Melissa Pitari, Center Director
Ages: 6 weeks to 6 years
Open:
Elementary Schools Bussed To:
Can provide Before/After school care, as long as family provide transportation to and from Knowledge Beginnings.
Our center is accredited by NAEYC.
Welcome to Westwood Knowledge Beginnings
Welcome to Westwood Knowledge Beginnings! We are located between Norwood and Dedham, MA, near Route 1. Our center has been proudly serving families and children since 1999. Our center provides a loving, safe, and structured learning environment for all students. Our highly recognized curriculum is designed using the latest research in early childhood education. We build a warm and welcoming environment for all students regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.
Meet Melissa Pitari, Our Center Director
At KinderCare Since: 2002
Favorite Children's Book: Goodnight Moon
Meet Melissa Pitari! Melissa is the Center Director at Westwood Knowledge Beginnings in Massachusetts. Melissa has been with KinderCare for twenty-one years, and was an assistant director before that. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys going to hockey games. Melissa's favorite quote is, "You don't have to be perfect to be AMAZING!"
AMERICA’S MOST ACCREDITED
We’re so proud!
Nationally only 10% of daycares are accredited - nearly 100% of our learning centers are. That’s a big difference, and that means KinderCare kids are getting the very best. Here’s why.
SCHOOL-READY
What Learning Looks Like
Our talented early-childhood teachers set kids down the path toward becoming lifelong learners in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment.
Westwood Knowledge Beginnings Programs
Infant Programs (6 weeks–1 year)
Leaving your baby in someone else’s care is a big step. Everyone at our centers—most importantly, our naturally gifted infant teachers—will work with you to make sure the transition goes smoothly. When you step into our infant classroom, you’ll see how much we want your infant to feel safe, loved, and ready to explore their world.
Toddler Programs (1–2 Years)
Everything in our toddler classroom is designed for little explorers. That’s because a lot is going on at this age. When your child is wandering all over the place, that means they’re learning and discovering new things every day. We’ll help them explore their interests (and find new ones!) as they play and learn.
Preschool Programs (3–4 Years)
This age is all about expression, when kids really start to form their own ideas about what they want to play and how they want to create. Every day in our preschool classroom, your child will explore science experiments, create artwork, and play pretend—all the skills needed for their big next step: kindergarten!
Prekindergarten Programs (4–5 Years)
When you walk into one of our pre-K classrooms, you’ll see artwork and writing displayed around the room. Labels are everywhere to help kids connect letters with words. You’ll also see pictures on the walls that reflect the families in our community. Your child will also deepen their knowledge in language, math, science, Spanish, and social skills.
Participating Child Care Aware Center
KinderCare partners with Child Care Aware® of America to offer fee assistance for Active Duty military families and flexible support to fit their needs when care at a Child Development Center on the installation is not available.
Learning Adventures - Enrichment Program
Cooking Academy™ (3 – 12 Years)
In Cooking Academy, kids learn new recipes from cultures around the world and develop a healthy relationship with food. They’ll whip up everything from Southwest rainbow lettuce wraps to pumpkin muffins, building their skills in STEM, communication, and more along the way. And yes—little chefs get to eat their culinary creations!
Music Explorers™ (2 – 4 Years)
KinderCare families are already giving a standing ovation to our newest Learning Adventures program: Music Explorers! Kids will learn to sing, move, listen, play instruments, and even create their own tunes. Our original curriculum blends math, science, social studies, literacy, and mindfulness (think yoga!) for a uniquely KinderCare way of learning the foundations of music.
Phonics Adventures® (2 – 4 Years)
Learning how to read is a whole lot of fun at KinderCare! We help kids grow to love books and words (and get ready for kindergarten) in our Phonics Adventures program. From discovering the basics of vowels to practicing poetry, kids learn all about letters and sounds in small-group lessons made just for their age group. (Bonus: Kids who attend our phonics program are more prepared than their peers for school—and we have the data to prove it.)
STEM Innovators (3-8 Years)
You’ve probably heard a lot about how important STEM education is for your child, but what does that really mean? Our STEM Innovators program takes kids’ natural ability to make sense of the world and applies it to robotics, chemistry, coding, geology, and more. While your child experiments, they’ll discover how to use technology to do amazing things!
Our Teachers
We're the only company in early childhood education to select teachers based on natural talent. Being a great educator isn't enough though. KinderCare teachers are also amazing listeners, nurturers, boo-boo fixers, and smile-makers. Put more simply, we love our teachers and your child will, too.
Meet just a few of our amazing KinderCare teachers!
