I consider EPL my third baby. The OG (in Austin) of a quality nanny-led childcare program. "Eat. Play. Learn." was originally created as a specific type of setup for COVID-conscious parents of toddlers who needed more socialization but would like it to be in a lower-risk, small group environment. The first of its kind! As we moved forward in the pandemic, our guidelines have adapted. However, we still remain open and honest about ANY illness and exposure to keep it at a minimum in order to continue childcare without interruption. 

Now we are just a small group of littles (max of 4) that socialize and learn together.  EPL is structured childcare with age-specific activities that focus on language, socialization, art, and practical life skills, hosted in a professional Nanny's home (Sunset Valley/Westgate Area of Austin). The best part? The group is all the same age (unlike daycare or nanny shares) and the program as a whole grows with its members until they age out. 

"It takes a village"

 It's not just about the children! Very grateful to say that EPL has developed a great sense of community for the parents as well. Whether you are new to Austin or new to parenthood. Since we are such a small program I am able to introduce families to each other and host EPL events that hopefully foster a great relationship between all families.

What makes "Eat. Play. Learn." different from other types of childcare?

Private Nannies- individualized childcare in your home,  they take care of all things related to the child, including but not limited to some light housekeeping. They should be experienced in helping children reach developmental milestones, and ultimately help in raising them as a loving extension of the parents. Sound heavenly? It is! Which explains the cost of one. Nannies are considered a luxury service and the current rate for an entry level nanny in the Austin area is $20+hr. My private rate is significantly higher. With the EPL setup I am able to lower my rate, provide quality care to multiple families and make the process of nanny sharing as easy as possible for parents.

Nanny shares are an alternative choice for parents looking for a more economical nanny option. Multiple families coordinate and pay 2/3 the nanny's hourly rate. Arrangements vary, but typically the families will either choose amongst themselves to host the nanny and all children at their home, or they will alternate hosting weekly. Lots of planning is involved. Finding a nanny, finding another family and then finding a replacement for either If one should back out.

Daycares have many different price points and tend to be the most economical option for childcare due to the amount of children they enroll. They offer a daily schedule with lots of play (that is generally not very flexible), their ratios are much higher, and they don't always provide food- which means you'll be packing snacks and lunch every day.  The ratio of students to teachers is typically much larger. In Texas, the standard ratio for staff to children (ages 18-24 months) is 9-11 toddlers per teacher, with a maximum of 18-22 toddlers in each room. For infants it's 4:1. EPL will never scale larger or have mixed ages. 

In-Home Daycares So is "Eat. Play. Learn." a licensed in-home daycare? No. I am a professional nanny and a listed family home operating under an LLC. Which means I am "on the books" and I pay my own taxes. Licensure is a requirement for groups of children larger than four. I am able to provide care for 3 unrelated children at any given time, not including my children. This 4-to-1 ratio is perfect to give plenty of attention to each child. I have no plans to scale larger and/or operate as a daycare facility. The children I admit into the program are all the same age so we can operate more as a classroom and learn together with age appropriate activities.

So where does "Eat. Play. Learn." fall? 

"Eat. Play. Learn." is a culmination of these four-- a sweet spot if you will. It is centered on providing lower-risk socialization from infanthood to toddlerhood before they start school. I don't believe terminology exists yet for this specific type of childcare set up. 

If I had to make a comparison, I'd say EPL is most similar to a nanny share. I do all the leg work for the families to connect them, provide a safe learning environment for their children as well as reliable/quality care. 

It's an extremely scaled-down version of a daycare with more structure, healthy meals, and year-round care,  guided by an experienced nanny's genuine love and attention.

I am happily providing your babies a safe, FUN place to go/learn/grow for the day- all while giving you the ultimate peace of mind knowing that they are safe and well cared for throughout your workday.