Learn About Bright Horizons Daycare

Teacher in mask at daycare with young toddler | Bright Horizons health and safety

Bright Horizons is More Than Daycare

Early Education & Preschool That's More Than Daycare

As you’re searching for a daycare provider, you’ll encounter a great many options and a wide range of approaches. When you want to be sure that your child is prepared academically, socially and physically for the first few years of school, choosing a daycare that’s focused on early education is a smart bet. To learn more about why Bright Horizons is more than just daycare, search by zip to schedule a Zoom meeting at a center near you!

The Bright Horizons® Difference

We offer a unique early education experience built on 30 years of expertise, and on what working families have told us they want and need for their children...and for themselves. Child care and early education isn’t just what we do – it’s who we are. 
preschool teacher at Bright Horizons

Inspired Teachers

     Dedicated early childhood professionals fully engaged in teaching careers, who benefit from our award-winning training and ongoing support. 

Working mom doing daycare pick-up at Bright Horizons preschool

Support for the Whole Family

     Thoughtfully and carefully designed centers, programs, and schedules – all created with the needs of both children and parents in mind. 

Preschool curriculum activity of boy working on STEM project at Bright Horizons

Proven Approach to Early Education

Research-informed care designed by caring, nurturing educators to inspire our youngest learners to become joyful, confident learners for life.

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What You Need to Know About Daycare

What daycare programs does Bright Horizons have?

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Our early education programs offer more than daycare. Our goal is not just to help children learn, but to cultivate the joy of learning. We are currently enrolling families in our:

  • Preschool program: Our preschool classes are designed to prepare children for kindergarten and all the big steps ahead, supporting inquisitive young minds as they tackle new challenges, take chances, and experiment with new things.
  • Pre-Kindergarten: Our kindergarten preparation programs support children during a time of enormous and exciting growth, building the academic, social, and physical skills that will get them ready for school.
  • Summer camp: Through Summer Explorations at Bright Horizons®, your child will have the opportunity to enjoy everything summer has to offer.
 

How does a parent compare daycare programs?

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Advice from other parents, web searches through search engines, or online web portals from state or local governments can provide lists of daycares to consider. For a parent whose company provides on-site child care, back-up care or summer camp as a benefit, the human resources department will be able to provide information. If your company provides a daycare benefit through Bright Horizons, please log into your account to access your benefits. If your company does not provide this benefit, search by zip to find a Bright Horizons center near you.

Can a parent drop into a daycare without an appointment?

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No. A parent should schedule an appointment if they want to visit a daycare . No parent would want any adult to be able to enter the facility without warning, and thus daycare facilities should require an appointment. At Bright Horizons, we offer Zoom and in-person visits so we can understand what your family needs for child care, including when you would start your first day of child care, what your schedule would be and how old your child is. We also want to allow ample time for you to ask questions about our early education and preschool programs.

Does Bright Horizons have a daycare waitlist? What do I do if I want to enroll in a program and space is not available?

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Depending on where you live, age of your child, and schedule you need for care, you may see daycare waitlists. You can select and register with up to three Bright Horizons child care locations, including the center in which you are most interested. By registering, you are confirming interest in all three centers. Once registered, we will add you to our waitlist and offer you a space as soon as one becomes available. Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows, and so during the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status. While waiting for a space to become available at the first-choice location, many families enroll at their second or third choices temporarily until space becomes available at their first-choice centers. Enrolling at another location will not only solve your immediate child care needs, but will provide you priority access to your first preference.

Is it safe to send my child to daycare?

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Ask each child care provider you're considering to take the time to explain all health and safety policies to you. Consider asking:

1. How will you contact me if my child gets sick at daycare?

2. Can a mildly ill child (stuffy nose, cough) still come to daycare?

3. How do you decide if a child needs emergency medical care?

4. Are daycare staff trained in first aid and CPR?

5. How do you approach wellness, exercise, healthy eating and self-care for children?

Bright Horizons is trusted by parents including many doctors and nurses, to care for their children. We’ve partnered with pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Kristin Moffitt of Boston Children’s Hospital to implement enhanced safety protocols for all areas including daily health screening, distancing, cleaning, and disinfecting. Our goal is to ensure that all of our health and safety practices in every center are in line with recommendations provided by the CDC and requirements of state and local municipalities. All Bright Horizons centers have the well-being of children, families, and staff at their core.

What about licensing inspections?

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A parent may review the licensing data for any given facility through an online web portal. Any recent violations should be reviewed by the parent, as the violations often include valuable information about the facility.

Are there specific philosophies in daycare?

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Different daycare programs have different ideas about how a child should grow. A parent should familiarize themselves with the early childhood learning philosophies a daycare uses before entrusting a child to that facility. Learn more about what makes the Bright Horizons curriculum different in its approach to support early learning and the support Bright Horizons provides to working parents and daycare teachers.

Are lower child to teacher ratios always better?

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The ideal child to caregiver ratio changes as children grow. An infant needs a lot of attention to thrive, whereas a preschooler needs more freedom to explore. Child-to-teacher ratios may differ from state-to-state. 

How can I compare daycare costs?
 

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Daycare costs will depend upon on your child’s age when they begin care as well as the center location where you'd like to attend. To get a customized tuition quote for Bright Horizons, we will set up a Zoom or in-person meeting with you to discuss your family’s needs and calculate what tuition would look like for you.

Child Care Checklist

Comparing different care options? Print out our checklist to make it easy to make comparisons and choose the best care for your family.

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Get Started Today

Find a center near you to get started with Bright Horizons

Or call us to start the conversation 877-624-4532

Bright Horizons is a United States–based child-care provider and is the largest provider of employer-sponsored child care. Employees looking to become a child care teacher are offered the opportunity to earn an early education degree for free as part of their corporate benefits. Search by zip to find a child care center near you. Bright Horizons Global Headquarters are in Newton, Massachusetts, USA.