About Us

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Our History

Welcome to our daycare family! Since 1997, we've been a cornerstone of early childhood education in our community, proudly family-owned and operated for over two decades. Our journey began with a simple belief: that every child deserves a nurturing and stimulating environment to learn, grow, and thrive. What started as a dream has blossomed into a beloved facility, built on a foundation of dedication, care, and a genuine love for what we do. As we reflect on our history, we celebrate the countless smiles, milestones, and memories we've shared with the families who have walked through our doors. At the time, our Founder was practicing law and had two young children, using her sister-in-law as childcare, but as her children reached toddlerhood she wanted them to be around other children. As she explored the Westfield Area options, she discovered that the preschool and childcare options were limited. There were a number of preschools, but their limited hours did not meet the needs of working parents. There were one or two daycare centers offering full time care, but they seemed very institutional. Wanting something more for her children - a small and home-like setting where children were loved and valued as individuals, where learning would be fun and where every day would be an adventure - in September of 1997, Precious People was born.

Our mission & purpose

Our mission is to provide a nurturing, safe, and stimulating environment where children can grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually through play-based learning and compassionate care. We partner with families to support each child’s unique developmental journey and foster a lifelong love of learning.

Our purpose is to provide an educational environment where children develop foundational skills for lifelong learning while giving parents peace of mind through exceptional care, long-tenured teachers, and communication.

We believe childhood is precious and should be filled with wonder, joy, and discovery. We protect and celebrate this special time while gently preparing children for their next steps. We understand both the privilege and responsibility of caring for your children.

Our Philosophy is built around the following underpinning values:

  • Individualized Care – Every child is known, loved, and supported as a unique individual.
  • Play-Based Learning – We nurture natural curiosity and growth through hands-on exploration.
  • Family Partnership – We work hand-in-hand with families to support each child’s development.
  • Whole-Child Focus –Emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs are nurtured together.
  • Safe & Loving Environment – Our space is built on trust, warmth, and genuine care.
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Meet Our Teachers

When you walk into our daycare, you will quickly feel the warmth and dedication from our incredible staff. We are not just a team; we're truly a family, and that feeling extends to every child and parent who joins us. Our three head teachers have each been with us for between 12 and 15 years, a testament to their deep love for our school and the children we serve. This long-standing commitment means familiar faces for your little ones, consistent care, and a wealth of experience guiding their growth and development. They pour their hearts into creating a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn each day.

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Kristine Monahan School Director
Chipmunk Head Teacher
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Caitlin Hunter Squirrel Head Teacher
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Christie Schiavo Bunny Head Teacher

Our Philosophy & Curriculum

As our mission states, we provide a nurturing, safe, and stimulating environment where children can grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually through play-based learning and compassionate care.

Our Philosophy is what drives our fantastic team to achieve this, which is built around the following core concepts:

Nurturing Relationships:

Every child is known, valued, and loved as an individual. We build genuine connections with each family and create a warm, home-like environment where children feel safe to explore, learn, and be themselves. Our small size allows us to truly know each child's personality, interests, and needs.

We follow each child's natural curiosity and developmental pace, recognizing that learning happens through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences. We honor childhood by providing rich opportunities for discovery while building strong foundations for future learning.

Parents are children's first teachers, and we see ourselves as partners in your child's journey. We maintain open communication, respect family values and traditions, and work together to support each child's growth both at school and home.

We care for the whole child - their emotional, social, physical, cognitive, and creative development. We recognize that a child's wellbeing is just as important as their learning, and both flourish when nurtured together.

As a family-owned business, we bring the same love and attention to your children that we would want for our own. Every decision we make is guided by what's best for the children in our care, not corporate policies or profit margins.

We create a physically and emotionally safe space where children can take healthy risks, make mistakes, and grow. Trust, respect, and kindness guide all our interactions.

Our Five Key Values

Individualized Care

Every child is known, loved, and supported as a unique individual.

Play-Based Learning

We nurture natural curiosity and growth through hands-on exploration.

Family Partnership

We work hand-in-hand with families to support each child’s development.

Whole-Child Focus

Emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs are nurtured together.

Safe & Loving Environment

Our space is built on trust, warmth, and genuine care.

Our philosophy to education is built on these values, in fact, our founder’s niece recently refreshed the curriculum for our early-pre and pre-school programs after completing her Masters in Early Childhood Education at Brown University. The key is that play-based learning doesn't mean unstructured time - it involves intentionally designed activities that meet educational goals while honoring children's developmental needs and interests.