Care Masters

Pros

• Happy Child is a wonderful, family-like preschool and daycare with top-notch teachers and long-standing leadership.
• Meals and snacks are included in the monthly fees, along with engaging activities like music, yoga, and martial arts.
• Families report peace of mind knowing their children are safe, happy, and loved at Happy Child.
• The infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms are led by warm, nurturing teachers, with long-tenured directors Mira and Roman.
• The program prioritizes outdoor time and seasonal play, including nature walks and water play in the summer.
• The center fosters a strong sense of community through events such as Back to School celebrations, Thanksgiving potlucks, and puppet shows.
• Hygiene and daily routines are well established, contributing to healthy, well-cared-for children.
• Happy Child moves children between classrooms based on readiness rather than strictly by age.
• Extras are included at no extra charge (music twice a week, yoga, karate), and meals are prepared by the cook Nancy.
• The center feels like a second home and is frequently described as a "hidden gem" that families highly recommend.

Cons

• The tuition is slightly higher than average.

Review

Happy Child has quietly become a cornerstone of its community, a family-owned preschool and daycare that many families return to year after year. For more than 30 years it has stood as a reliable, loving place where children are welcomed as individuals and where daily routines are designed around working parents' needs. The center's hours are sensible for families balancing work and childcare, and the monthly fees cover breakfast, lunch, and snacks - along with a robust slate of daily activities that can include music, yoga, and even martial arts. Across countless stories, what stands out is not just what Happy Child provides, but how it makes families feel: seen, supported, and part of a warm, enduring community.

A recurring thread in these testimonials is the sense of family that Happy Child nurtures. Parents repeatedly emphasize the top-notch caliber of teachers and directors and the way staff treat children as if they were their own. The leadership of Mira and Roman is highlighted as a steady, heartfelt presence; several families note that they've remained committed to the center for years, a rarity in even long-standing franchises. This continuity - teachers who stay, a leadership team that remains engaged - translates into deep trust for parents and comfort for kids, who learn in an environment where care and competence coexist with warmth and personal attention.

The center's response to real-world challenges - most notably the pandemic - also leaves a lasting impression. Parents describe how Happy Child "handled the precautions and state-mandated restrictions so thoughtfully," underscoring the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are safe, happy, and loved while they're away. That sense of security is not about masking fear; it's about a proactive, transparent approach to safety and well-being that reassures parents amid uncertainty. In short, Happy Child has earned trust not just for its daily routines but for its thoughtful stewardship during challenging times.

When it comes to development, Happy Child offers a calm, well-rounded progression across infant, toddler, and preschool years. The infant and toddler rooms are praised for warmth, nurture, and a thoughtful balance of routine and engaging activities, including nature walks, outdoor play, and creative projects. The preschool program is described as the right blend of structure and play, with a distinctive emphasis on variety and thoughtfulness in activities. Yoga, karate, music, and nature walks are woven throughout the week, and summer brings water play that kids look forward to. Music is a constant presence - twice weekly with two different teachers - adding rhythm and joy to the day. A special shout-out goes to the kitchen, where Nancy the cook prepares all meals and snacks, included in tuition, sparing families from extra shopping and packing duties.

The sense of community extends beyond the classroom into the fabric of daily life at Happy Child. Families note frequent events that bring everyone together, from Back to School festivities and Thanksgiving potlucks to the winter puppet show. These gatherings help families connect, forging friendships not only among children but among parents as well. Graduation ceremonies - described as lovely and meaningful - mark the culmination of early childhood journeys and reinforce the feeling that Happy Child is a second home where children grow, learn, and prepare for the next step in their education.

A distinctive strength cited by several families is the center's approach to age-based transitions. Rather than rigidly moving children from one room to the next simply by age, Happy Child evaluates each child's readiness and places them in an environment that best matches their current development. This responsiveness, coupled with a strong emphasis on outdoor time across all seasons, helps children flourish at their own pace. The teachers' willingness to listen to questions and concerns - and to work toward practical solutions - further distinguishes the program as a place that genuinely cares about each family's needs.

Price is a factor for some reviewers, and one parent candidly notes that tuition may be slightly higher than average. Yet the consensus remains that the value - strong care, cleanliness, comprehensive early education, and included amenities - justifies the cost. Several readers describe Happy Child as a "hidden gem," a family-owned operation that prioritizes people over marketing. They emphasize that the center's depth of care - "they don't do fancy marketing, but put the most effort on children and teachers" - is evident in every interaction, from how questions are answered to how routines are maintained. The sentiment is that the investment pays off in well-rounded children who are "loved, taught, and prepared for wherever they are heading."

Taken together, the collection of stories paints a vivid portrait of Happy Child: a place where children learn through play and meaningful activities, where meals and snacks are provided, where outdoor time and nature are central, and where the community feels like an extended family. From the infant room to the preschool years, parents describe a steady arc of growth, social confidence, and early literacy nurtured by affectionate, well-trained teachers and guided by a leadership team that remains deeply invested. With its inclusive calendar of activities, consistent staff, robust safety practices, and a deep commitment to treating children with dignity and joy, Happy Child stands out as a place families return to with gratitude and recommend to others without hesitation.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.3 miles)
• Echo Bridge Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• Corrib Pub & Restaurant (3.6 miles)
• Truly Yogurt (4.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4.2 miles)
• Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (4.5 miles)
• McDonald's (4.6 miles)

Parks

• Newton Highlands Playground (0.6 miles)
• Cutler Park (1.9 miles)
• Larz Anderson Park (4.1 miles)
• Jamaica Pond (5 miles)
• Pagel Playground (5.1 miles)
• Olmsted Park (5.1 miles)
• Franklin Park (6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Wegmans (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Newton-Wellesley Hospital (2.1 miles)
• West Roxbury VA Hospital (3.3 miles)
• New England Baptist Hospital (5.7 miles)
• Brigham and Women's Hospital (5.8 miles)
• Lemuel Shattuck Hospital (5.8 miles)
• Boston Children's Hospital (5.9 miles)
• McLean Hospital (5.9 miles)

Cafes

• French Press Bakery & Cafe (2.2 miles)
• Blue Bottle Coffee (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Mike's Donuts (5.4 miles)
• Tatte Bakery & Cafe (6.3 miles)

Theaters

• Showcase SuperLux (2.4 miles)
• Cinema World Majestic 7 (4.6 miles)

Transportation

• MBTA Riverside Station (2.7 miles)
• MBTA Reservoir Station (3.8 miles)
• MBTA Fenway Station (6.2 miles)
• Readville (6.5 miles)
• MBTA Kenmore Station (6.7 miles)
• MBTA Ruggles Station (6.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Parish of the Messiah (2.8 miles)
• St Paul Parish, Harvard Square (6.6 miles)
• Our Lady's Church (6.8 miles)

Physicians

• Dedham Medical (3 miles)
• Mersi (5.5 miles)
• Bidmc Lowry Building (5.7 miles)
• Mass. Eye and Ear (5.7 miles)
• Harvard Medical School (5.9 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates – Spinal Unit/Pain Management (6.3 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (6.3 miles)