Every child is a blessing
Not a diagnosis, not a behavior plan, not a file. A child — with a sense of humor, favorite things, and a way of seeing the world worth knowing.
City of Blessing • Home Based Daycare • New York City
Every Child is a Blessing.
A licensed home-based daycare offering compassionate, structured care and specialized autism support — small groups, flexible hours, and caregivers who know your child by name.
Welcome
Care that starts with knowing your child
City of Blessing is a home-based daycare, and that shapes everything about the day. Children arrive to a familiar room, a familiar face, and a group small enough that nobody gets lost in it. We know which child needs a slow start in the morning, which one will eat lunch only if the plate is set up a certain way, and which one is finally, this week, asking a friend to play.
We welcome children with autism and other developmental differences alongside every other child in our care. Support here isn't a separate track — it's built into how the whole day runs, so that every child is included in the same activities, adapted to what they actually need.
Our Services
What we offer
★
Autism Support & Behavioral Guidance
Individualized strategies, visual supports, and calm, consistent responses from adults who understand behavior as communication.
●
Community Habilitation
Skill-building in real settings — the store, the park, the sidewalk — so what a child learns actually travels home with them.
✦
Life Skills Development
Dressing, handwashing, mealtimes, cleanup, and the everyday independence that builds real confidence.
■
Structured Learning
Predictable routines, visual schedules, and hands-on early learning at each child's own pace.
❤
Safe, Nurturing Environment
A clean, childproofed home setting with constant supervision and caregivers trained in CPR and first aid.
☼
Sensory Programming
Daily sensory play plus quiet spaces for breaks — two sides of the same idea, available to every child.
Why families choose us
Compassionate • Structured • Growth
Why Choose Us?
- Licensed child care provider
- Behavior tech support on site
- CPR certified
- First aid trained
- Genuinely passionate about children with autism
What families tell us matters most
- Their child is greeted by name every single morning
- Nothing is one-size-fits-all — the day bends to the child
- They hear what actually happened, not a generic daily sheet
- Progress gets noticed and celebrated, however small
Flexible HoursSchedules built to fit how your family really works.
Small Groups, Big ImpactFewer children means more attention for each one.
Safe & Reliable CareConsistent caregivers, consistent routines, every day.
❤ Empowering children with autism to reach their full potential.
Building brighter futures for New York City's children — one small, well-known group at a time.
Come see it for yourself
Tours are welcome during the day, when the rooms are full and busy. That's when you learn the most.
Who we are
About City of Blessing
A home-based daycare built around one belief — every child is a blessing, and every child deserves care shaped to who they actually are.
Our story
Why we started
City of Blessing began the way a lot of good programs do — with families who couldn't find what they needed. Parents of children with autism told the same story again and again: their child was welcome somewhere until the first hard day, and then the phone calls started. Somewhere else had a waitlist measured in years. Somewhere else had thirty children in a room and no one who knew how to help theirs.
We opened as a home-based program on purpose. A smaller setting means a child can be known rather than managed, and it means a caregiver has time to sit on the floor with one child for ten minutes without the rest of the room falling apart. That's not a limitation of home-based care. It's the whole point of it.
What we believe
Our values
Behavior is communication
When a child melts down, climbs, bolts, or shuts down, they are telling us something. Our first question is always what, not how do we stop it.
Structure is kindness
Predictable days lower anxiety. Children who know what comes next spend their energy on playing and learning instead of bracing.
Families are partners
You know your child better than we ever will. We ask, we listen, and we use what already works at home.
Small is powerful
Low numbers aren't a marketing line here — they're the reason individualized care is actually possible.
Progress over perfection
A first independent handwash. A first shared toy. We measure the week by those, not by a checklist.
Our team
Who cares for your child
Our caregivers are trained in early childhood care and in supporting children with autism and developmental differences, with behavior tech support on site. Everyone who works with children here is CPR certified, first aid trained, and cleared through required background screening before they ever start.
Training our staff keeps current
- CPR and pediatric first aid
- Autism support strategies and positive behavior guidance
- Recognizing and reporting child abuse and maltreatment
- Health, safety, sanitation, and medication administration procedures
- Supporting communication systems — picture cards, signs, and devices
Owner and staff biographies: add names, credentials, and years of experience
The details
Licensing & location
Licensing
City of Blessing is a licensed child care provider. License type and number: add license type & number. Regulating agency: add agency.
Where we are
We serve families across New York City from our home-based program at add street address & borough. Nearest transit: add subway / bus lines.
Meet us in person
The best way to understand a home-based program is to stand in it. Come by and see how the day runs.
What we provide
Our Services
Compassionate care, structured learning, and specialized autism support — delivered in one small, consistent setting rather than scattered across five places.
Everything below happens in the same room, with the same caregivers, across the same day. That continuity is the service. A child who works on saying more at snack practices it again at the art table an hour later, with an adult who remembers what happened at snack.
