leave the bulky diaper bag at home.

• Cot Sheet (which will be washed at the end of each week, so you don't have to worry about the hassle!)

• Daily Story & Photo Updates:
 Peek into your child’s day with a secure app feed of snapshots, anecdotes, and learning highlights.

• Personalized Growth Newsletter:
 A monthly mini-portfolio that tracks milestones, nature discoveries, and emerging interests.

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Note: Families pack their own meals and snacks, allowing you to tailor food choices to your child’s tastes and dietary needs while we handle everything else that keeps the learning—and exploring—running smoothly.

GMC thoughtfully balances developmentally appropriate classroom groupings with opportunities for children of different ages to learn from one another. Our infants have a dedicated learning environment designed around their unique developmental needs, while children in our older learning community have more consistent opportunities to learn, play, and collaborate together. Throughout the day, we also create intentional opportunities for interaction between the groups, allowing younger children to observe and learn from older peers while giving older children opportunities to practice empathy, patience, leadership, and collaboration.

This approach gives each child the benefits of a developmentally appropriate environment without losing the richness that comes from being part of a broader learning community. Children are exposed to a wider range of language, ideas, play experiences, and social relationships while still being supported at their own developmental pace.

At Growing Minds Collective, we offer a more personalized, relationship-based approach to early childhood education. Our small group setting allows for individualized attention, deeper connections, and a calm, nurturing environment where children feel truly known and supported.

We combine the warmth of a home setting with the structure and intention of a high-quality early learning program. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed in collaboration with a Certified Curriculum Consultant, creating engaging, theme-based experiences that support each child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Families also benefit from clear and consistent communication through Procare, making it easy to stay connected to your child’s day and progress.

The result is a program that feels both intimate and intentional — where children are given the space to explore, grow, and thrive.

We believe in hands-on learning, which is why we've built a custom thematic-based curriculum inspired by three educational philosophies: Reggio Emilia, Waldorf and Montessori. Our curriculum assures each child plays, learns, speaks and acts according to the developmental milestones identified by the State of Connecticut's Office of Early Childhood and the CT ELDS. To access a list of these milestones, click here.

The Collective runs year round, closing for professional development days, a summer break, a winter break & all federal holidays. 

At GMC, we believe that exceptional early childhood education starts with exceptional educators. We are committed to investing in our teachers and creating a collaborative environment where they can continue to learn, grow, and bring their expertise and creativity into the classroom.
 
Our team is made up of experienced early childhood educators who share our commitment to creating thoughtful, engaging, and developmentally rich experiences for children. Together, we bring a diverse range of knowledge, perspectives, and strengths to our learning community.
 
Want to get to know our team? Click here to meet our educators.

GMC offers full time & part time enrollment options. For current tuition pricing, click here.

​We recognize that a child's sleep needs change significantly throughout early childhood, so our approach to rest is tailored to each child's developmental stage and individual schedule.
 
Infants follow an individualized sleep schedule based on their age, developmental needs, and established routine at home. Depending on the child, infants may sleep two to three times throughout the day. Infant sleep takes place in an approved crib within our dedicated infant environment, following our safe sleep practices and applicable licensing requirements.
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Toddlers and older children participate in one daily rest period after lunch. Toddlers typically nap once during the day, while older children may sleep or participate in a quiet rest period depending on their individual needs. Children who do not sleep are still given the opportunity to relax and recharge through calm activities such as books, puzzles, or other quiet experiences.
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Toddlers who nap sleep on a cot with a fitted sheet. Families provide a blanket that may remain at GMC and is washed weekly, or sooner if needed.
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Our rest environment is intentionally calm and soothing, with the room darkened with curtains and a sound machine used to create a consistent atmosphere for rest.
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We understand that adjusting to a new sleep environment or routine can take time. Our educators approach rest with patience and consistency, helping children feel safe, comfortable, and supported as they settle into their individual sleep patterns.