Why we encourage
wonder and curiosity
At Children’s Happy Day School, our mission is to nurture each child’s sense of wonder, inspire their natural curiosity, and create an environment that supports their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Through a safe environment and a thoughtfully designed, age-appropriate curriculum, we help our children walk through each day.
Philosophy
The foundation of our educational philosophy is a child-centered environment that promotes interaction with other children and adults, all while providing both choice and structure. Those connections and interactions happen both in and outside the classroom, as children learn and play in large and small groups and interact with nature.
Routines are an important part of early childhood education, and our classroom routines are designed to give children the opportunity to work on their independence, self-help skills and self-confidence. One important daily routine: getting outside! The process of planting tomatoes in the garden, observing a caterpillar emerge from a chrysalis and watching trees change with the seasons at Millennium Park are hands-on experiences that show children the beauty and wonder of nature. Such interactions, supported by caring and nurturing professional teachers, have long-lasting benefits for our Happy Day friends.
At Happy Day, we prioritize respect for the children while they learn the concepts of sharing, fairness and respect for others. Our school is committed to eliminating discrimination in all its forms.
Curriculum
Following NAEYC guidelines, our teachers design a curriculum that reflects the children’s ages, individual learning styles, and social and cultural backgrounds. At the start of each month, we provide families with take-home calendars outlining the planned activities. Many of our friends enjoy looking at what’s planned and getting excited for the activities ahead! Throughout the day, children have the opportunity to work in large groups and small groups. Engaging learning centers — blocks, drama, manipulatives, library, writing, art, music — enhance the curriculum and allow children ample time to play and work on social development.
Enrichment
To enhance our core curriculum, we organize educational field trips including a visit to Boston’s iconic Swan Boats, visiting local pumpkin patches, and exploring renowned works of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts and more. We also celebrate cultural and family events, such as Diwali and Chinese New Year, and invite families to share about their careers and work. Longtime Happy Day partners like Mr. Wayne and Ms. Kim come to school once a week for music, dance and yoga, which generates loads of enthusiasm in each classroom.
“We cannot express how pleased we have been with Children’s Happy Day School during the five years our children have been here. It is hard to imagine a school that could offer more love to its children, a better quality of education and a safer environment.”
-Lee and Jessica F., Roslindale
Our Story
Since 1987, we’ve provided a safe, child-centered environment for Happy Day friends to nurture their sense of wonder and connect with the world around them.
Enrollment
Interested in joining the Happy Day community? Learn more about our admissions process, tuition rates and how to schedule a tour.
Our Community
We often say that parents and caregivers are a child’s first teachers. That perspective is why we work alongside families to support a child’s growth and offer resources during the preschool years.