Sproutlings Educational Childcare Center

What Sproutlings Educational Childcare Center does

Sproutlings Educational Childcare Center is a family-owned, single-location childcare provider operating at 755 Central Avenue in New Providence, New Jersey. Founded by the Shaheed family (Mira Shaheed, Mo Shaheed, and Jon Shaheed), the center delivers full-day early childhood education and care for children from infancy through third grade, organized into nine age-sequenced classroom programs: Peapods (infants, 0-20 months), Seedlings (young toddlers), Little Sprouts (older toddlers), Beanstalks (early preschool), Saplings, PreK-3, PreK-4, Before and Aftercare, and Summer @ Sproutlings. Curriculum is built on The Creative Curriculum framework with a Learning Centers approach (Science, Writing, Listening, Reading, Art, Sensory, Dramatic Play, Block, and Manipulatives areas) and a dedicated STEM Lab. The center operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with year-round enrollment, a managed waitlist, and structured onboarding ($50 application fee, $250 registration fee).

The business model is direct-to-consumer tuition-based with ancillary revenue from Holiday Care ($95/day), summer camp, and enrichment add-ons. The center bundles a multi-vendor enrichment ecosystem spanning swimming (Jersey Aquatic), gymnastics (Indigo Gymnastics), ballet and yoga (Little Hearts), music (Elefante Music), and physical education (Stretch-n-Grow), plus a meal service partnership with Simply Gourmet. A strategic partnership with neighboring Summit Speech School provides PreK-4 students with Spanish and American Sign Language instruction and access to additional facilities, and is expanding in the 2025-2026 school year to host aftercare for grades 1-3. Parent communication is delivered through the third-party Brightwheel app for real-time daily updates, photos, and two-way messaging.

The center employs approximately 15 staff including the Shaheed ownership team, a Director (Maddie Espinal), an Assistant Director (Amanda Smith), and dedicated lead teachers per classroom. The business is privately held with no external institutional investment, no parent company, and no patents or trademarks on file. Operating geographies are limited to New Providence, NJ, with transportation services linking to Salt Brook and Roberts elementary schools for the before/aftercare program.

Name

Sproutlings Educational Childcare Center

Legal name

Sproutlings Childcare Center

Website

https://sproutlingschildcare.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sproutlings is a family-owned, single-location childcare center in New Providence, NJ, serving children from infancy through third grade with nine age-sequenced classroom programs built on The Creative Curriculum and a multi-vendor enrichment ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Drop-In / Flexible Childcare Centers (EDACAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA), Drop-In / Flexible Infant & Toddler Care (EDACAGAG)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Childcare services
• Infant daycare
• Preschool programs
• Before after care

Headquarters

HQ city

New Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Childcare Tuition: Full-day childcare services for children from infancy through kindergarten age, with before and after school care for elementary students
2. Registration and Application Fees: One-time fees including $50 waitlist application fee and $250 registration fee upon enrollment acceptance
3. Holiday Care: Full-day program during school holidays at $95 per day for aftercare students
4. Summer Camp Program: Summer camp program for children entering Kindergarten through Third Grade, located at Summit Speech School, with flexible enrollment options

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sproutlings provides full-day, year-round childcare and early education for children from infancy through third grade, delivered through nine age-segmented classroom programs (Peapods, Seedlings, Little Sprouts, Beanstalks, Saplings, PreK-3, PreK-4) using The Creative Curriculum and a Learning Centers approach. Beyond core childcare, it offers before and after school care with transportation from local elementary schools, full-day Holiday Care during school breaks, and a Summer @ Sproutlings camp program held at Summit Speech School.

Product overview

Sproutlings Educational Childcare Center is a family-owned childcare center offering a comprehensive, developmentally-appropriate, play-based curriculum for children from infancy through third grade. The center operates as a unified program with age-based classrooms that progress sequentially: Peapods (infants 0-20 months), Seedlings (young toddlers 18-26 months), Little Sprouts (older toddlers 24-36 months), Beanstalks (early preschool 2.5-4.5 years), Saplings and PreK-3 (preschool 2.5+ years), and PreK-4 (4+ years). Beyond regular childcare, the center provides Before and Aftercare for school-age children, Holiday Care during school breaks, and Summer @ Sproutlings camp program. Enrichment is woven throughout via Extracurriculars including ballet, yoga, swimming, gymnastics, Stretch-N-Grow, and music. All programs follow The Creative Curriculum and emphasize Learning Centers, outdoor learning, and family partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peapods (Infants) Infant childcare program for children 0-15 months (Peapods I) and 8-20 months (Peapods II), providing constant communication, language development through talking/singing/reading, and individualized care with assigned primary caregivers. Designed for families seeking nurturing infant daycare with low caregiver-to-infant ratios.
• Seedlings (Young Toddlers) Young toddler program for children 18-26 months using The Creative Curriculum with Learning Centers, focusing on cooperation, problem-solving, independence, and skill development in social-emotional, language, fine motor, math, and science areas.
• Little Sprouts (Older Toddlers) Older toddler program for children 24-36 months transitioning to preschoolers, featuring Learning Centers, community building, creativity encouragement, and developmentally appropriate objectives using The Creative Curriculum.
• Beanstalks (Early Preschool) Early preschool program for children 2.5-4.5 years featuring interest-driven learning through Learning Centers, hands-on experiences, theme-based studies, and toilet training support.
• Saplings Preschool Preschool program for children 2.5-3.5 years preparing students for Pre-K 4 with early literacy and math skills, fine and gross motor development, and independence building.
• PreK-3 Preschool program for children 3+ years focused on kindergarten preparation through individualized instruction, The Creative Curriculum studies, and enrichment activities including music, Stretch-n-Grow, yoga, and ballet.
• PreK-4 Advanced preschool program for children 4+ years preparing for kindergarten through comprehensive curriculum covering literacy, math, science, creative expression, and life skills, featuring partnerships with Summit Speech School.
• Before and Aftercare Before-school care starting at 7 a.m. and after-school enrichment program for grades K-3 including homework assistance, enrichment activities, outdoor play, and special programs with transportation from local elementary schools.
• Holiday Care Full-day program for school-age children during school holidays when regular childcare is closed, including special programs and field trips. Priced at $95 per day with $40 early dismissal day rates, available to After Care students only.
• Summer @ Sproutlings Summer camp program for children entering Kindergarten through Third Grade located at Summit Speech School, featuring daily activities, trips to playgrounds and parks, supervised swimming, field trips, and flexible enrollment options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised $1505 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through 2026 Trike-A-Thon event