A KINDERCARE TEACHER WITH
An Artist's Heart
"My classroom is full of art!” says Mary Annthipie-Bane, an award-winning early childhood educator at KinderCare. Art and creative expression, she says, help children discover who they really are.
We put our best-in-class teachers in a best-in-class workplace. We're so proud to have been named one of Gallup's 37 winners of the Great Workplace Award. When you put great teachers in an engaging center, your children will experience an amazing place to learn and grow.
Family Stories
Don't take our word for it. Hear what our families have to say about our amazing center!
-
“
I have had two kids (one has "graduated") go through Knowledge Beginnings. My oldest is now thriving in Kindergarten thanks to the great foundational learning she received, and my youngest has been there since she was a newborn. She loves her teachers! I would recommend the school to anyone!
”Jen M. - KinderCare Parent
-
“
Our two children have been part of the Knowledge Beginnings family for the past four years. During that time, they’ve had the opportunity to experience each classroom, from Infants all the way through to the Prekindergarten class. The staff is fantastic and offers just the right mix of love, caring, discipline and FUN! When I enter the center, I always find my children laughing and enjoying themselves, their friends and their teachers and the teachers always look happy to be there too. Knowledge Beginnings has been an extension of our family for quite a while and my husband and I feel very strongly that we made a great decision in partnering with them.
”Heather and Charlie - KinderCare Parent
-
“
We love Knowledge Beginnings! When struggling with the decision to go back to work after having a child, the staff at Knowledge Beginnings made me feel confident that my child was being cared for and loved just as much as she would be at home.
”Meg - KinderCare Parent
-
“
I have two children, ages 4.5 and 16 months, who have both attended the Westwood Knowledge Beginnings since they were 3 months old. It has been a great experience for them overall. Our girls have thrived in that environment, much due to the nurturing staff and just the right balance of academic focus and self-directed play. Our eldest child is quite prepared for kindergarten at this point but still has another year before she starts in public school!
The staff is quite experienced, many of them having worked at the center for 5+ years and who also bring their own children to the location. Maryellen and Stacey, the Director and Associate Director respectively, are attentive to the needs of the children and their families while continuously guiding the staff toward excellence; recently demonstrated through achieving National accreditation.
Some perceived drawbacks to this center might be: the location - Rt 1 can be quite busy and the parking lot is not huge, but the location was quite convenient for us and we've rarely had a problem with parking. Snacks are provided but lunches are not included in the cost of tuition- this suits our picky eaters! And the center has recently partnered with a company called Smart Lunches to provide meals for purchase.
We absolutely recommend this center to families seeking a caring place where their children will blossom and grow.”Darcy R. - KinderCare Parent
Who Are KinderCare Families?
They hail from hundreds of cities across the country from countless backgrounds, and proudly represent every walk in life. What our families have in common, though, is the want to give their children the best start in life. We are so proud to be their partner in parenting.
Hear from just a few of our amazing KinderCare families.
A Globe-Trotting Family Finds A
Home in Houston
Four young children, four different passports, two languages, two full-time jobs…oh, and a few triathlons thrown in for good measure. Meet the globe-trotting Colettas—a family on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What accreditations does KinderCare have?
We are your trusted caregiver. Our centers are state-licensed and regularly inspected to make sure everything meets or exceeds standards, including child-to-teacher ratios and safe facilities. Our centers aren’t just licensed—most are accredited, too! Find out more.
Do you offer part-time schedules at Westwood Knowledge Beginnings?
Everybody’s schedule is different. We’re happy to offer quality, affordable part-time and full-time childcare. Drop-in care may also be available. Reach out to your Center Director to learn more.
How does naptime work at Westwood Knowledge Beginnings?
Our teachers meet every child’s needs during naptime. Our teachers know how to get babies to nap. In fact, they are pros at getting children of any age to nap. Visit our article on "10 Ways We Help Kids Get a Great Daycare Nap" to learn more.
Do you support alternative diets?
We strive to be as inclusive as possible. To that point, we provide a vegetarian option at mealtime, take care to not serve common allergens and can adapt menus based on your child’s food sensitivities. If your child has additional needs, we’ll work with you to figure out a plan.
Are meals included in tuition? Can I choose to send my child with lunch?
We provide nutritious meals and snacks developed by a registered dietician to meet the needs of rapidly growing bodies and minds. If your child has special dietary requirements and you would prefer to bring in their lunch, please make arrangements with the center director.
Does my child need to be potty-trained?
Every child begins toilet learning at a different age. Until your child shows an interest in toilet learning, we’ll provide diaper changes on an as-needed basis. When your child shows an interest, we'll discuss how to work together to encourage toilet learning.