Service 1
Autism Support & Behavioral Guidance
Support that's specific to your child, not to a category. We start by learning what sets your child off, what settles them, how they ask for things, and what they love — then build the day around that.
- Visual schedules, first/then cards, and timers to make the day predictable
- Calm, consistent adult responses, so a hard moment doesn't escalate
- Positive behavior guidance: teaching the skill that replaces the behavior
- Sensory breaks offered before a child reaches their limit, not after
- Behavior tech support on site, and coordination with your child's outside team
We are a child care program, not a clinical or therapy provider. We reinforce the strategies your therapists use — we don't replace them.
Service 2
Community Habilitation
Skills only stick when they're practiced where they're used. Community habilitation takes learning out of the room and into the places a child actually has to manage — a sidewalk, a checkout line, a waiting room, a playground full of other children.
- Safety skills: holding a hand, waiting at the corner, staying with the group
- Community outings scaled to what each child can handle that day
- Practicing greetings, requests, and waiting in real situations
- Building tolerance for noise, crowds, and lines in small, planned doses
- Notes home so the same steps can be repeated on your own errands
Availability, eligibility, and funding for community habilitation: confirm approved services & funding sources
Service 3
Life Skills Development
Independence is built out of very small pieces, practiced daily and without rush: pulling up a zipper, carrying a plate, washing hands without a reminder, putting one toy away before taking out another.
- Self-care: handwashing, toileting support, dressing, and tidying up
- Mealtime skills, including gentle, no-pressure exposure to new foods
- Following two- and three-step directions with visual backup
- Classroom jobs that give each child something the group depends on
- Task steps broken down and taught one piece at a time
Service 4
Structured Learning
Early learning here is hands-on and play-based, wrapped in a routine that doesn't change from day to day. Children can predict the shape of the morning, which frees them up to actually learn inside it.
- Circle time, small-group activities, and open choice at learning centers
- Early literacy: books read aloud daily, rhymes, songs, and letter play
- Early math: counting, sorting, patterns, shapes, and comparing sizes
- Fine-motor work that leads toward writing
- Individual goals tracked quietly, shared with families regularly
Service 5
Safe, Nurturing Environment
Everything above depends on a child feeling safe enough to try things. That means a clean, childproofed space, adults within sight and sound at all times, and a group small enough that no child slips out of anyone's attention.
- Constant supervision with low child-to-caregiver numbers
- Childproofed home setting, checked daily
- Secure arrival and pickup, with authorized-adult verification
- Allergy and medication procedures followed exactly as written
- Emergency drills practiced with the children, calmly and regularly
Which services fit your child?
Tell us a little about your child and we'll walk you through what their day here would look like.
Specialized support
Autism & Special Needs Care
Loving, individualized care for children with autism and other developmental differences — and real support for the families raising them.
Many families come to us after a hard experience somewhere else. A program that said yes at enrollment and changed its mind after the first difficult week. A room that was too loud, too fast, and too full. A caregiver who meant well but had no idea what to do when a child bolted or stopped speaking.
We built this program for those children first. Autism support isn't an add-on service we offer — it's the design of our day. Which means we are not surprised by a hard morning, and we don't call you to come get your child because they had one.
How we work
Support that fits one child
We start by listening
Before a first day, we sit down with you: what calms your child, what sets them off, how they ask for things, what they love, and what has already been tried.
Predictable structure
Visual schedules, consistent routines, and advance warning before anything changes — the single most effective anxiety reducer we know.
Communication, any form
Speech, signs, picture cards, devices, gestures, leading us by the hand. We use whatever system your child already has and stay consistent with it.
Sensory-aware environment
Softer lighting, managed noise, and a calm space available all day — offered before a child hits their limit.
Positive behavior guidance
We keep everyone safe, stay calm, and teach the skill that replaces the behavior. We don't shame children or use isolation as discipline.
Real inclusion
Your child joins the same activities as everyone else. We adapt the activity, not the child's right to be in it.
Working together
We stay in step with your child's team
If your child receives Early Intervention, preschool special education (CPSE) services, ABA, speech, occupational, or physical therapy, tell us. With your written permission we'll coordinate with those providers so the prompts, words, and strategies used here match the ones used everywhere else. Consistency across settings is what makes a skill stick.
Helpful things to share with us
- Current IFSP or IEP goals, if your child has one
- The exact words, signs, or picture cards your child already uses
- Known sensory triggers and known sensory comforts
- Early warning signs that your child is becoming overwhelmed
- What actually helps them recover — and what makes it worse
- Allergies, dietary needs, medications, and seizure or medical plans
Being straight with you
What we are and aren't
What we are
- A licensed child care program with specialized autism experience
- A consistent, structured daily environment
- A partner that reinforces your child's therapy goals
- A place where a hard day is expected, not punished
What we aren't
- A clinical, medical, or therapy provider
- A replacement for ABA, speech, OT, or PT services
- A diagnostic service — we don't evaluate or diagnose
- A program that can meet every need; we'll tell you honestly if we're not the right fit
Children do not need a diagnosis to enroll, and a diagnosis alone doesn't determine what support we offer. What matters is what your individual child needs.
