Nourishing the joy and wonder of childhood
Our Program
The Maple Hill Play Garden is an inclusive, licensed family child care program
that nurtures the joy and wonder of a simple childhood.
We strive to hold grounded, nourishing space for all children.
We also strive to hold space in which children of the global majority
and female/nonbinary children
are able to step fully, uninterrupted into their work of play;
and in which children of dominant groups
begin learning the subtle art of learning to make space for others.
We spend the majority of our mornings outdoors in almost any weather.
In this space, play is the child's most valued work.
To get a sense of our days together,
please check out our .
We are located in Amherst, MA
and serve children ages 13 months* through 2.9 years.
In our current location, enrollment is capped
at eight children/day.
We provide healthy morning snacks and hearty, homemade organic hot lunches
The program runs Monday-Friday,
full days (8:30-3:30)
or half days (8:30-12:15).
The Maple Hill Play Garden operates on a school year schedule.
Families may select three, four, or all five days.
Preference will be given to families who reflect the diversity of our global world
and to full-day, full-time families.
*Children must be down to one afternoon nap/day
by the beginning of the school year
(the children here go down for nap around 12:45/1:00)
The Maple Hill Play Garden generally accepts children
who are 13 months old - 2.9 years old
as of September of the current school year.
Example: a child enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year
must be aged at least 13 months, and 2.9 years or younger,
as of September 1, 2025.