Small-Group, Nanny-Led Childcare in South Austin

I created EPL in 2022 to offer families something I felt was missing in Austin: the warmth and individualized attention of an experienced private nanny, combined with the friendships and enriching experiences of a small childcare program.

Today, Eat Play Learn is a private, home-based infant and toddler program in the Sunset Valley/Westgate area of South Austin. I intentionally care for no more than four children at a time so that every child receives genuine attention, comfort, and care.

Our days include art, music, books, gardening, outdoor play, neighborhood walks, healthy meals, practical life activities, and plenty of time for children to explore and simply be little.

Now Enrolling Infants for Fall 2026

Our current toddler group will begin aging out in October 2026, which means I will be starting over with a new group of infants.

I am now enrolling infants beginning in fall 2026. The children in each EPL group grow together, allowing them to form meaningful friendships while receiving care tailored to their ages, routines, personalities, and developmental stages.

Because EPL is intentionally small, every child will have at least one friend close to their age—and no child is expected to disappear into a crowded classroom.

“It Takes a Village”

Eat Play Learn is about more than childcare. Over the years, EPL has also grown into a meaningful community for parents.

Whether a family is new to Austin, new to parenthood, or simply hoping to meet other families in a similar season of life, the small size of the program makes real connection possible. I love introducing EPL families to one another and creating opportunities for everyone to spend time together outside of our regular childcare days.

My hope is that children find a second home here—and that their parents find a little more of the village we all need.

What Makes Eat Play Learn Different?

Eat Play Learn fills the space between a private nanny and traditional daycare.

A private nanny offers highly individualized care in a family’s home, but that level of service can be expensive (hourly rate/ payroll/ insurance stipend, etc) and does not automatically provide children with a consistent social group.

A traditional daycare usually offers a more affordable option and a larger community, but classroom sizes and child-to-caregiver ratios can make individualized attention more difficult.

Nanny shares offer a balance between the two, but families are often responsible for finding one another, choosing a host home, coordinating schedules, hiring the nanny, and making new arrangements if someone leaves.

Eat Play Learn offers the best parts of these options without requiring parents to manage all the logistics themselves.

Families receive the consistency, experience, and personal attention associated with professional nanny care. Children get friendships, structured activities, healthy meals, outdoor experiences, and year-round care in a calm, familiar home environment.

I handle the planning, create the daily rhythm, prepare meals and activities, and bring together families who are looking for the same thoughtful approach to early childhood.

Why I Intentionally Keep EPL Small

Eat Play Learn is not a traditional daycare center. It operates as a Texas Listed Family Home under an LLC, and I care for no more than three unrelated children at a time. The total EPL group is intentionally capped at four children.

I have no plans to turn EPL into a large childcare facility. Staying small is not a temporary stage of the business—it is the heart of the program.

It allows me to truly know each child: their routines, interests, developmental stage, personality, favorite songs, comfort items, and the little things that help them feel safe and at home.

Instead of asking every child to fit into one rigid schedule or approach, I can adapt our days to the children who are actually here.

Real Childhood Happens Here

Eat Play Learn is structured, but childhood here is never overly scheduled.

We paint, garden, sing, read, create, go on walks, play outside, eat meals together, practice everyday skills, and leave plenty of room for curiosity and unstructured play.

I believe young children learn an incredible amount by being included in everyday life, exploring their environment, building close relationships, and having a trusted caregiver who is genuinely present with them.

My goal is simple: to give babies and toddlers a safe, loving, and genuinely fun place to learn and grow—and to give their parents peace of mind throughout the workday.

Experienced, Professional Care

I have worked with children for more than 13 years, including as a high-profile professional nanny, household manager, ESL teacher, and au pair in Germany, Spain, and Austria.

I specialize in infant and toddler care and am a member of the Newborn Care Specialist Association. I have experience with caring for multiples (including triplets) and I am continuing my education toward certifications as a Newborn Care Specialist and postpartum doula.

My experience has taught me that excellent childcare requires more than simply being good with children. It takes professionalism, reliability, intuition, patience, and the ability to understand and support each child as an individual.

That is the level of care I bring to every EPL family.

Featured in Voyage Austin

I recently had the honor of sharing my story with Voyage Austin—from my years working with children and traveling abroad to becoming a mother and creating Eat Play Learn here in South Austin.

The interview explores the experiences that shaped me, why I have intentionally kept EPL small, and my belief that childhood should be filled with connection, creativity, outdoor adventures, and plenty of time to simply be little.

Read “Inspiring Conversations with Jordin Rivera of Eat Play Learn Austin.”

Interested in Joining Eat Play Learn?

Eat Play Learn is now enrolling infants for fall 2026. Contact Jordin to learn more, ask questions, or schedule a FaceTime call.