Casa Esme
Family Child Care
Casa Esme’s story began in 2000 as a family child care program rooted in warmth, trust, and personalized attention. Over the past 26 years, our program has grown into a thriving bilingual early education community, while always staying connected to the values that started it all. Today, Esme has returned to her roots by personally leading our Family Child Care program, bringing her decades of experience, nurturing presence, and deep commitment to each child’s early years.
Mission
Casa Esme is a safe and caring bilingual (Spanish immersion) family child care program where children learn through play, routines, and relationships in a home-like setting. Casa Esme is operated by Esmeralda Perkell, an experienced educator who has provided licensed family child care in Massachusetts since November 2001. She has a BA in Psychology from UNI in Managua, Nicaragua, and an associate’s degree with Honors in Early Childhood Education from Urban College of Boston.
Casa Esme is also a smoke free/drug free environment.
Vision
Casa Esme is committed to the same qualities that families value in home-based care: a loving and supportive team, Spanish immersion learning, mixed-age play, structured curriculum, activities for school readiness, and an environment that supports independent learning and creative exploration. Most importantly, we want children to enjoy coming to care and to build positive friendships. Casa Esme enrolls up to 10 children, consistent with Massachusetts Family Child Care regulations and the ages of children enrolled.
Learning at Casa Esme
We do all activities and speak to the children almost entirely in Spanish throughout the day. There are two organized circle times (curriculum periods) every day. The children sit on their chairs or at the play table and have an activity in art, music, drama, science (facts about animals, water play), cooking, numbers, making things with their hands, using child scissors, storytelling in English and Spanish, playing with blocks or with dolls.
The children learn counting, colors, foods and animal names in Spanish. Early childhood education curriculum materials are provided for many of the activities. We also sing and dance together every day. The children play outside in our fenced in backyard play area twice a day, all year long, weather permitting; and go to Magnolia Park 3 blocks away for playground and picnics.
There are no TVs in Casa Esme program areas during care hours. Educators may use tablets for attendance, documentation, and lesson planning.
Enrichment Programs at Casa Esme
Casa Esme believes in enrichment experiences that support children’s development. From time to time, we may offer enrichment activities (e.g., music, movement/yoga, or sports-based play) that are appropriate for the ages and needs of the children enrolled. Any visiting activity leader or service provider is subject to the same standards, supervision, and safety requirements that apply to Casa Esme staff.
When enrichment activities are offered, they will be communicated to families in advance. Fees (if any) will be disclosed in writing; otherwise, enrichment activities are included as part of tuition.
Special Needs
The early years are often the time when children’s special needs are identified. Casa Esme recognizes that appropriate supports can address a child’s development and learning. We will work diligently to meet the individual needs of every child, within the established framework of the licensed child care ratios and program design.
In the event that a child’s needs determine that an alternative learning environment would better support the family, we will compassionately advocate for and partner with the parents to ensure this successful transition.