Nurture by NAPS

1.0 mi

Amazing newly opened indoor play space in Boston! The aesthetic here is just wonderful (simple and…read moreclean). The staff is fantastic. What makes this play space extra special is its location inside the prudential center. Both my 2 and 5 year olds look forward to coming here during the weekends for the open play sessions. There's so much to do! Bouncing house, slide, trampoline, ball pit, and endless fun and educational toys. They also offer kids and parent classes during the week days. Highly recommend this place!

It's a magical place to bring a toddler! So much to explore! Thoughtful environment with all kinds…read moreof different activities and things to draw their attention and imaginations. Classes are amazing. A chance to experience things that are too much work to allow at home. A place where a little child can get into everything!

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Birth Baby Blessing

(11 reviews)

4.2 mi

Martha sets a new bar for postpartum doulas. She is a consummate professional while also being…read morekind, loving, knowledgable, and empathetic. She is exactly who you want to have in your village when you're navigating the first hectic days, weeks, and months at home with a newborn. She is a wealth of information but doesn't give unsolicited advice. She is reliable and an excellent communicator. She goes out of her way to make sure you are comfortable, and you will quickly learn that your baby is in the best hands (besides your own) while Martha is providing overnight care. We were beyond lucky to work with Martha and would recommend her without hesitation.

I didn't think I had very much new to learn as a third-time mom. Boy, was I wrong! Martha taught me…read moreso much: everything from new breastfeeding positions, to the best strategies for "tummy time," to managing sibling relationships, to organizing my kids' stuff, to self-care strategies and encouragement. She's also perfectly happy to hold the baby while you shower or do errands. I was beyond impressed by the breadth and depth of her knowledge about babies and "mom life" in general. I couldn't have gotten through the postpartum period so successfully without her. Do yourself (or your daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, granddaughter, friend, etc.) a huge favor and hire Martha as your postpartum doula. You will be calmer, better-rested, and a more confident mom because of her!

I love my clients...

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One Stop Parenting

3.7

(3 reviews)

4.9 mi

My experience with One Stop Parenting, and specifically with Ghislaine Backmon as the supervisor,…read morewas the best possible experience I could have asked for. Ghislaine was attentive and accommodating in an otherwise difficult and complicated time. She handled each visit with the utmost understanding and professionalism. She prioritized my child's wellbeing, was able to guide us through any difficult situations that arose, and made herself available whenever possible. Being a mother and grandmother herself, combined with her years of experience truly make her an outstanding expert. She puts her heart into what she does, which ensures her care for resolving oppressive family dynamics to the best of her ability. I will be forever grateful for her time and energy she spent with us. Ghislaine is an angel and I am so happy that she is here for future families in need.

Ghislaine and her team helped our family through a difficult transition. They went out of their way…read moreto put the needs of our son first and accommodate our changing schedules and requests. I am forever grateful for their support and professionalism.

American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay Food Pantry

1.2 mi

If you're looking to work hard as a volunteer, the American Red Cross Food Pantry is the place…read more Especially on days when they're distributing food to clients. I was here on a Wednesday morning. Including the other group of volunteers (that my group didn't know) I'd say there were about 25 of us. So if you're looking for a big group activity, distribution day is your ticket. And for the the 4ish hours that we were there, I think we were busy about 98% of the time.. which for those frequent volunteers out there.. isn't always the case on site. Just a little background, the food pantry is in Roxbury. Easily reachable by T or tons of buses. From their website, it says their clients include "senior citizen immigrants, single parents, families in transition, low-income families, homeless individuals, and those living with HIV." Those that qualify can come in for groceries once a month if they meet the USDA guidelines. They must present an ID for each member of the household. Being curious, I checked the USDA website and interestingly enough, post college and pre - full time job I could have qualified for food assistance. Hmm.. We arrived around 8 AM and the day started off with packing "wet bags". Those coming in for food get a wet bag (veggies/salad/etc.), a dry bag (cereal/pasta/Slim Jims/etc), a can bag (more veggies/tomato sauce/etc), and a protein (that day it was beef and whole turkeys for families of 2 or more). Families with babies may also qualify for baby food but everyone pretty much gets the same thing. Later on, I was in the distributing line. Clients check in to the computer and then they come over with a laminated card stating how many family members they have. So of course, the more family members.. the more bags. It can get a bit hectic and it takes some coordination but you get the hang of it. After 12PM, is lock down. Things get put away and the place gets a good sweeping. It was a very interesting experience. The people walking in didn't seem like they needed "assistance". It was generally a diverse population with mostly minorities but they weren't dressed in a certain way, a few had cars, and one guy was listening to an iPod. One of the coordinators said that people would come in and say that they just lost their job earlier that week or this little bit of groceries is what gets them by. Many come every month without fail. In these difficult times, I can definitely see how a few days of groceries can make all the difference. Especially for a family. The coordinators said they saw a record number of people this Thanksgiving. We actually served 400 people that day (and that doesn't include the 1-9+ family members they were picking up food for). So as you can see, every hour of your time can make a world of difference. You can volunteer by yourself or with a group. OR you can run a food drive at your school or job. See the website for details and contacts.