Let's talk about your child
Bring your questions, your concerns, and the things that didn't work elsewhere. We want to hear all of it.
Seven ways we build the day
Sensory Activities
Every child in our care moves through these seven areas each day — play that engages the senses, spaces that quiet them, and routines that make the whole thing predictable.
1
Sensory Play & Exploration
Textures, colors, sounds, movement, and sensory-friendly materials.
2
Calm & Sensory Spaces
Quiet time, sensory breaks, and reduced stimulation on demand.
3
Communication-Building
Expressing needs, making choices, interacting, building confidence.
4
Social & Emotional
Sharing, turn-taking, recognizing emotions, positive relationships.
5
Creative Arts & Music
Painting, crafts, rhythm, movement, and self-expression.
6
Motor-Skills Activities
Balance, coordination, movement, and fine-motor development.
7
Structured Daily Routines
Predictable schedules, visual cues, and gentle transitions.
One
Sensory Play & Exploration
Hands-on activities using textures, colors, sounds, movement, and sensory-friendly materials — because young children learn about the world with their whole bodies before they learn about it with words.
Sensory play is how a child figures out that sand pours and clay holds its shape, that a bell rings and a drum thumps, that cold water feels different on fingertips than warm water does. Every scoop, squeeze, and splash is building the brain connections that later support reading, math, and problem-solving.
Our caregivers set up sensory stations throughout the day and let children come to them at their own pace. Nothing is forced. A child who wants to watch from a few feet away for the first week is welcome to do exactly that, and a child who wants to spend forty minutes at the water table is welcome to do that too.
What this looks like in our rooms
- Water play, ice, bubbles, and pouring stations with cups, funnels, and scoops
- Sand, rice, dry pasta, and shredded-paper bins with hidden objects to dig out
- Play dough, clay, kinetic sand, and taste-safe doughs for our youngest children
- Texture boards and fabric baskets — smooth, bumpy, fuzzy, sticky, rough
- Light play with color paddles, flashlights, shadows, and light tables
- Sound exploration with shakers, chimes, drums, and everyday kitchen objects
- Nature trays that change with the season: leaves, pinecones, shells, snow
Sensory-friendly by design
We keep alternatives on hand for children who don't like getting their hands messy. Paint goes in a sealed zip bag, sand gets explored with a shovel instead of fingers, and gloves or brushes are always an option. Wanting to stay clean is a preference we respect, not a problem we try to fix. We also watch for the signs that a child has had enough — covering ears, backing away, getting suddenly wound up — and help them move to a quieter activity before they hit their limit.
What it supports
- Curiosity, focus, and the willingness to try something unfamiliar
- Fine-motor strength in the hands and fingers, which later supports writing
- Vocabulary — children pick up describing words fastest when they can feel what the word means
- Early science thinking: predicting, testing, and noticing what happened
- Self-regulation, as children learn which textures and sounds help them settle
Please let us know about any allergies, food sensitivities, or materials your child should avoid, and we'll plan around them.
Two
Calm & Sensory Spaces
Comfortable areas designed for children who need quiet time, sensory breaks, or reduced stimulation — always available, never used as punishment.
A busy room is wonderful until it isn't. Lights, voices, movement, and the general happy noise of a group of children can build up until a child needs somewhere softer to go. In our program, that place already exists and every child knows where it is.
This matters most in the moments before a meltdown rather than after one. When children can recognize “I need a break” and take one on their own, they spend far less of their day overwhelmed — and that skill stays with them long after they leave us.
What's in our calm spaces
- Soft seating: cushions, bean bags, mats, and a cozy corner with low light
- Weighted lap pads and blankets for children who find deep pressure settling
- Noise-reducing headphones and quiet fidget items
- Bubble tubes, light projectors, and other slow-moving visuals to watch
- A small basket of books and familiar comfort objects
- Visual cards showing simple calming steps — breathe, squeeze, rest, rejoin
- A clear view of the main room, so a child on a break never feels shut out
How children use it
Any child can ask for a break at any time, and our caregivers also offer one when they see a child starting to struggle. A break might last two minutes or twenty. When a child is ready, a caregiver walks back with them and helps them rejoin whatever's happening. We're clear with children and with families about what this space is not: it is not a time-out, not a consequence, and not a place we send children who are in trouble. Taking care of yourself is not a punishable offense.
Built into the whole day
Beyond the dedicated corner, we keep the overall environment manageable — warm lighting instead of harsh overheads where we can, soft materials that absorb sound, and predictable transitions that give children warning before the room changes gears. Quiet time is part of our daily schedule for everyone, not only for children who ask.
