Take the survey to see 3 daycares that match your preferences, timeline, and what matters most to you. It’s free for parents & takes 5 minutes.Take the 5-minute survey to see 3 daycares that match your preferences & timeline.

Ms. Dottie

Dottie's Family Child Care

Licensed home daycare

Dorchester, MA

7am–5pm, M - F

Enriched care for childrens' unique personalities

Great for parents who want...

Each daycare has its own approach and specialties based on the provider’s expertise. Take the survey to see daycares that match your preferences and work best for you.Each daycare has its own approach & specialties. Take the survey to see 3 good matches for you.

A Few Favorite Activities

Activities are designed to help children develop social, emotional and cognitive skills as they sing, dance, play, and learn in a small group setting.

Music

Arts & crafts

Reading time

Gross motor skills development

Sensory play

Seasonal activities

Circle time

Outdoor play

Activities are designed to help children develop social, emotional and cognitive skills as they sing, dance, play, and learn in a small group setting.

Each program is led by a licensed child care professional. While they each have their own expertise and approach, they all share a genuine love for educating and helping young children grow & thrive. Being licensed also means they have done a series of state-required trainings and they’ve passed a government background check.

About the Provider

Licensed Family Child Care Educator

License #9028378

Education

Graduate Degree - 2016
Early Childhood @ Cambridge College
Professional Certificate - 2015
CDA

Licensing Requirements

Background record checked
Government-level CORI, SORI, and fingerprinting
Home inspected for child safety
Thorough assessment by a licensor from the EEC
Health & safety training
Includes annual professional development hours

Q&A with Ms. Dottie

Tell us about your experience working with young children?

I've been working with families and children for more than 15 years and have run my own program for more than a decade. I am committed to creating an enriching environment that fosters the growth of all children. Through my formal education and ongoing training, I am able to support each child's unique personality and development. I believe in providing outstanding service, and I cherish the relationships that I build with all of the children and families in our care.

What are the key areas of focus at your daycare?

Children learn best by doing, and each day, we give them new opportunities to explore, learn, and grow. We partner with Funshine Express to apply a curriculum that meets the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive needs of children at every age, and we help children to thrive with compassion and understanding. We recently added a new partnership with our local library, and twice a month, our local librarian comes to Dottie's Family Child Care to lead story time!

Can you tell us a bit about your home environment?

Our brightly painted classroom includes separate areas for eating and playing. The walls are covered with lots of fun posters, and there's even a giant mural of a waterfall. When we're not in the classroom, we often walk to a nearby playground to make sure everyone gets some fresh air.

Think Ms. Dottie might be a good fit?

Find out if she has a spot for you. It’s 100% free and takes just 5 minutes.

“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”

~ Maya Angelou

Reviews & References

Here’s the inside scoop from other parents that have worked with Ms. Dottie.

Resinette

As a mother I was worried to put my daughter to any daycare, but when she was about to turn one years old amazingly one day I met a woman while getting coffee who told me about Dorothy's child care. She told me her friend had her son at Dorothy's program and was really happy. I contacted Ms. Dorothy - she was very nice, and when I visited the daycare I was speechless. It's very nice and clean. My daughter has been going there since - she enjoys going there, and she learns so much and plays there every day. She even says "Mommy, I want to go to Ms. Dorothy's" even on the weekends! I appreciate everything Ms. Dorothy does for her and I thank her everyday when picking up my daughter. To describe her in one word, Ms. Dorothy is wonderful!

Amber

As a kindergarten teacher, it was important to me to find a place for my daughter, Sofi, that would not only give her the love and care that she needs but also focus on her development. Dottie overdelivers on both! She is such a kind person, who treats all of the children with great respect and values their thoughts and opinions, and her amazing education background fuels a strong curriculum. Now that Sofi is two, she comes home each day and shares all of the fun adventures she's had at Miss Dottie's.

Cherish

I was so impressed by everything that my son, Eddie, learned from Dottie that there was no question in my mind where Melvin would go once he was born... Miss Dottie's! She recognizes that each child is unique, and she pays close attention to their individual needs. She's constantly sharing ideas to help each child develop to their full potential, and she sends formal progress reports each month. Both my boys adore her, and I am so grateful to have her as a partner to help them grow.

Christina

This is the first school my twins have been to and it is a perfect fit. They are Covid babies so going to school was a big deal for them. Mrs. Dottie and her staff are loving and kind. They love these kids and take good care of them.

Rates & Openings

Daycare rates depend on how old your child will be and what your schedule looks like. 5 days / week might get a slight discount, and infant rates are usually more than toddlers’. Finding a spot also depends on age and schedule because each daycare has a limited number of openings for each age range.

to see if Ms. Dottie has a spot for you.

Select an age range to get an estimate:

Location

Ms. Dottie’s NeighborSchool8 Gaston Street Dorchester, MA 02121(781) 661-5937(781) 661-5937

There are 2 home daycares in Nubian Square. Most care for 6 to 10 children and take both infants and toddlers. All home daycares are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care, just like preschool centers.

Let’s find a really good daycare for you

Get your own recommendations based on your preferences, daily routine, and what matters most to you.

FAQs

Your family is unique to you, but some of your questions might not be. 😉 Here’s what most parents want to know when starting out.

What is NeighborSchools?

Hey there, nice to meet you 👋 We’re a new-ish startup that helps new-ish parents find daycare.

We know how hard finding good child care can be - especially for first-time parents. But really good care is what gives you the peace of mind to go back to work and feel confident that your child is getting the stimulation, socialization, and support they need to learn and grow.

So we created NeighborSchools to make this piece of parenthood a whole lot easier. We say “easier” because, let’s be honest, it’s still a big thing to figure out, but working together we can help you find some good options, understand the whole process, and choose a program you’ll feel really good about.

How’s it work?

Most first-time parents don’t know exactly what they’re looking for, so we created a simple survey that will ask you questions about your lifestyle, your daily routines, and your preferences for child care. We’ll then share 3 personalized recommendations that we think might be a good fit. We’ll also give you a timeline that maps out when we would suggest you start touring programs, choose a daycare, and pay a deposit to secure a spot. Your timeline is based on when you want to start care - so you set the pace, and you decide when you’ve found the right match.

Is there a cost?

Nope. Our daycare recommendation service is free for parents. The other half of our business is helping these small-scale daycares with software and services that handle all their administrative tasks, like online contracting, payment processing, and licensing requirements. Before NeighborSchools, services like these were only designed for large corporate child care centers, and part of our mission is to level the playing field for small, independent child care programs. That’s why we picked the name NeighborSchools - we’re all about making child care more personal, more human, and more equitable for the incredible individuals who do this work and care for our children.

How do I know if I’m ready to take the survey?

Generally, if you’re here, you’re ready. The survey lets us give you 3 recommendations to consider, but it’ll also help you better understand what factors to consider, and what questions to be asking right now. It’s simple things like where you live, your child’s date of birth, when you want to start care, and if you have any preferences around program philosophy or language of instruction. If you’re planning 6+ months ahead, it’s a great way to get started, and if you’re hoping to start daycare in the next 2-4 months, it’s definitely time to get started. Click here to start the survey.

How do I know if a daycare has openings?

Each program has a limited number of spots for each age range, so we need to know your schedule and child’s age before we can share availability. The survey covers these basics, as well as factors like drop-off and pick-up times to make sure that recommended programs fit your daily routine. Once we know your child’s age and schedule we can share rates and costs as well.