Welcome to Kids & Company Braintree 1, formerly a Hugs Plus Learning Center. We offer full and part time programs for children ranging from five to six years catering to our Kindergaten Prepatory program. Our center has 1 classroom that can accommodate 30 children. We have an outdoor play space as well as on-site parking available to our families, making for easy drop-offs and pick-ups. All entrances are electronically secured and monitored and each family in our care is provided with an individual entry passcode. All classroom are also equipped with security cameras and intercom systems for added security and peace of mind for our children and families.
Our centre will soon be offering an optional Kidco Kitchen meal service so that our families may choose to opt-in and recieve nutricious catered lunch and snacks each day.
Our unique curriculum and emergent approach to learning and discovery, puts children at the centre of everything we do. The learning opportunities presented to them are a direct result of their individual interests and skills. Our children are immersed in experiences that enhance language, literacy, a sense of music and rhythm, and socialization so that they may develop independence, confidence and a positive sense of self and the world around them.
My name is Diane Barese, and I am the Center Director of Braintree 1. I received a BS in Elementary Ed from Bridgewater State, and a MEd in ECE from Lesley University. I started with Kids & Company in 2022 and have worked in the child care field for over 30 years. As an early childhood educator and administrator, I am given the opportunity to inspire our youngest learners and help families understand their child’s development. I am passionate about the role that I play in providing quality care and education to our youngest learners, giving them opportunities and the tools to develop strong self-esteem, problem-solving skills, and independence. My favorite thing about working at Kids & Company is their strong belief in a developmentally appropriate, emergent curriculum; providing children with choices and experiences that encourage learning through play. Our center has been a part of the town of Braintree since 1984. It has a strong reputation in the community as a learning center that provides quality education and care.
Kids & Company’s Infant program welcomes newborns up to roughly 18 months. Infants learn about the world around them through their senses, so exploration is critical to their development. Nurturing educators support the children while they take in their surroundings, encouraging them to experience everything the classroom offers; be it creative art, exploring with blocks, listening to songs or engaging in story-time. Our infant program encourages children to follow their own established routines, while becoming comfortable and secure in a new group setting.
Kids & Company’s Toddler program is for children between the ages of roughly 18 months and 2.5 years. Toddlers are mobile and eager to explore their environment. As they strive for independence, our educators use an Emergent curriculum approach to learning that supports each child’s individuality. Some of the most important learning outcomes of our toddler program are language development, socialization, self-help skills, and the development of fine and gross motor skills.
Kids & Company’s Preschool program is designed for children between the ages of roughly 2.5 - 5 years. Our educators interact, observe and interpret the interests of our children to encourage discoveries. Our Preschool program provides a foundation for developing greater independence and problem-solving skills; the program integrates new concepts into our children’s world view, promotes sharing and mutual respect, and prepares them for Kindergarten.