If your child has strategies that already work at home, tell us and we'll use the same ones. Consistency between home and care makes a real difference.
Three
Communication-Building Activities
Age-appropriate activities that encourage children to express their needs, make choices, interact, and build confidence — using whatever form of communication works for each child.
Communication is bigger than speech. A child who points at the shelf, hands you a picture card, signs more, pulls you toward the door, or says a full sentence is communicating, and all of it counts here. Our job is to notice the attempt, respond to it, and gently build on it.
Most of this happens inside ordinary moments rather than in a special lesson. Snack time, dress-up, block building, and the walk to the bathroom are all chances for a child to tell us something and be understood.
What this looks like in our rooms
- Offering real choices all day — this cup or that one, red paint or blue
- Picture cards and visual choice boards for children who point or select
- Simple signs like more, help, done, and eat, used by staff and children together
- Naming what children are doing as they do it, so words attach to real actions
- Reading aloud in small groups, with pauses for children to fill in words
- Songs and rhymes with repeating lines and hand motions
- Pretend play — kitchen, doctor, store — where talking has a purpose
- Waiting. Giving a child several unhurried seconds to answer before stepping in
Meeting each child where they are
A toddler working on first words and a four-year-old working on telling a story need very different support, and children who use a communication device, picture system, or sign language are fully included in group activities. We use whatever system a child already has and stay consistent with it. We also work alongside families and any specialists your child already sees — if your child is receiving speech or early intervention services, share the words, signs, or prompts being used and we'll reinforce the same ones here.
We're a child care program, not a clinical or therapy provider. We support your child's communication every day and are glad to work in step with any therapists involved.
Four
Social & Emotional Development
Guided play that encourages sharing, taking turns, recognizing emotions, and developing positive relationships.
Getting along with other people is a skill, and like any skill it has to be taught and practiced. Young children are not born knowing how to wait for a turn, read a friend's face, or recover from disappointment. They learn it in rooms like ours, with patient adults nearby.
Our approach is to coach in the moment rather than lecture afterward. When two children want the same truck, a caregiver kneels down with both of them, names what each one wants, and helps them find a way through. That's the lesson — repeated, patiently, hundreds of times.
What this looks like in our rooms
- Turn-taking games, simple board games, and shared building projects
- Feelings charts and face cards children use to show how their day is going
- Books about friendship, worry, anger, and change, with time to talk about them
- Pretend play that gives children roles and reasons to cooperate
- Morning greetings and a short circle time that builds the sense of a group
- Calm-down strategies taught before they're needed: breathing, counting, asking for space
- Coached problem-solving, with a caregiver guiding rather than deciding
- Classroom jobs that let each child contribute something the group depends on
How we handle hard moments
Big feelings are normal and we don't treat them as misbehavior. A child who is crying, hitting, or shutting down is telling us they're overwhelmed. We keep everyone safe, stay calm, and help the child settle before we talk about what happened. Our guidance is consistent and respectful: clear, simple expectations, plenty of specific praise for the things children get right, and natural consequences that make sense to a young child. We do not shame children or use isolation as a discipline strategy.
If something at home has your child off balance — a new baby, a move, a loss, a change in routine — let us know so we can give extra support that week.
Five
Creative Arts & Music
Painting, crafts, music, rhythm, movement, and other creative activities designed to encourage self-expression.
We care much more about what happens while a child is making something than about what it looks like when it's finished. The purple scribble, the tower of glued cardboard, the song made up on the spot — those are a child thinking out loud, and we treat them that way.
You'll notice we don't send home twenty identical crafts. When every child's project looks the same, an adult made most of the decisions. We'd rather your child made them.
What this looks like in our rooms
- An art area children can reach on their own — paper, crayons, markers, glue, scissors
- Painting with brushes, sponges, rollers, fingers, and rolling toy wheels
- Collage and building with recycled materials, fabric scraps, and natural objects
- Instruments children can play freely: drums, shakers, bells, xylophones, rhythm sticks
- Daily singing, clapping games, and call-and-response songs
- Music from many cultures, including the ones our families come from
- Dancing, scarves, ribbons, and freeze-dance games
- Puppets, dress-up, and acting out favorite stories
Comfortable for every child
Art and music can be loud and messy, so we keep the volume moderate, offer headphones when a group activity gets big, and always provide a mess-free option — painting inside a sealed bag, drawing instead of gluing, using a brush instead of fingers. Children can join a music circle from the edge of the rug or from a caregiver's lap.
We use washable, non-toxic, age-appropriate materials, and we're glad to substitute if your child has a skin sensitivity or allergy.
Six
Motor-Skills Activities
Indoor and outdoor activities supporting balance, coordination, movement, and fine-motor development.
Children need to move. Climbing, running, spinning, carrying heavy things, and hanging upside down aren't distractions from learning — they're a large part of how a young body builds strength, balance, and body awareness. We plan for real activity every single day, indoors when the New York weather doesn't cooperate.
