For parents
Montessori vs. daycare: what's the difference?
Both keep your child safe and cared for while you work. What separates them is what happens during the day. Here is how an authentic Montessori program compares to traditional daycare, for families in Weston and across MetroWest.
| Traditional daycare | Montessori at Beacon | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Supervision and care while parents work | Care plus an individualized curriculum |
| Environment | Toys and group activities, often by age room | A calm, prepared classroom with purposeful Montessori materials |
| Teachers | Caregivers, training varies | Trained Montessori guides in small groups |
| Ages & grouping | Single-age rooms | Mixed-age classrooms (15 months–3 and 3–6) where children mentor each other |
| Daily rhythm | Free play, snacks, naps | An uninterrupted work cycle: practical life, language, math, and outdoor time |
| What your child builds | Socialization and routine | Independence and long stretches of focused work |
A daycare alternative
Built for working families in Weston and across MetroWest
A full Montessori day runs from 8:00 AM to 2:45 PM, with optional extended care until 5:00 PM. The hours work for parents in Weston, Wayland, Wellesley, Needham, and Waltham who need full-day coverage. The difference is what fills those hours.
Toddler through kindergarten
One calm community as your child grows
Children begin in our Toddler program (15 months–3 years) and continue through Primary preschool and kindergarten (3–6 years). Instead of switching daycares as your child grows, they stay with the same guides and classmates from 15 months through kindergarten.
Parents ask
Montessori vs. daycare questions
Is Beacon a daycare?
Beacon is a Montessori school for children 15 months to 6 years. We cover the same full-day hours as a daycare, but the day is built around a Montessori curriculum and trained guides, not babysitting.
Does Montessori cost more than daycare?
Our tuition is in the same range as full-time daycare in MetroWest. You are paying for certified guides and a classroom stocked with the full set of Montessori materials. Request rates on our tuition page and we'll email you the current sheet.
Can Montessori work for full-time working parents?
Yes. The day runs 8:00 to 2:45 with extended care to 5:00, the same coverage as a daycare.
Is Montessori only for preschool?
No. We begin with a Toddler program (15 months–3 years) and continue through Primary preschool and kindergarten (3–6 years), so your child can grow with us through the early years.
Keep reading
The questions parents usually ask next.
- MontessoriWhat are the benefits of Montessori?What the research actually shows about concentration, independence and mixed-age classrooms, limits included.opens in a new tab
- Inside the classroomWhat does a typical preschool day look like?Our real schedule, hour by hour, and why a three-hour uninterrupted work period beats a day of 20-minute rotations.opens in a new tab
- Getting startedHow to choose a preschoolWhat to watch on a tour, the questions worth asking, and the red flags that should end a visit early.opens in a new tab
See the difference in person
Tour our prepared classrooms, meet our guides, and picture your child's day at Beacon.
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