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Summit Speech SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership providing Pre-K 4 students with Spanish and American Sign Language curriculum, access to Summit's outdoor playground and spacious classrooms. Starting 2025-2026 school year, aftercare program for grades 1-3 will be held at Summit Speech School (705 Central Avenue) while kindergarten aftercare remains at main Sproutlings building.
• Simply GourmetminorOthersWeb-based meal service providing healthy lunch options for children including organic and gluten-free options. Parents order through Simply Gourmet's website with nut-free meals, multiple entree choices, and optional milk/juice/water.
• Little HeartsminorOthersExtracurricular partner providing ballet and yoga classes starting with Saplings class. Classes help children build balance, coordination, flexibility, focus, and mindfulness.
• Jersey AquaticminorOthersSwimming lesson provider for Pre-K 4 and Aftercare classes. Lessons build water safety skills, confidence, coordination, and endurance.
• Indigo GymnasticsminorOthersGymnastics instruction partner for Pre-K 4 students. Classes build strength, flexibility, body awareness, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness through tumbling and balancing activities.
• Elefante MusicminorOthersMusic education partner starting with Little Sprouts class. Programs include singing, rhythm games, and instrument play for early childhood development.
• BrightwheelcoreTechnology or IntegrationParent communication app providing real-time updates about child's day including pictures, diaper changes, feedings, naps, and two-way messaging with staff.
• Stretch-n-GrowOthersPhysical education program starting with Beanstalks class. Classes boost coordination, gross motor skills, and cooperation through dynamic movement activities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Chesterbrook Academy: Mid-Atlantic operator of preschool and elementary programs (infants through 8th grade), part of the Spring Education Group. Comparable to Sproutlings on age range and bundled enrichment, with overlap in the New Jersey suburban market.
• Apple Montessori Schools: Family-owned operator of Montessori infant, toddler, preschool, and elementary campuses across northern New Jersey. Comparable to Sproutlings as a NJ-based private early childhood operator with infant-through-school-age programs, though differentiated by Montessori curriculum.
• The Malvern School: Family-owned operator of preschool and childcare campuses across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Highly comparable to Sproutlings as a regional, family-oriented operator offering infant care through private kindergarten with enrichment programs in adjacent geography.
• Montessori Children's Academy: Family-oriented NJ-based Montessori early childhood program serving infant through elementary. Comparable to Sproutlings in target demographic (NJ suburban professional families) and full-day year-round operation, though differentiated by Montessori curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• Learning Care Group: Operator of multiple early childhood education brands (Childtime, La Petite Academy, Tutor Time, Montessori Unlimited) with hundreds of U.S. locations. Comparable to Sproutlings in age-range and full-day care offering, though at multi-brand corporate scale.
• KinderCare Learning Centers: One of the largest U.S. providers of early childhood education and care, operating thousands of centers nationwide serving infants through school-age. Comparable to Sproutlings in age-range breadth and full-day programming, but at national scale and with a corporate rather than family-owned operating model.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large publicly-traded operator of employer-sponsored childcare centers and preschools across the U.S. and globally. Comparable to Sproutlings as a high-quality, curriculum-driven early childhood education provider, but operates at vastly greater scale with corporate back-up care as a differentiator.

Emerging players

• Guidepost Montessori: Growing Montessori early childhood network operating schools across the U.S. and internationally, including in the New York/New Jersey metro area. Comparable to Sproutlings in serving affluent suburban families seeking premium early education, though differentiated by Montessori method.

Direct peers

• The Goddard School: Franchise system of play-based, accredited private preschool and childcare centers serving infants through Pre-K. Directly comparable to Sproutlings on philosophy (play-based, child-led learning) and program structure (infant care through Pre-K enrichment), though franchise-owned and operated rather than independent family-owned.
• Primrose Schools: Franchise network of private early childhood education schools using a proprietary Balanced Learning® approach for infants through after-school-age students. Closely comparable to Sproutlings in its curriculum-driven, full-day, infant-through-school-age model and bundled enrichment positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sproutlingschildcare
• Instagraminstagram.com/sproutlingschildcare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sproutlings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sproutlings Educational Childcare Center