Big-movement (gross motor)
- Outdoor play with running, climbing, and riding toys
- Indoor obstacle courses with tunnels, cushions, and tape lines
- Ball play — rolling, throwing, catching, kicking, target games
- Dancing, marching, animal walks, and movement songs
- Heavy work: carrying bins, pushing carts, pulling wagons
- Swinging, rocking, and spinning for children who seek that input
Small-movement (fine motor)
- Threading beads, lacing cards, and stringing pasta
- Tongs, tweezers, droppers, and squeeze bottles
- Puzzles, pegboards, stacking, and sorting
- Cutting with child-safe scissors and tearing paper
- Buttons, zippers, snaps, and self-dressing practice
- Scooping and pouring during snack and water play
Everyone included
Activities are adjusted so every child can take part. That might mean a seated version of a movement game, a wider balance path, a caregiver's hand for support, or extra time to finish. Children who use mobility equipment participate alongside everyone else — we adapt the activity, not the child.
Please send weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes your child can move in. We go outside whenever conditions allow.
Seven
Structured Daily Routines
Predictable schedules with visual cues and transitions to help children understand what comes next.
Children relax when they can predict their day. A child who knows that snack follows outdoor time, and that a book always comes before nap, spends far less energy bracing for the unknown — and has far more energy left for playing and learning. Our days follow the same shape from morning to pickup. The activities change; the rhythm doesn't.
The shape of a typical day
- Arrival and a warm greeting, with quiet activities while everyone gathers
- Morning circle: the day's plan, songs, and a look at the visual schedule
- Choice time at learning centers — art, blocks, books, sensory, pretend play
- Snack
- Outdoor or active indoor play
- Small-group activity and story time
- Lunch, then quiet time or nap
- Afternoon choice time, second snack, and outdoor play
- Wind-down and pickup, with a short update on the day for each family
Confirm this sequence against your actual daily schedule before publishing: verify daily routine & times
Making the schedule visible
The daily schedule is posted at child height as a strip of pictures, and children move a marker along as the day progresses. Children who benefit from extra structure can carry their own small version, or use a first/then card — first cleanup, then snack.
Transitions, handled gently
Stopping something enjoyable is one of the hardest parts of a young child's day, so we make the switch predictable. Caregivers give a warning a few minutes ahead, use the same clean-up song every time, and give children a job to do during the change. Children who need more time get more time.
When the routine has to change
A field trip, a substitute caregiver, a holiday, a fire drill — these happen. We tell children in advance whenever we can, walk through what will be different, and keep as much of the usual rhythm as possible. When we know ahead of time, we let families know too.
Ask us for a copy of your child's daily schedule. Using the same routine and language at home makes both places easier.
Keep reading
See a sensory station in action
Visit mid-morning and you'll catch the whole rhythm — play, break, snack, and the transition between them.
Who we care for
Programs & Age Groups
Care grouped by stage, not just by birthday — because a two-year-old who is still working on first words needs something different from a two-year-old who isn't.
Below is how we organize the day by age group. Because we're a home-based program, groups are small and children often move between activities based on readiness rather than strict age cutoffs.
| Program | Ages | Group size | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infants | confirm ages | confirm | Attachment, safe sleep, tummy time, responsive feeding, early sensory |
| Toddlers | confirm ages | confirm | First words and signs, movement, sensory play, beginning routines |
| Preschool | confirm ages | confirm | Early literacy and math, social skills, self-care, school readiness |
| School-age | confirm ages | confirm | Homework support, life skills, community outings, social clubs |
Fill in the age ranges and group sizes your license actually allows before this page goes live.
By stage
What each group's day looks like
Infants
Days follow your baby's rhythm, not ours. Feeding and sleeping on their own schedule, held and talked to constantly, with tummy time, soft textures, songs, and one-to-one attention. You get a written log of feeds, diapers, and naps every day.
Toddlers
Busy, physical, and full of first words. Lots of movement and sensory play, choices offered all day, simple signs used alongside speech, and gentle coaching through the sharing and big-feelings years.
Preschool
Circle time, learning centers, early literacy and math through play, classroom jobs, and the social practice that makes kindergarten far easier. Individual goals tracked and shared with families.
School-age
A calm landing spot after school: snack, a real break, homework support, life skills, and activities that respect that they've already had a long day of sitting still.
Across every group
Support isn't a separate program
Children with autism and other developmental differences are enrolled in the group that fits them and supported inside it. That means visual schedules, sensory breaks, communication supports, and adapted activities are available in every age group — not in a special room down the hall.
Small by designGroup sizes stay low so individualized support is actually possible.
Mixed readinessChildren join activities by what they're ready for, not only by age.
Same caregiversConsistent adults across the day, which matters most to the children who need it most.