Wow! I had a GREAT volunteer experience here. I went on a Wednesday morning from 8:30a-12 with…read moreBoston Cares. It's (the Red Cross Food Pantry) one of the most efficiently run, friendly, "helping" organizations I've seen. They get the people in and out QUICKLY, and with bags of NICE, QUALITY foods, not just some old beat up cans and a bag of beans. The Red Cross Staff is wonderful, and they will have something for you to do- be it helping to distribute bags of groceries, assisting with line control, packing bags, etc. They begin ON TIME, and end ON TIME If you need assistance, this is also a GREAT place to come. Not a lot of hassle, just basic stuff to be sure you need services, you're treated with friendliness and dignity, and as mentioned, you don't get crapola, you get GOOD, healthy food. In order to feed as many people as possible, you can only come once a month. 5 STARS! BRAVO, Red Cross!

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Entrance

Joyful Birthing & Beyond

(9 reviews)

36.5 mi

Ellie is an absolute gem. My husband and I first worked with her as a sleep consultant during a…read morebrutal 18 month sleep regression for our daughter. Both empathetic and whip-smart, Ellie helped identify specific actions we could take to get sleep back on track. It was so reassuring to make a plan with her and to have real time follow up so that we could course correct and adjust as needed. When we encountered some challenges with the 2 to 1 nap transition, Ellie was the only person we wanted help from and once again she was exactly the resource we needed. We also felt SO supported by Ellie as a birth and postpartum doula for our second child. Using zoom, email, text, and phone, Ellie was like an expert big sister in the weeks leading up to the birth, as well as in the beginnings of labor, and most especially in the early postpartum period. The birth escalated so quickly that there wasn't time for zoom support, but honestly the postpartum support alone was invaluable (and thank goodness for Ellie's nudge via phone for us to hightail it to the hospital-- our son was almost born in the car). Her expertise in sleep and lactation along with being a thoughtful and experienced mom of three... I truly can't speak highly enough. We will forever be grateful to Ellie for helping us grow into happier, stronger parents, and she will forever be our go-to for all questions parenting / birth / sleep!

Working with Ellie was a wonderful experience. I am so grateful that she was our doula for my…read morefirst birth as there are so many questions and unknowns. Ellie helped us navigate all of this and made me feel incredibly supported.

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Wheelock Family Theatre

4.1

(31 reviews)

2.9 mi

I love this family friendly theatre. Attending their shows is a great way to introduce young…read morechildren to the arts. They use the whole theatre in their productions, you never know which aisle a character will run down or dance across (at least that has been the norm for the past 4 seasons). My children have enjoyed every production they have attended from Peter Pan to Pippi Longstocking. They actors, novice and professional alike, really do a fabulous job on and off stage. I remember my little guy was afraid of the pirates in Peter Pan, we decided to leave early and happened upon the pirates waiting to enter through the door we were trying to exit. He freaked out a bit until the a couple of the pirates took off their beards and eye patches and explain to him that they were pretending. They didn't have to do that but they did and it helped calm his fears. I love that they break traditional casting norms, for instance: one bearded pirate in Peter Pan was a woman; Marilda in Anne of Green Gables was black and Matthew, her brother, was white; in Pippi, Mrs. Settergren is black while her children, Tommy and Annika, are white; in The Wizard of Oz , Glinda was Asian and pregnant. The shows are affordable, and accessible. The theatre is conveniently located near the Longwood Medical Area and I'd suggest parking in a nearby garage as opposed to taking your chances on The Riverway.

The summer camp for children is purely based on favorites, and they give the same children time to…read moreshine over and over again while the students who are just as talented get ensemble parts with no singing or even single lines. Some kids who are arguably worse repeatedly get cast as very important roles while actual talent takes a back seat. Awful, unfair, and horrible.

My daughter is 40" even she had trouble stretching out in the front row. Thought this was a good visual for just how close the front row is

Decoration

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Flora & Ulysses

New Family Needs

(11 reviews)

9.8 mi

Hilary and her team were all top notch, and I would recommend them most highly to any newborn…read moreparent. We worked with Molly S for postpartum doula help. Molly was an invaluable support both emotionally and with practical help during a difficult time. It was like having a wiser, older sister help out and counsel a few times a week. She is kind, knowledgeable, and brings a lot of mom wisdom from parenting her own three kids. The back office structure and onboarding and contracting process were all fast and efficient. Highly recommend.

I truly do not have enough words to express my sincere gratitude and praise for Hilary and her…read moreteam. I sent Hilary a message at 2am after months of sleepless nights and she promptly replied the next day and set up a call for us to chat. She completely understood not only what I was going through and the help that my family and I needed but she has the kindest, most caring, loving and dedicated team who were willing to jump in at a moments notice to ensure that our baby boy got the love and care he needed so that the rest of us could get some much needed rest. If anyone is thinking about a night nurse or daytime doula, I would 1000% recommend Hilary and her team.