Not sure which group fits?
Tell us your child's age and where they are right now. We'll tell you honestly what their day here would look like.
When we're open
Hours of Operation
Flexible hours built to fit how your family actually works — including schedules that don't line up with a standard nine-to-five.
| Day | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | open | close |
| Tuesday | open | close |
| Wednesday | open | close |
| Thursday | open | close |
| Friday | open | close |
| Saturday | open / closed | |
| Sunday | open / closed | |
Replace every yellow chip above with your real hours before publishing.
Scheduling options
Ways families enroll
Full-time
Five days a week, full day. confirm hours
Part-time
Set days each week, agreed in advance. confirm minimum days
Before & after school
For school-age children. confirm hours
Extended & non-traditional hours
Early, late, or weekend care for shift schedules. confirm availability
Good to know
Drop-off, pickup, and closures
Arrival & pickup
- Please arrive by time so your child doesn't miss morning circle
- Only adults listed on your authorization form may pick up; photo ID is checked
- Tell us in advance if someone different is coming
- Late pickup fee: amount & grace period
Holidays & closures
- Observed holidays: list holidays
- Annual closure days for training or cleaning: list dates
- Weather closures follow NYC public schools / our own policy
- We notify families by text / email / app as early as possible
Need hours that don't fit the usual box?
Ask. Flexible scheduling is one of the real advantages of a home-based program.
Joining us
Enrollment & Registration
Five straightforward steps from first phone call to first day — with a slower, gentler start for children who need one.
The process
How enrollment works
- Reach outCall or text us, send an email, or message us on Instagram. Tell us your child's age, the schedule you need, and anything you want us to know up front.
- Tour the programCome see the space during the day, meet the caregivers, and ask everything. Bring your child if you'd like — we learn a lot from watching them in the room.
- Intake conversationWe sit down together and go through your child in detail: routines, communication, sensory needs, medical needs, what calms them, what sets them off, and what you want from us.
- Paperwork & depositYou complete the enrollment packet and provide required health records. We confirm your start date and schedule, and collect the registration fee and deposit.
- Transition & first daysMost children start with short visits before a full day. We follow your child's pace — a gradual start now prevents weeks of difficulty later.
Bring these
What you'll need
Required paperwork
- Completed enrollment and emergency contact forms
- Child's immunization record, up to date
- Physical exam form signed by your child's doctor
- Authorized pickup list with photo ID for each adult
- Allergy, medication, and any medical action plans
- Photo and field trip permission forms
- Signed parent handbook acknowledgment
Confirm this list against your licensing requirements: verify required documents
Helpful, not required
- Current IFSP or IEP, if your child has one
- Contact info for therapists or service coordinators
- Your child's picture cards, signs, or device details
- A written list of sensory triggers and comforts
- A comfort item from home for the first weeks
Availability
Openings & waitlist
Because our groups are small, openings come up a few at a time. If we're full when you call, we'll put you on the waitlist with the schedule you need and contact you the moment a spot opens in your child's age group.
Current openingsupdate availability
Registration feeamount — due at enrollment
Depositamount / weeks held
Ready to start?
Call or text us today and we'll set up a tour this week.
For families
Parent Information & Resources
Everything you need to know about how we communicate, what to pack, and where to turn for support beyond our program.
Staying connected
How we communicate
Daily updates
A short, specific update at pickup — what your child actually did, ate, and worked on. Infants and toddlers also get a written log.
Photos & moments
With your permission, we share photos of your child during the day so you see the good parts as they happen.
Progress check-ins
Scheduled conversations about how your child is developing, what we're working on, and what you're seeing at home.
Reach us anytime
Questions or a hard morning? Call or text. We'd rather hear from you than have you wonder.
Day to day
What to pack
Every day
- At least one full change of clothes (two for children who are toilet training)
- Weather-appropriate outerwear and closed-toe shoes your child can move in
- Diapers, wipes, and cream if your child uses them
- A labeled water bottle
- Nap items if your child uses their own: confirm what we provide
- Comfort item, picture cards, or communication device as needed
Meals & snacks
Meals and snacks provided: confirm what we provide vs. what families send
- Label everything with your child's name
- Tell us in writing about every allergy and food sensitivity
- We never pressure a child to eat, and we never use food as a reward
- Selective eating is common and normal — we work with it, not against it
Beyond our program
New York City family resources
These are the services families ask us about most often. We're happy to talk through any of them with you, and to coordinate with any provider once you give us written permission.
Early Intervention (birth to 3)
Free evaluations and services for developmental concerns in children under three. Available through NYC's Early Intervention Program — reach it by calling 311.
CPSE (ages 3 to 5)
Preschool special education services, arranged through your school district's Committee on Preschool Special Education.
OPWDD services
Supports for people with developmental disabilities in New York State, including community habilitation and respite.
Child care assistance
Subsidies and vouchers may help with the cost of care for families who qualify. Start with 311 or your local child care resource agency.
Parent support groups
Local groups for parents of children with autism. Ask us — we'll point you toward ones other families here have found helpful.
311
The single easiest starting point for most city services, including child care and early childhood programs.
We share these as general information. Eligibility and availability change, so confirm details directly with each program.
Our policies
Parent handbook
Our full parent handbook covers arrival and pickup, illness, discipline and guidance, allergies, medication, emergency procedures, payment terms, and withdrawal. You'll receive a copy at enrollment and sign to confirm you've read it.
Handbook download link: add PDF link
Questions we haven't answered?
Ask us directly. There's no question about your child we'd consider too small.
How we keep children safe
Health & Safety
Clear rules, followed the same way every day — because safety in a child care setting is a matter of routine, not good intentions.
Constant supervision
Children are within sight and sound of a caregiver at all times, indoors and out, including during naps.
Trained staff
Everyone working with children is CPR certified, first aid trained, background-screened, and trained in recognizing and reporting abuse or maltreatment.
Secure arrival & pickup
Only authorized adults may collect a child, and we verify photo ID. Entry to the home is controlled during care hours.
Childproofed space
Outlet covers, gates, secured furniture, locked cleaning supplies and medications, and a daily safety walkthrough.
Clean environment
Handwashing at set points all day, sanitized toys and surfaces, and a documented cleaning routine.
Emergency ready
Fire and evacuation drills practiced calmly with the children, posted exit routes, stocked first aid kits, and a written emergency plan.
When a child is sick
Illness policy
Keeping a sick child home protects every other child and caregiver here. We know it's inconvenient, and we ask anyway.
Please keep your child home with
- Fever of temp or higher within the last 24 hours
- Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
- An undiagnosed rash
- Contagious illness such as chickenpox, strep, or pink eye until cleared
- Symptoms that keep them from taking part in the day
If a child becomes ill here
- We call you right away and keep your child comfortable and apart from the group
- We ask that children be picked up within time frame
- Return requires symptom-free period / doctor's note
- We notify families if a contagious illness is going around, without naming children
Medical needs
Allergies, medication & medical plans
- Every allergy is documented in writing and posted where staff prepare food
- Medication is given only with written authorization and, where required, a doctor's order
- All medication is stored locked and labeled; every dose is logged
- Emergency medications such as epinephrine or rescue inhalers are kept accessible and staff are trained on them
- Seizure, asthma, and other action plans are followed exactly as written by your child's doctor
Safe sleep for infants
Infants are placed on their backs to sleep, in their own crib, on a firm surface with no loose bedding, bumpers, or soft objects. Sleeping infants are checked and visually supervised throughout nap.
If something happens
Emergencies
- Minor injuries are treated on site and reported to you in writing the same day
- For anything serious we call 911 first, then you, and a caregiver stays with your child
- Emergency relocation site: add address
- Families are contacted by text / call / app during any emergency or closure
- Emergency contact information must be kept current — please tell us when a number changes
Want to see our safety setup?
Ask about it on your tour. We're glad to walk you through every procedure on this page.
Inside our program
Photo Gallery
A look at our rooms, our activities, and the ordinary good days that make up most of the year.
Replace each placeholder below with a real photo. Landscape photos at roughly 1200 × 900 pixels look best, and every image should have descriptive alt text so the page works for screen readers and for search.
Photo 1 — the main play room
Photo 2 — sensory table
Photo 3 — calm corner
Photo 4 — art area
Photo 5 — outdoor play
Photo 6 — visual schedule
Photo 7 — snack time
Photo 8 — circle time
Photo 9 — music & movement
About photos of children
We only publish photos of children whose families have given written permission, and we never post a child's full name, location, or schedule. You can change your permission at any time, for any reason, and we'll take the photo down.
Tip: photos of hands, materials, and the room itself are easy to publish and need no permissions at all.
Keep reading
Photos only show so much
The noise, the pace, and the warmth of a room are things you have to stand in. Come visit.
What care costs
Rates & Payment Information
Clear pricing, written down, with no surprise line items — plus the funding routes families most often use to help cover it.
| Program | Schedule | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Infants | Full-time, 5 days | rate |
| Infants | Part-time | rate |
| Toddlers | Full-time, 5 days | rate |
| Toddlers | Part-time | rate |
| Preschool | Full-time, 5 days | rate |
| Preschool | Part-time | rate |
| School-age | Before & after school | rate |
| Registration fee | One time, at enrollment | fee |
Replace every chip above with your real rates before this page goes live. Leaving pricing off a website costs you more inquiries than publishing it does.