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Diki shining star childcare center

4.8

(19 reviews)

3.9 mi

My daughter reported to me that she got the bruise on her right cheek at daycare from a teacher who…read morehit her. She has reported the same thing to me on separate occasions The daycare has terminated my daughter enrollment at this daycare as retaliation

Our 12mo old has been going to Diki for the past 6 months, and she squeals with delight when we…read morering the front door bell every morning. Amongst our children this has been our third infant room experience (we've been at two other child care centers), and Diki has been the best. The teachers in the infant room are so enthusiastic, energetic, and kind, and take advantage of being in such a central location with frequent visits to the amazing nearby playgrounds, green spaces, and the children's room at the Cambridge Library's main branch. We appreciate how the head of the center fosters a sense of community through teacher appreciation and parent/teacher/child events. The teachers in the infant room (and other rooms) have been at Diki a long time and seem very committed to the center's future.

Busy Kitchen

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Bright Horizons at Back Bay

1.5 mi

We absolutely love this center, and would rate it 10 stars if possible. Our little one has been…read morethere since she was 6 months old and has absolutely thrived. Their Covid protocols are lock-tight and they consistently send weekly updates with any relevant information for parents, so we have felt super safe with our daughter there. The teachers are wonderful and our now 2-year old has learned so much from their carefully crafted curriculums and has experienced nothing but pure joy, making little friends along the way. They constantly update the "My Bright Day" app throughout the day (not sure how they find the time to do it!) with photos and comments, so you feel fully engaged with your kiddo's whereabouts and what they're up to each day. Nothing but love for this center and its incredible team who now feels like family!

We have had an absolutely wonderful experience with Bright Horizons at Back Bay. Crystal, Ambar,…read moreDelaney, Kera, and Elizabeth are all great infant teachers, very warm and caring. They send photos and updates throughout the day to keep us connected, and our daughter is all smiles when I drop her off. They are also great partners to us, helping us make a plan to support her developmental milestones both at the center and at home. It's been a great place for our family.

School Street KinderCare

1.5 mi

Our son started in the toddler class a little over a month ago. So far, we love CCLC. We feel that…read moreour son gets a lot of attention from his teachers - you can tell by their familiarity with his personality quirks and favorite activities. Each of the teachers know my son by name, even the ones in the baby classroom who don't interact with him as often. The facilities are brand new and beautiful. The director picked out every piece of furniture and every toy herself, and it shows - each classroom has an indescribable homey feel. Our son loves the fish tank right in the foyer. The toddler classroom windows are higher up by the street, so you can easily look down and wave to your child after drop-off and on your way in to pick-up. It's very sweet to peek in and see our son. On the way home each day, he and I stop at the window and he waves "bye bye" to his teachers and classmates from the outside. I have also been very pleased by the variety of activities. The teachers take the toddler students to the park, create age-appropriate art projects, and sing songs during circle time. CCLC provides a morning and afternoon snack for the day. The children have an afternoon nap, and the teachers make sure our son has his "lovie" and favorite blanket. Finally, I really appreciate the level of individualized communication from the teachers. We get an information sheet about his day at pick-up. In addition to what you might expect (times of diaper changes, length of nap, etc.), there is always a full paragraph that begins "Today, I....." written from the child's perspective detailing some of the highlights of the day. My spouse and I love reading through these paragraphs in the evening - the teachers clearly pay attention to our son. I love hearing about him stepping in green play-dough, wandering away from the circle during singing time, and playing with the toy cash register. We also receive emails over the weekend describing our son's week (sometimes pictures, too!). One weekend a teacher emailed to check in and see how our son was feeling after he wasn't quite himself on Friday. I very much appreciate how he is treated as an individual and how much his teachers clearly care.

AMAZING teachers & staff who treat children as their own. Such a loving & supportive environment…read morewhere I trust the care of my child for nearly 12 hrs a day, 5 days a week for over 1.5 yrs! (And I am a picky person, so that's saying a lot!) they integrate activities with structured play with just good old "dance parties" for the toddlers to get them laughing and moving. In the infant room the babies get to have sensory play and fun as well. Parents get pics and detailed info daily, throughout the day. In a city with daycares on nearly every corner, CCLC @ School St is the treasure that puts your child first!

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Ethos Early Learning Center

4.2

(9 reviews)

0.1 mi

This is our third child to go through this daycare, which probably says it all. The teachers…read moregenuinely care about the kids. They communicate so well with parents and feel like real partners in our children's development, not just a place to drop them off. We feel so lucky to have found them and can't recommend them enough!

My second child to go through Ethos and absolutely love it. The staff are attentive, friendly, kind…read moreand wonderful. They work really hard and have great programmes for the children; they make learning fun. My son absolutely loves Ethos. The fact that I can threaten him with "no daycare tomorrow" if he doesn't behave and it's the only thing that makes him behave, speaks volumes!!