No surprises
What's included
Included in tuition
- All daily activities, materials, and programming
- Sensory, art, music, and movement supplies
- Individualized support and visual schedules
- Daily updates and progress check-ins
- Meals and snacks: confirm included or family-provided
Billed separately
- Registration fee: amount
- Late pickup: amount & when it starts
- Returned payment fee: amount
- Field trips or special events: if applicable
Paying
Payment terms
- Tuition is due weekly / biweekly / monthly, in advance
- Accepted methods: list methods
- Tuition holds your child's spot and is charged whether or not they attend that day
- Vacation and closure credits: state your policy
- Withdrawal requires notice period written notice
- Receipts and year-end statements are provided for tax and reimbursement purposes
Help with cost
Funding families use
Child care vouchers & subsidies
New York City families who qualify may receive help paying for care. Start with 311 or your local child care resource and referral agency. confirm which we accept
OPWDD self-direction
Families with an approved budget may be able to fund community habilitation hours. confirm what we are approved to bill
Employer dependent care
Many employers offer pre-tax dependent care accounts. We provide the receipts and tax ID information you'll need.
This page is general information about programs, not financial or legal advice. Confirm eligibility and amounts directly with each program.
Let's talk numbers
Tell us the schedule you need and we'll give you an exact quote — no obligation.
Get in touch
Contact Us
Call, text, email, or message us on Instagram. We answer real questions from real parents every day — ask us anything.
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Call or text
917-992-5834
Fastest way to reach us.
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cityofblessing1983@gmail.com
We reply within one business day.
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@cityofblessing1983
See what the days actually look like.
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Visit
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Tours by appointment.
Come see us
Schedule a tour
Tours run during program hours, because a quiet empty room tells you nothing. You'll see how children move through the day, how caregivers handle transitions, and what happens when something doesn't go smoothly.
To book a tour, tell us
- Your child's age
- The schedule you need and your ideal start date
- Anything about your child we should know in advance
- A couple of days and times that work for you
Who we serve
We welcome families from across New York City. Primary service area: list neighborhoods.
Nearest transit: add subway & bus lines.
Add a contact form and an embedded map here in your site editor — both convert visitors far better than a phone number alone.
We'd love to meet your family
Call or text 917-992-5834, or email us — whichever is easier for you.
Straight answers
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions parents ask us most, answered the way we'd answer them on the phone.
Do you accept children with autism?
Yes — it's the reason many families find us. Children with autism and other developmental differences are enrolled in the regular age group and supported inside it, with visual schedules, sensory breaks, communication supports, and adapted activities built into the ordinary day.
Does my child need a diagnosis to enroll?
No. A diagnosis tells us very little on its own; what matters is what your individual child needs. Children with no diagnosis, children being evaluated, and children with a long-standing diagnosis are all welcome.
Are you a therapy provider?
No. We are a licensed child care program, not a clinical, medical, or therapy provider, and we don't diagnose or evaluate. What we do is reinforce the strategies your child's therapists already use, so the skills carry across settings. With your written permission we'll coordinate directly with them.
How big are your groups?
Small, by design — that's the whole advantage of a home-based program. Exact group sizes and ratios: confirm licensed capacity & ratios
What are your hours?
add hours We also offer flexible and extended scheduling for families whose work hours don't fit a standard day — ask us what's possible.
What does care cost?
Rates depend on your child's age and schedule. See our Rates & Payment page for the full list, or call and we'll give you an exact quote for the schedule you need. Some families use child care vouchers, subsidies, or OPWDD self-direction funding to help with cost.
What if my child has a hard day?
We expect hard days. We keep everyone safe, stay calm, help your child settle, and talk about what happened afterward — and we tell you honestly at pickup. We don't shame children, we don't use isolation as discipline, and we don't call you to come get your child because they had a difficult morning.
My child isn't talking yet. Is that a problem?
Not here. Pointing, signing, picture cards, a device, leading an adult by the hand — all of it counts as communication and all of it gets a response. We use whatever system your child already has and stay consistent with it.
My child is a very picky eater.
Extremely common, and we work with it rather than against it. We never pressure a child to eat and never use food as a reward or punishment. New foods are offered with no pressure, alongside something we know your child will accept.
Is my child still in diapers OK?
Completely fine, at any age. Toilet training happens when a child is ready, not on a schedule, and we follow whatever approach you're using at home.
How will I know what happened during the day?
You'll get a specific verbal update at pickup — what your child did, ate, and worked on. Infants and toddlers also go home with a written log, and with permission we share photos during the day.
How does my child start?
Most children begin with short visits before a full day, then build up at their own pace. A gradual, well-planned start prevents weeks of difficulty later, and it's worth the extra time.
What if you're full?
We'll add you to the waitlist with the schedule you need and call you the moment a spot opens in your child's age group. Openings in a small program come up a few at a time, so it's worth getting on the list early.
Can I visit before I decide?
Please do. Tours run during program hours so you see the real thing — the noise, the pace, the transitions. Call or text 917-992-5834, or see Contact Us, to set one up.
Still have a question?
Call or text us at 917-992-5834. There's no question about your child we'd consider too small.